#TechNews 
An automated-driving level is not a safety certificate.
The level describes who performs the driving task. Certification and type approval show what the product was assessed against and where that approval applies.
Level and certification are different things
SAE J3016 classifies how the driving task is shared between the driver and the system. A level applies to a specific feature and its operating conditions, not to the vehicle as a whole.
In certification, an independent body verifies that defined requirements have been met. ISO does not issue certificates. Type approval is the official process required before a vehicle can enter road traffic.
What does the level tell us?
It shows how the task is shared between driver and system; it does not award a safety score or road approval.
What does certification verify?
Which product and version were assessed, within what scope and by which organisation.
A higher level does not mean greater safety
At Levels 0–2, monitoring the road remains the driver's task. At Level 3, the system drives under defined conditions and may request intervention. Level 4 can operate without a driver within defined conditions; Level 5 is full automation.
They can be used together because they address different risks.
It addresses functional-safety risks caused by hardware or software faults.
It focuses on risks that may arise from perception and decision limitations even when no fault occurs.
It addresses the management of cybersecurity threats throughout the product lifecycle.
QNX provides a safety-focused foundation for automated driving
QNX is not a driving algorithm. It provides ADAS and automated-driving applications with a real-time, predictable and isolated operating environment.
This certificate does not cover the final vehicle. The manufacturer must validate the system separately within its own architecture and operating conditions.
Why do the scores differ?
Euro NCAP assessed nine systems for assistance competence and safety backup in critical situations.
Euro NCAP 2025 Assisted Driving results
4 June 2025, nine systems, two measures; scores out of 100.
The EU maximum speed for automated valet parking. The small-series limit for this application was removed in 2026.
UNECE 2026: safety management, credible testing, a safety case, post-deployment monitoring and data recording.
