Autonomous driving: Mercedes surpasses Tesla with the Drive Pilot system

Under certain conditions and up to 60 km/h, the person behind the wheel will no longer need to drive the car.

Starting May 17, Mercedes will offer on some models the Drive Pilot, a Level 3 autonomous driving system. With this system, the car can – under certain conditions – drive itself up to a maximum speed of 60 km/h, thus freeing the person at the wheel from their usual constraints. As Mercedes explains, the driver will be able to “relax or work” and thus “save valuable time”.

This is the first time a manufacturer has offered a Level 3 autonomous driving system on the Old Continent. Mercedes has thus managed to surpass Tesla on a topic that is close to its heart.

However, Drive Pilot only works on highways when traffic is congested. If these conditions are met, the driver can activate it and attend to other tasks, without completely losing interest in driving. In case of an anomaly, they have 10 seconds to take back control of the car. If they do not react quickly enough, the car will automatically stop, “in a safe manner” assures Mercedes.

Cameras, radars, and lidars play a central role in Mercedes’ technology, which also uses ultrasonic sensors and humidity sensors. The cars are additionally equipped with a much more advanced onboard navigation system than a traditional GPS.

Only in Germany

Initially, the Drive Pilot option will only be available in Germany, on the Class S and the EQS. The price will vary from one model to another: €5,000 excluding VAT for the Class S, and €7,430 for the EQS.

Mercedes will naturally expand the option to other markets later. The German manufacturer also hopes to obtain the necessary approvals in California and Nevada before the end of the year.

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