Seeing an empty driver’s seat suggests full autonomy, but under the SAE framework, the vehicle remains Level 4 rather than the highest tier. The distinction lies in where independence is permitted. At [ADDRESS], the system drives itself without human input within set conditions. Level 5 removes those boundaries entirely, operating universally across all environments.

Technically, the automated system is classified as Level 4. Earlier tiers require human monitoring, but this level eliminates the backup driver once operating within scope. Passengers need not intervene. Capability relies on an operational design domain, or ODD, dictating geography, roads, and weather. Expanding into new areas improves performance, yet defined boundaries keep it at Level 4.

True Level 5 demands removing all operational constraints. Developers currently test systems against specific domains. Eliminating those limits drastically increases complexity, making universal autonomy far harder than merely expanding service areas or refining existing capabilities.