In the US, the first cars with Level 3 autonomous driving will be the Mercedes-Benz EQS sedan and S-Class in 2024. The Level 3 system, also called Drive Pilot, lets the car do most of the driving tasks, but the driver must always be able to take over. Mercedes already had Drive Pilot in Germany, and starting in Nevada, it is now legal in the US. Some of us will finally be able to drive without using our hands. This is thanks to Mercedes-announcement Benz’s that it will be the first car company in America to be allowed to use its Level 3 autonomous technology, but only under certain conditions. Drive Pilot, which most people call Mercedes’s “Level 3” technology, will be an option for EQS and S-class cars starting in 2024. Drive Pilot lets the driver give the car most of the driving duties on approved roads, so they don’t have to touch the steering wheel or keep their eyes on the road at all times. This system doesn’t have the sensors that Level 2 systems like GM’s Super Cruise have to ensure the driver is paying attention to the road. Even if the Mercedes system is used, the driver must always be ready to take over if the car can’t drive itself. What’s behind it Pilot uses many different sensors, such as GPS, lidar, and others. It only works at 40 mph or slower. Mercedes says that if any system fails, there are fail-safes for the brakes and steering that keep the car safe until the driver takes over. If the driver can’t stop the car in time, the technology is supposed to do it for them, turn on the hazard lights, and call 911. In Germany, Drive Pilot will come out in May 2022. Drive Pilot is only legal in Nevada, the lone state in the United States that has approved the program. Mercedes says it is working on getting approval in California now, and certification is expected later in 2023. The S-class and EQS sedans for 2024 should start going out to customers in the second half of this year.
