While advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) technologies have appeared in luxury cars for some time, they are increasingly appearing in less expensive cars, according to GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company. The objective is, at best, to prevent accidents completely and, at worst, minimise the consequences of an accident for all involved.

David Leggett, Automotive Analyst at GlobalData, says: “Although there is still a buzz around SAE Level 3 and above cars, most new cars already have some level of basic driver assistance – at Level 2*. As these systems are rolled out in high numbers, fitment costs per unit fall and the case for installing them in lower priced cars becomes stronger. In this way, the technology ‘trickles down‘ from premium to mass-market segments, and this can be seen with the proliferation of ADAS features on new car models. Eventually, a standard suite of ADAS features can be fitted across model ranges and the cost per unit comes down even further.”

An example is the latest Toyota Corolla. Predating the VW Golf, the 12th generation Toyota Corolla ranks as a top-seller in the fiercely competitive European C-segment. The Corolla provides a fine example of just how far we have travelled in terms of ADAS fitment on compact cars. All versions of Corolla are equipped with Toyota Safety Sense, a suite of active safety technologies designed to help prevent or mitigate collisions.

Higher levels of automated drive are delayed due to the lack of an established regulatory framework and the Herculean challenge of providing safety in all driving situations.

Leggett adds: “The COVID-19 pandemic has also prompted some automakers to rethink their strategy and scale back their more ambitious automated drive investments. However, we are seeing an acceleration in fitment of ADAS (SAE Level 2) features across all car segments.”