News/Notice
As autonomous driving technology becomes increasingly commercialized, SAE (Society of Automotive Engineers) has classified driving automation levels from Level 0 to Level 5. These standards play a key role not only in guiding technological development but also in shaping laws and regulations and helping consumers better understand the technology.
In this article, we explain what each SAE autonomous driving level means, highlight the differences between them, explore the current and future trends of the market, and show how NAMUGA is preparing for the autonomous driving era with its cutting-edge technology.
SAE Autonomous Driving Levels 0–5 at a Glance
(The SAE levels of driving automation - IDTechEX research)
Detailed Breakdown of SAE Autonomous Driving Levels
Level 0 – No Automation
All driving tasks are performed by the human driver. Some warning systems (e.g., lane departure warning) may be present, but there are no features that actively control the vehicle.
Level 1 – Driver Assistance
Only one function is automated. For instance, adaptive cruise control (ACC) or steering assistance may be active, but the driver must keep their hands on the wheel and remain aware of the driving environment.
Level 2 – Partial Automation
The vehicle can simultaneously manage acceleration, braking, and steering. This includes systems like Tesla Autopilot or Hyundai HDA. However, the driver must always monitor the road and be ready to intervene immediately if needed.
Level 3 – Conditional Automation
In certain conditions (such as highways), the vehicle can handle all driving tasks. The driver can take their eyes off the road, but must remain on standby and respond promptly when the system requests intervention.
Level 4 – High Automation
In designated environments (e.g., specific urban routes), the vehicle can operate autonomously without a driver. Full self-driving is possible within the ODD (Operational Design Domain). Companies like Waymo (U.S.) and Baidu (China) have already commercialized such services. However, performance may be limited under adverse conditions like severe weather.
Level 5 – Full Automation
No driver seat is needed — the vehicle can fully drive itself in all environments and scenarios. It must detect and respond to all conditions (snow, rain, crash risks, etc.) without any human involvement.
Companies like Zoox are developing fully autonomous vehicles designed for Level 5 use and are currently conducting road tests.
Autonomous Driving Market Outlook
As of 2025, Level 2 (Partial Automation) dominates the autonomous vehicle market in terms of adoption and demand. This level has become the mainstream choice due to several key advantages:
Minimal Regulatory Hurdles: Since drivers remain actively involved, Level 2 systems are permissible in most countries without complex legal constraints.
Strong Cost-to-Benefit Ratio: Compared to higher-level autonomous systems, Level 2 solutions are more cost-effective while still delivering significant practical benefits.
Consumer Trust and Familiarity: These systems offer a smooth transition for users, allowing them to gradually adapt to autonomous features without fully relinquishing control.
Looking ahead, Level 4 and 5 vehicles are expected to enter the market in earnest around 2030, enabling fully autonomous driving under specific or even all conditions. While camera-only setups or camera + LiDAR and RADAR fusion are common at Level 2, similar multi-sensor fusion approaches are projected to be key components in higher levels of autonomy as well.
NAMUGA: Preparing for the Era of Autonomous Driving
NAMUGA owns key technologies for autonomous driving, including high-performance camera modules and 3D sensing (Time-of-Flight) solutions.
NAMUGA’s Strengths
- Experience in developing and mass-producing in-vehicle camera modules for Google Waymo
- In partnership discussions with global OEMs and Tier 1 suppliers
- Product lineup that covers everything from ADAS to full autonomous driving
- Solutions with high reliability and performance
Through its innovative vision systems, NAMUGA is shaping the future of autonomous driving together with its partners.
NAMUGA to Supply 3D Camera Module for Award-Winning Intel RealSense-Based Product at ISC West 2025
