BMW has implemented an expansion in the collection of images and sensor data from customer vehicles across Europe. The objective of this practice is to refine the driver assistance systems and active safety features of the manufacturer. It is important to note that this measure is exclusive to the European market and requires the explicit permission of the vehicle owner.
The collection technology is integrated into the latest models, such as the iX3, i3, X5, and Series 7, and will also be applied to future launches and updates of existing models. The iX3 model, which represents the first production car of the Neue Klasse platform, is scheduled to begin distribution in Brazilian dealerships this month.
Data capture does not occur continuously. Records are triggered only under specific driving circumstances where the assistance systems may intervene for safety. Examples include emergency braking, sudden evasive maneuvers, and actions that prevent collisions during lane changes.
During these critical moments, the vehicle stores images captured by external cameras, information provided by sensors, and data on driving dynamics, such as speed, direction, and steering angle. Each occurrence can result in up to 120 seconds of data, which is used to train the systems through machine learning methods.
BMW assures that it adopts the principle of privacy by design throughout the information processing process and complies with current data protection regulations in European Union countries. After sending the files to the company's servers, the vehicle identification number is removed, which, according to the manufacturer, prevents the linking of data to a specific car.
Additionally, the manufacturer reports that pedestrians, cyclists, and other drivers captured by the cameras are not identified; faces and license plates are obscured before the recordings reach the development teams.
The company has not specified whether this collection will be extended to other markets. In Brazil, personal data handling is regulated by the General Data Protection Law (LGPD), which requires informed consent and a defined legal basis for this type of use.
In addition to boosting the development of new functionalities, the collected material may support remote software updates, allowing for the expansion of features in already sold vehicles. In the iX3, a new electrical architecture incorporates various vehicle systems, including the Heart of Joy, the unit responsible for managing propulsion, braking, energy recovery, and vehicle dynamics.
The iX3 was presented to the Brazilian public during the Interlagos Cars Festival 2026 in August and arrives in the country in the 50 xDrive version, priced at R$ 582,950. This electric SUV has two motors, all-wheel drive, generates 469 hp and 65.8 kgfm, features a 108.7 kWh battery, and offers a range of up to 570 km according to the Inmetro PBEV cycle.