BMW’s Next-Gen Models to Feature Standard Auto Anti-Dooring Doors and Emergency Steering Assist

BMW’s upcoming Neue Klasse (New Class) models will come standard with new active safety features. The production version of the Neue Klasse iX3 will be the first to debut these systems, followed by rollouts to the i3, X5, and 7 Series. The new system uses side-mounted radar sensors to monitor the surroundings after the vehicle has parked. If an approaching cyclist or vehicle is detected, the electronic door locks temporarily prevent the doors from opening until the hazard has passed—aiming to eliminate "dooring" accidents at their source. According to Germany’s Insurance Association, Berlin recorded 392 accidents in 2024 caused by opening car doors, accounting for nearly 8% of all local bicycle-related collisions. Additionally, BMW is introducing emergency steering intervention for the first time. In scenarios involving sudden obstacles ahead—such as a pedestrian stepping out unexpectedly from between parked cars or a cyclist not spotted in time due to poor lighting—the vehicle can actively steer around the hazard. If another vehicle approaches from the side and sufficient safe space is available, the system can also make minor steering corrections to avoid a collision. These functions are processed by BMW’s newly developed central computer, dubbed the “Automated Driving Super Brain,” which delivers approximately 20 times the computing power of the previous generation. Related testing was conducted at BMW’s Future Mobility Development Center in Sokolov, Czech Republic—a 600-hectare facility featuring 25 kilometers of test tracks that opened in 2023.