Mercedes‑Benz has received certification from California state authorities for its Drive Pilot system for SAE Level 3 conditionally automated driving.
According to the German automotive brand, it is the first car manufacturer with authorisation to introduce SAE Level 3 system in a standard-production vehicle for use on public freeways in the US state.
The Drive Pilot system will be available as an option for model year 2024 Mercedes‑Benz S-Class and EQS Sedan models in the US market. The first cars are expected to be delivered towards the end of this year.
Mercedes‑Benz said that it aims to further expand the availability of the conditionally automated driving system to additional markets in the future.
Mercedes‑Benz Group chief technology officer Markus Schäfer said: “Mercedes-Benz DRIVE PILOT is the world’s only SAE Level 3 system with internationally valid type approval. It builds on a very robust foundation, setting new industry standards.
“DRIVE PILOT uses a highly sophisticated vehicle architecture based on redundancy with a multitude of sensors enabling comfortable and safe conditionally automated driving. The certification by the authorities in California and in Nevada once again confirms that redundancy is the safe and thus the right approach.”
The Drive Pilot technology enables drivers to take their minds off the traffic and engage in specific secondary activities that are legally permissible.
Once the conditionally automated system is in use, applications can be allowed on the vehicle’s integrated central display that are normally restricted while driving.
The company said its Drive Pilot system could offer to take over the driving task, up to speeds of around 64kmh on suitable freeway sections and where the traffic density is high.
Besides, the system brakes the car to a controlled stop while activating the danger warning lights if the driver doesn’t regain control despite increasingly urgent prompting and the expiration of the takeover time.
