Drive Pilot will make its on-road debut
in California and Nevada in late 2023

(September 28, 2023) Mercedes-Benz said it will launch its Level 3 automated driving technology in the Western U.S. in the fourth quarter. The service, approved for use in California and Nevada, will initially be available in a limited number of Mercedes' flagship electric EQS sedans. Next year, Mercedes will expand the Drive Pilot technology to its gasoline-powered S-Class sedan.

Drive Pilot will be available as an annual subscription, priced at $2,500 in the first year. Mercedes' Drive Pilot system allows the car to take control of driving functions under certain conditions, freeing the driver to do other things, such as answering emails. But the system can ask the driver to take control at any time, a prerequisite for Level 3 autonomy. If the driver does not respond within 10 seconds, the car will come to an emergency stop.

Level 3 on the SAE International scale is approved to operate on highways at up to 40 mph, meaning its primary use would be in congested traffic or traffic jams.



As the first automotive manufacturer in the world to introduce this system in a standard-production vehicle to U.S. customers, Mercedes-Benz once again sets the benchmark for pioneering advancements in automated driving. California and Nevada are the first two states to approve the system and issued certification for use on major freeways. While the regulatory framework varies by state, Mercedes-Benz intends to further expand availability of this revolutionary new technology to additional U.S. markets in the future.

"Drive Pilot is the world's first and only system for conditionally automated driving with internationally valid type approval. It is engineered with a sophisticated system architecture based on redundancy with many different sensor types. I strongly believe that redundancy is key for safe automated driving for level 3 and beyond. Safety is one of Mercedes-Benz core values. Responsible handling of this technology is our top priority and the key to acceptance among customers and in society," said Markus Schäfer, member of the Board of Management of Mercedes‑Benz Group AG, and chief technology officer, responsible for Development and Procurement.

"Drive Pilot is a technological game changer and incredible leap forward in the pursuit of conditionally automated driving. This ground-breaking system reinforces our intention to lead in safety and technology, while giving precious time back to our customers during heavy traffic situations,"
said Dimitris Psillakis, president and CEO of Mercedes-Benz USA.

Drive Pilot is an innovative technology that enables the vehicle to take over the dynamic driving task up to speeds of 40 mph on suitable freeway sections and during high traffic density. Once activated, Drive Pilot controls the speed and distance, effortlessly guiding the vehicle within its lane. During a conditionally automated journey, certain applications can be enabled on the vehicle's integrated central display that are otherwise blocked while driving.

Safety remains central to this Mercedes-Benz innovation, which places high demands on operational reliability. Drive Pilot builds on the vehicle sensing technology of the Driver Assistance Package and includes additional sensors Mercedes-Benz considers indispensable for safe, conditionally automated driving. These include LiDAR, a camera in the rear window and microphones for detecting emergency vehicles, as well as a road wetness sensor in the wheel well.

A vehicle equipped with Drive Pilot also has redundant steering and braking actuators and a redundant on-board electrical system to ensure maneuverability in the event one of these systems fails. These redundancies help to ensure a safe handover to the driver.

Drive Pilot will be installed on select EQS and S-Class models, and activated via the U.S. Mercedes me connect store starting at $2,500 (additional offer options will be announced at a later date). Given the advanced nature of the technology, this activation protocol ensures that customers are informed of the system's capabilities at the time of Level 3 activation.  

Due to the continued advancement of software integration, a subscription-based offering also provides customers with the flexibility to choose options that are best suited for their individual needs. For example, if a customer moves to another state or area without access to Level 3 enabled freeways, they have the option not to renew the subscription.