Mercedes-Benz is allowed to offer highly automated driving up to 95 km/h on German highways. The manufacturer is thus setting a new standard in the industry - while Tesla continues to lag behind in this area.
Mercedes: Level 3 autonomous driving up to 95 km/h
The German Federal Motor Transport Authority has granted Mercedes-Benz approval to equip the S-Class and the EQS with its advanced Drive Pilot. The system enables highly automated Level 3 driving and raises the previous speed limit from 60 to 95 km/h.
The driver can lean back in the right-hand lane of the highway behind a vehicle in front while the Drive Pilot takes control. Reading or working is permitted as long as attention can be directed back to the traffic if necessary.
In contrast to Tesla, which has so far only offered assisted driving functions without these freedoms, Mercedes has a clear head start with the certified Level 3 system. The new software will be available from spring 2025 via an update and does not require any additional hardware. The price for the function remains unchanged at €5,950 for the S-Class and €8,842 for the EQS. Vehicles already equipped will receive the update free of charge.
Mercedes: autonomous 130 km/h as the target
The technology from Mercedes is based on an extensive sensor system that combines cameras, radar and LiDAR to precisely record the surroundings. According to the manufacturer, map navigation accurate to the centimetre ensures that the vehicle can operate safely (source: Mercedes-Benz).
Mercedes has made it clear that these innovations not only improve comfort and safety, but also lay the foundation for future expansions. The aim is to gradually extend autonomous driving to 130 km/h.
