The inaugural self-driving car, granting the freedom to divert attention from the road, has hit the market in the United States, marking a departure from the dominance of Tesla in this realm. Mercedes-Benz has successfully sold at least one of its latest vehicles equipped with Drive Pilot, its autonomous driving software, which permits drivers to relinquish control of the steering wheel and divert their gaze away from the roadway.
This groundbreaking Level 3 autonomous vehicle, wherein drivers are not obligated to oversee operations when self-driving functions are active, is now available for purchase in California and Nevada. This development comes nearly a year after Mercedes-Benz obtained approval to market vehicles featuring its autopilot software, Drive Pilot. According to reports from California’s Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), at least one Level 3 autonomous vehicle has been sold in North America, out of a total of 65 vehicles available for sale in the state.
All vehicles are categorized based on a six-level scale established by the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE), ranging from fully manual operation (Level 0) to complete autonomy with no human intervention required (Level 5). Presently, the majority of self-driving cars on the roads fall under Level 1 or Level 2, offering driver support functionalities such as automatic emergency braking, blind spot warning, lane centering, and adaptive cruise control. However, in these cases, the driver is still required to maintain control of the vehicle and supervise these features constantly.
In Level 3 self-driving vehicles, such as those equipped with Mercedes-Benz’s Drive Pilot system, drivers are not actively engaged in driving while automated driving features are engaged. This implies that the individual in the driver’s seat does not need to control the vehicle actively, allowing them to divert their attention from the road while the vehicle operates autonomously. These Level 3 vehicles, like those outfitted with Mercedes-Benz’s Drive Pilot system, could be particularly useful in specific scenarios, such as navigating traffic on the freeway. In these situations, Drive Pilot assumes control of the vehicle, enabling the driver to take their eyes off the road and their hands off the steering wheel, as demonstrated in a promotional video.
The initial two Level 3 cars authorized for sale in the U.S. are Mercedes-Benz’s S-Class and EQS Sedan models, equipped with Drive Pilot capabilities. These models are exclusively available in California and Nevada, as these are the only states to have granted certification to the company. Mercedes-Benz was the first automaker to receive SAE Level 3 certification in January 2023. Other manufacturers, such as BMW with its 7 Series vehicles, are also actively developing similar technology.
