Article · AI translation
IT Home reported on November 7 that Mercedes-Benz, one of the first automakers to introduce Level 3 automated driving in the United States, has made a somewhat unusual move recently: the latest S-Class to arrive in the local market is not equipped with the technology.
As Mercedes-Benz shifts its focus toward more advanced driver assistance systems, its approach to automated driving technology has also changed. In a recent media roundtable interview with Road & Track, Mercedes-Benz CTO Jörg Burzer said that being an early mover in Level 3 automated driving taught the company a lesson: launching new technology first does not mean meeting consumers’ actual needs.
Burzer explained that when Mercedes-Benz first introduced its Level 3 automated driving system, the technology had very limited practical use. The company therefore decided to prioritize a more capable Level 2 driver assistance system and plans to skip Level 3 in the future and move directly into Level 4 automated driving.
In 2023, Mercedes-Benz became the first automaker to receive approval for Level 3 automated driving in the United States with Drive Pilot. Initially offered on the S-Class and EQS, the system allowed drivers to stop continuously watching the road under specific conditions.
A major limitation of Drive Pilot is that it cannot operate above 64 km/h, making it usable mainly in traffic jams and poorly suited to normal highway driving. The system also has strict restrictions on roads and operating conditions. “Sometimes, when you launch technology too early, you find that you still have to go back and study what customers actually need.”
Mercedes-Benz is not, however, giving up on driver assistance that lets drivers take their hands off the steering wheel. It also hopes to further improve the capabilities of its Level 2 system.
Mercedes-Benz’s MB.DRIVE ASSIST PRO system can provide driver assistance throughout a trip, from start to finish, and perform more driving maneuvers on highways and city streets: changing lanes, passing through intersections, turning, and detecting and responding to traffic lights.
The new S-Class is equipped with up to 27 sensors to support these functions. Mercedes-Benz believes this system is better suited to everyday use than its previous Level 3 automated driving system.
IT Home note: Even so, drivers must remain attentive to road conditions at all times and be ready to take over at any moment.
Burzer said that rather than spend several more years developing a Level 3 system with only limited improvements, Mercedes-Benz would prefer to concentrate on Level 4 automated driving. Under its specified operating conditions, a vehicle would be able to perform all driving tasks independently, without driver supervision. He expects Level 4 to enter mass production only after 2030, most likely with a gradual rollout.