Mercedes-Benz's DRIVE PILOT System for Automated Driving Receives Approval in California

Mercedes‑Benz has announced that its DRIVE PILOT system for conditionally automated driving has received certification from California state authorities. Mercedes-Benz is the first car manufacturer with authorisation to introduce such a SAE Level 3 system in a standard-production vehicle for use on public freeways in the most populous state in the US.

DRIVE PILOT will be available in the US market as an option for model year 2024 Mercedes‑Benz S-Class and EQS Sedan models, with the first cars delivered to customers in late 2023.

The state of Nevada already confirmed the compliance of the system with state regulations in January 2023, and the company has the ambition to further expand availability of this system to additional markets in the future.

During a conditionally automated journey, DRIVE PILOT allows the driver to take their mind off the traffic and focus on certain secondary activities.

When DRIVE PILOT is active, applications can be enabled on the vehicle's integrated central display that are otherwise blocked while driving.

Markus Schäfer, Member of the Board of Management of Mercedes‑Benz Group AG, Chief Technology Officer, responsible for Development and Procurement., says: “Mercedes-Benz DRIVE PILOT is the world’s only SAE Level 3 system with internationally valid type approval. It builds on a very robust foundation, setting new industry standards. DRIVE PILOT uses a highly sophisticated vehicle architecture based on redundancy with a multitude of sensors enabling comfortable and safe conditionally automated driving. The certification by the authorities in California and in Nevada once again confirms that redundancy is the safe and thus the right approach.”

Dimitris Psillakis, President and CEO of Mercedes-Benz USA, adds: “We are extremely proud to continue our Level 3 conditionally automated driving leadership and remain at the forefront of innovation in the U.S. market with certification in California. This game-changing system underscores our ambition to lead in safety and technology, and provides unparalleled convenience for our valued customers by giving them back time while safely navigating today’s congested freeways.”

Mercedes-Benz is focusing on SAE Level 3 conditionally automated driving with the ultimate goal of driving at speeds of up to 80 mph (130 km/h) in its final iteration.