KATHMANDU: Stellantis has decided to cancel its Level-3 driver assistance software, a project the automaker once described as a “key pillar” of its technology strategy according to AutocarUK.
The system, called AutoDrive, was designed to let cars take full control in certain conditions, allowing drivers to remove their hands from the wheel and eyes from the road at speeds up to 60 km/h. A future update was planned to extend the feature up to 95 km/h, along with an off-road mode.
Despite being ready for deployment, Stellantis confirmed that AutoDrive would not be launched due to limited demand, high development costs and technical challenges.
The decision follows earlier reports that work on the company’s Smart-cockpit software was also slowing down.
These projects were meant to work alongside Stellantis’s STLA Brain electrical architecture as part of its broader technology roadmap. However, the company has shifted focus after reporting a loss of about USD 2.5 billion for the first half of 2025.
CEO Antonio Filosa recently noted that Stellantis must take “tough decisions” to realign its business, and the cancellation of AutoDrive and Smartcockpit appears to be part of that process.
Stellantis, formed in 2021 through the merger of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles and PSA Group, is the world’s fourth-largest carmaker by volume.
The group holds a diverse portfolio of well-known brands, including Jeep, Dodge, Chrysler, Ram, Fiat, Alfa Romeo, Maserati, Peugeot, Citroën, Opel and Vauxhall. Stellantis also holds a major stake in Chinese EV maker Leapmotor.
The company sells vehicles in over 130 countries and regions worldwide with manufacturing facilities across Europe, North America and Asia.
