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Driverless Jeeps: Future Tech or Sci-Fi Fantasy?

Updated on Sep 16, 2024

We live in a world of innovation. A world where, if there’s a quicker, easier, and more luxurious way to accomplish a task, a company will engineer it, patent it, and implement it. Regarding mechanical innovation, there’s no better example than the automobile. The timeline for the modern vehicle is remarkably short, considering we only moved away from horse-drawn carriages a decade ago.

Carl Benz invented the first gasoline-powered car in 1886, and, a mere thirty years later, the technology reached mass production in the form of Henry Ford’s Model T. Within ten years, automobiles became the primary mode of transportation in the United States, and several well-known manufactures–including Chevrolet and Dodge–were competing in the market by 1914. By the 1950s, we had electronic fuel injection, radial tires, and even seat belts! A little company out of Toledo Ohio, Willys Overland, was also well into production of premium civilian four-wheel-drives.

Fast forward to the current day, and technological advancements are booming. Even in the past two decades, we’ve watched fully fossil-fuel-dependent powertrains transition to hybrids and fully electric, zero-emissions machines, like the Wrangler 4xe plug-in hybrid. Charging stations fill every-other parking lot, analog gauges have taken a backseat to fully-digital displays, and computers run practically everything, which begs the question: how long until your car can drive itself, or better yet, how long until your Jeep can?

In this article, we’re discussing the current state of Jeep automation, including the six SAE tiers, Jeep’s current standing within them, and our thoughts on the brand’s implementation of fully autonomous driving in the near future.

What Are the SAE Levels of Automation?

The SAE, or Society of Automotive Engineers, is the leader in mobility engineering, including automotive, aerospace, and commercial vehicles. As the go-to for all things automotive, the SAE outlines the levels of automated driving in the J3016 standard. These levels are linear and range from 0–6, with automation increasing incrementally with the numbers. So what does all that even mean? Let’s take a closer look.

Driver Input	Level	Features	Examples
Yes	SAE 0	This standard is limited to alerts and warnings; while the vehicle may momentarily take control to avoid collisions, functionality is limited.	Lane departure warning Blind spot warning Automated emergency braking
Yes	SAE 1	This standard includes steering OR braking/acceleration support.	Lane centering OR Adaptive cruise control
Yes	SAE 2	The standard includes steering AND braking/acceleration support.	Lane centering AND Adaptive cruise control
No	SAE 3	This standard can drive a vehicle under limited conditions; however, only once all conditions are met. When directed, the driver must retake control.	Traffic jam chauffeur
No	SAE 4	This standard can drive a vehicle under limited conditions; however, only once all conditions are met.	Driverless taxi Human controls may or may not be installed
No	SAE 5	This standard allows full self-driving; the vehicle can drive itself in all conditions.	Driverless taxi Human controls may or may not be installed

Where Do Jeeps Fall on the SAE J3016 Standard?

Now that we understand the basis for the SAE J3016 standard, which category do Jeeps fall into? Depending on the model and trim level, most Jeeps, including the Grand Cherokee, Cherokee, Wagoneer, Grand Wagoneer, and higher-spec Wrangler trims, like the Wrangler Rubicon 392, 4xe, and High Altitude, are within the SAE Level 2 standard for automation. Features like Hands-Free Active Driving Assist allow your Jeep to control steering, acceleration, and braking in specific conditions, such as driving on limited-access freeways.

Active Driving Assist utilizes numerous cameras and sensors to monitor your Jeep’s position and the surrounding environment, including other drivers on the road. By combining and optimizing the features of lane assist, adaptive cruise control, and automatic emergency braking, your Jeep can theoretically drive for miles at a time without any human intervention, so long as you’re actively paying attention to the road ahead. Other features, like the high-end Parallel and Perpendicular Park Assist (not yet available on Wranglers), allow your Jeep to park itself in tight locations, managing braking, acceleration, steering, and even gearshifts.

While hedging on the SAE Level 3 standard and considering that the technology likely already exists, high-end Jeeps maintain what Jeep refers to as Level 2+.

Will Jeeps Ever Go Fully Autonomous?

So, will you ever be able to hop in the passenger seat of your new Jeep and have it drive you to pick up some CJ parts? While we can’t give a definite answer, it’s likely coming…and pretty soon. Consider this: if your Jeep already has the hardware to steer, accelerate, and brake independently, what’s stopping it from driving itself completely?

While Jeep likely has some fine-tuning of the software and regulations to overcome, self-driving cars are no longer a thing of the future. Several notable EV brands have taken significant strides in self-driving technology in the past few years, allowing completely autonomous trips around town and on major freeways. Like most technological advancements, it’s only a matter of time until every major auto company follows suit, even Jeep.

Even as this article is published, Jeep recently teased two modified Grand Cherokee 4xe’s sporting impressive software upgrades, allowing them to tackle trails in Moab, Utah, with completely driverless cabins. After seeing the video for ourselves, there’s no doubt that the tech exists; it’s just a matter of when Jeep will implement it.

While close, we're likely still a few years out from owning our own self-driving Jeeps. Until then, you can catch us behind the wheel of our sun-faded, oil-sweating CJs and gas-powered Wranglers. And as always, check out our extensive inventory for all your Jeep parts and accessories.