Mercedes‑Benz S‑Class Gets a New Upgrade: The First Level 3 Auto‑Drive in the World
Hold onto your steering wheels—Mercedes‑Benz just broke the internet (and the road law). They’re the first car company worldwide to tick all the legal boxes for Level 3 conditionally automated driving under the UN‑R157 rules. Basically, the brand has won a gold medal in a race that only a handful of folks were even allowed to enter.
What the Legal Gist Is
- The German Federal Motor Transport Authority has given green‑light approval based on the UN‑R157 regulatory framework.
- Now, if other countries decide to play the same game, you could drive your Mercedes on an international stage.
- Germany was the pioneer back in 2017—setting up the Road Traffic Act for Level 3 systems, making it the first place to actually make the law for these tech‑heavy cars.
First Sales: Ready to Roll? (in 2022)
Mercedes‑Benz says the first S‑Class customers will get Hooked on Drive Pilot during the first half of 2022. It’s not just a breezy ride—think of a car that can handle by itself at up to 60 km/h when the traffic jam gets a bit too sun‑jammed.
What Happens When Drive Pilot Takes Control?
The moment Drive Pilot kicks in, the driver can toss around the central infotainment screen and get into “office mode.” Want to shop online, read e‑mail, or even try out a casual drive‑blog? Go for it. And if you’re into electric power, the EQS slick is on the same squad.
Countdown to Roadplay
- Drive Pilot is currently live on 13,191 km of German motorways. That’s roughly the length of a trip from West Berlin to the Alps, tripled.
- The team says rollout will be a step‑by‑step takeover as more nations clear the legal hurdles.
So there you have it—Mercedes‑Benz is leading the Charge for Level 3 cars. If Germany opens the gates, take the hint, and maybe the world will follow suit, conceding that’s cruise‑control can indeed get a fine‑print flurry of flaps. Just make sure your dashboard is ready for all those side quests, like checking the mail while in transit.
Technology brief
Meet Drive Pilot: Mercedes’ Self‑Driving Co‑Pilot
Picture your car as a friendly robot that’s got your back on the road. That’s Drive Pilot in a nutshell—Mercedes’ entry into SAE Level 3 automation that lets the vehicle monitor speed, distance, and lane position while keeping an eye on the route’s twists, turns, and wild traffic after‑thoughts.
What’s the brain behind the autopilot?
- Surround sensors – Basic cameras and radars that read the world around you.
- Boosters for safety – LiDAR, a rear‑window camera, and even microphones that can hear emergency vehicle sirens and lights.
- Wetness detector – A sensor in the wheel well that tells the system when the road starts to get slippery.
- HD maps – Digital street maps that give the car road layout, upcoming intersections, accidents, roadworks, and the like.
When the Cruise Control Gets Steely
When a rogue car darts into its lane or a traffic jam crushes into the lane, Drive Pilot can slam the brakes or take evasive maneuvers faster than you can say “Oops!” It’s all about staying ahead of the curve.
Built for Redundancy
Mercedes-Benz S‑Class models aren’t just “cool” – they’re also doubly safe. If the steering, braking, or electrical on‑board system goes kaput, the car still keeps moving around, because there’s a backup system ready to step in.
What Happens If You’re Unresponsive?
Feeling groggy or can’t take over? The system will calmly bring the car to rest, flash the hazard lights, and unlock doors and windows so first responders can cruise in. It’s like having a parking lot guard with a built‑in first‑aid kit.
Read On
Seriously, don’t skip reading about Polestar’s new launch if you’re curious about who else is in this race.
— Originally penned on Torque · #Cars #Vehicles #SelfDriving #Mercedes
