Mercedes-Benz's Level 3 automatic driving assistance technology on its S-Class and pure electric EQS, also known as the system branded as Drive Pilot, previously emphasized at the 2023 CES show that it has obtained the SAE certification from the state of Nevada in the United States. Will expand to California, USA. Today, the Drive Pilot system has been certified and approved by the California Department of Motor Vehicles, which allows the local sales of Level 3 self-driving cars, but it is restricted to let go of your hands and move at speeds below 64 kilometers per hour on some high-speed roads during the day. Open the line of sight to let the vehicle drive automatically.

  As early as March 2022, Mercedes-Benz CEO Ola Kallenius expected to obtain Level 3 self-driving system certification in the United States for its Drive Pilot system mounted on the S-Class and pure electric EQS. For the United States, which is also a mature market, Mercedes-Benz also hopes to obtain official Level 3 certification before rival Tesla.

  Looking back at the history of Level 3 vehicle certification by various car manufacturers in the past, the first mass-produced Level 3 self-driving system in the automotive industry is Honda Sensing Elite. However, the number of Honda Legend models equipped with this system is limited, and there is no real large-scale application. Audi claimed in 2017 that the A8 was equipped with hardware specifications that could meet the Level 3 self-driving system, but it gave up launching it in the European or American markets in 2020. As for Tesla's Auto Pilot and the fully automatic assisted driving brand called FSD, it is still only at the stage of Level 2+ system in the United States' SAE Society of Automotive Engineers (Society of Automotive Engineers) certification.

  Now Mercedes-Benz announced that the certification progress of Drive Pilot at Level 3 has reached another level. The California DMV has approved the EQS and S-Class equipped with Drive Pilot system to go on the road, and certified its Level 3 self-driving ability. Mercedes-Benz can now use Drive Pilot The EQS and S-Class of the system are sold to local residents in California, USA.

  When the Drive Pilot system can be turned on on some road sections, it will prompt the driver. The driver can start the Drive Pilot through the buttons on the steering wheel. At that time, he can take over the driving at a speed of up to 64 kilometers per hour. The green light indicates that the system has been activated and can handle Conditions on the road, such as traffic signals or accidents.

  The original factory indicated that the main difference between vehicles with or without Drive Pilot lies in the radar application, rear windshield camera lens, road humidity sensor, steering and braking and other system controls. If the system sends out a warning and the driver needs to take over, but the driver does not respond, The system will brake the vehicle, turn on the warning lights and unlock the doors.

  At present, when the California government allows Mercedes-Benz vehicles to use the Drive Pilot system, they are all on highways during the day, and can only be used at speeds below 64 kilometers per hour. Drivers must always ensure that they can take over control of the car, except for connected roads In addition to highways in California and Nevada, owners can also use Drive Pilot on highways in the San Francisco Bay Area, Central Valley, Los Angeles, Sacramento, and San Diego.

  Mercedes-Benz also announced that the ALC automatic lane change function will enter North America in 2023. This is another expansion of Mercedes-Benz Level 2 driving assistance. When it is necessary to get off the gate at a highway intersection, it should be enabled under the guidance of the navigation.