What level is NIO's autonomous driving?

[Cora]

NIO's autonomous driving level is Level 2. Expansion on autonomous driving levels: Level 0: Completely relies on the driver with no assistance. Level 1: Provides assistance but only with one function, such as cruise control or lane keeping, and the driver must remain attentive to driving conditions. Level 2: Offers multiple functions, controlling both speed and lane position, such as adaptive cruise control, but the driver still needs to pay attention to driving conditions. Level 3: Under permitted conditions, the vehicle can perform all driving actions and has the capability to alert the driver; the driver can be distracted but cannot sleep and must be ready to take over at any time. Level 4: Fully autonomous driving but still requires specific conditions to operate; the driver may or may not be present, and the vehicle can still be controlled by a person. Level 5: Completely driverless; the vehicle has no steering wheel or pedals and operates entirely on its own.

[LeBrooke]

I see NIO's autonomous driving technology currently falls under Level 2 in the SAE standards, meaning it can assist with lane changes, adaptive cruise control, and navigation on highways, but requires constant supervision without distraction. Their Aquila system is equipped with an array of sensors like LiDAR and cameras, paired with the Adam supercomputing platform for real-time road condition analysis, making it significantly smarter than the car I drove before. User feedback suggests that the Navigate on Pilot feature makes long-distance driving much more relaxed, but I'd remind everyone not to assume they can take their hands off and nap; this level isn't fully autonomous yet, awaiting software updates for upgrades, though the safety design is thoughtful with alerts and interventions in emergencies. For night driving or rainy conditions, I particularly rely on it to help stabilize the vehicle.

[StGeorge]

As a NIO owner myself, I've been driving the ET5 for quite some time now, and its autonomous driving is at L2 level. On the highway, using Navigate on Pilot is incredibly convenient—it handles overtaking and turning automatically, though I still need to keep my hands on the wheel just in case. The system responds astonishingly fast, with sensors scanning the surroundings to reduce collision risks, which is a fantastic experience. Many people mistakenly think it's fully autonomous, but regulations still classify it as an assistive feature. I've tried relying on it for extended periods and found it reduces fatigue, but the demand for attention remains unchanged. NIO plans to introduce L3 functionality in the future, but honestly, the current features are sufficient for now. A key advantage is its integration with high-precision maps, making it better adapted to Chinese roads and smoother for urban driving.

[BrookeRose]

NIO's autonomous driving system is currently positioned as L2 advanced driver assistance, which means it can perform tasks like automated navigation on designated road sections, but the driver must monitor at all times. From a safety perspective, the key lies in user education: most accidents I've seen result from over-reliance, causing the system to require timely takeover or it will deactivate. Technologically, multi-sensor fusion handles complex scenarios reliably but isn't omnipotent. Following the manual to avoid accidents and ensure every trip is safe and secure is the cornerstone.