BMW Combines 3D Navigation, ADAS Views in Upcoming Native Maps Update

Not too long after Google showed off its 3D “immersive navigation” view for drivers, BMW has announced its own visual upgrades. A new software update coming to cars equipped with the BMW Operating System X will show real-time, precise positioning on a 3D map along with navigation instructions and ADAS sensor information, creating a realistic visualisation of the driver’s actual surroundings. 

Drivers will see navigation prompts as well as driving assistance features in a single view, with renderings of the road showing which lane they are in, along with surrounding cars and objects. The system will understand road levels, intersections, and highways, making navigation easier than with a flat top-down view. 

BMW says compatible car models in Germany will begin rolling out navigation-guided, semi-automated driving, and the new map visualisations can make it easier for drivers and passengers to see exactly what the car is doing, relative to its precise surroundings. Drivers will be able to confirm things such as lane changes with a glance, even when driving hands-free on highways at up to 130 kmph using BMW’s Highway Assistant 2.  

Combining maps with real-time ADAS sensor information is likely to help BMW differentiate itself and offer extra value to users who currently rely on Google Maps or Apple Maps, particularly as it and other car manufacturers continue to try to capture user data themselves. 

BMW says its new Maps update and Driver Assistance features have been developed in-house by the BMW Group, using navigation and map data from Mapbox. It has not yet announced which countries this will be available in, but it will be rolled out gradually beginning this October. Using this feature will require BMW’s Highway Assistant or Highway & City Assistant packages, which are available at extra cost in some countries, with support for specific roads. Features and functions might vary in different areas.