Toronto, Ontario -- Stellantis has halted development of its Level 3 advanced driver assistance program, citing cost, complexity and weak consumer demand.
The decision, first reported by Reuters, was confirmed with company sources that the system — long presented as “ready for deployment” — was never actually launched.
The Level 3 technology was unveiled in February as part of STLA AutoDrive 1.0. The system was designed to allow hands-free, eyes-off driving at speeds up to 60 km/h in congested traffic, with over-the-air upgrades promised to extend that capability to 95 km/h and even off-road conditions. Embedded within Stellantis’s broader STLA ABC architecture — comprised of STLA Brain, SmartCockpit and AutoDrive — the system was intended to mark a shift toward software-defined vehicles.
Three sources told Reuters the program was hindered by high development costs, technical hurdles and limited market interest. A Stellantis spokesperson confirmed the technology remains available but has not been launched, citing “limited market demand.” The company did not disclose how much was spent on the project.
The program was once a core part of Stellantis’s software strategy, alongside SmartCockpit — a joint initiative with Amazon to bring integrated in-car technology to market. That effort reportedly ended in May, with no reason disclosed.
Stellantis now plans to refine its software approach, focusing internal development on differentiating technologies while leaning on external partners. The automaker’s 2022 acquisition of aiMotive is expected to play a larger role in shaping future iterations of AutoDrive.
