Mercedes achieves level 3 autonomy in the US market

Mercedes-Benz plans to introduce a higher level of autonomous driving for its US customers by the second half of 2023, according to an announcement made on Thursday. The German automotive company’s “Drive Pilot” system is equipped with Level 3 autonomous driving features based on the standards set by the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE). The feature will be available as an option for the 2024 Mercedes-Benz S-Class and EQs Sedan models, the company said. A US price point was not disclosed. In Germany, the system costs $5,300 on the S-Class and about $8,000 on the EQS model, according to automotive new Europe. Unlike a Level 2 system, which requires constant supervision from the driver as the vehicle steers and accelerates, Level 3 automation gives drivers more leeway. The SAE defines Level 3 as a system where the user is not driving when “automated driving features are engaged — even if you are seated in ‘the driver’s seat.'” A driver, for example, can move their head and eyes away from the road to talk with a passenger or watch a movie, according to The Dive, automotive news outlet that tested the Drive Pilot system. However, a Level 3 system still requires a driver to be able to regain control of the vehicle at a moment’s notice. This means that a driver cannot fall asleep or obstruct their face while the vehicle is moving. When The Drive’s test pilot put a camera in front of his face, Mercedes’s autonomous driving system disengaged. By setting a 2023 date to bring a Level 3 autonomous system to Nevada customers, Mercedes-Benz appears to be on track to surpass some of its major electric vehicle competitors in the US, including Tesla, Ford, and GM. Source: Insider