Equipped with optical sensors and radar, this new generation of AVs can operate independently for a period, allowing the driver to take their eyes off the road until instructed to regain control. Looking to the future, Level 4 AVs, which can drive completely independently within a conditioned environment, and Level 5 AVs, able to operate anywhere without supervision, are no longer remote possibilities.
However, the timeline for the general adoption of these vehicles has expanded in the face of technological and regulatory issues. Due to the current experimental nature of most prototypes, global sales of Level 4 and Level 5 AVs in 2030 are now expected to number only 250,000 units.
