SAE J3016 defines the six levels, from Level 0 through Level 5, used to describe vehicle driving automation.
Published by SAE International in January 2014, J3016 is formally titled “Taxonomy and Definitions for Terms Related to Driving Automation Systems for On-Road Motor Vehicles.” Its framework classifies automation by who performs the driving task and who monitors the roadway, rather than by marketing labels such as “autopilot” or “self-driving.”
Level 0 means no driving automation, while Levels 1 and 2 provide driver assistance. Level 3 is conditional automation, Level 4 is high automation within specified conditions, and Level 5 is full automation in all roadway and environmental conditions. The driver’s responsibilities therefore change substantially between levels.
J3016 is a recommended practice, not a guarantee that a vehicle is capable of autonomous operation. A system can qualify for different levels in different driving modes, and many production vehicles marketed with advanced assistance remain Level 2. The standard has also been revised, including the 2021 edition.