BMW, Daimler autonomous partnership aims for Level 4 by 2024

BMW had originally hoped to achieve Level 5 by 2021.

BMW and Daimler have shed more light on their autonomous driving partnership.

The companies are aiming to launch vehicles capable of SAE Level 4 autonomy by 2024, including "highly automated" driving on highways and automated parking.

The cooperation involves more than 1,200 development specialists combined from both German automakers.

"In addition, further talks are planned to extend the cooperation to higher levels of automation in urban areas and city centers," the companies said in a joint announcement. "This underscores the long-term and lasting nature of the undertaking, which will extend to encompass a scalable platform for automated driving."

Notably, the timeframe represents a less ambitious path than BMW's 2017 goal of Level 5 driving by 2021. The partnership is one of several in the industry as automakers work together to bring the technology to market.