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2020 Mercedes-Benz S-Class to Feature Level 3 Self-Driving System

Giancarlo Perlas October 15, 2018

Audi has beaten the competition when it comes to the integration of Level 3 autonomy in production cars when the A8 sedan came equipped with it. Not to be outdone by its German rival, Mercedes-Benz is raising the stakes with its S-Class cars.

According to the company, the 2020 lineup of the Mercedes-Benz S-Class will already feature Level 3 autonomy. Basically, the Level 3 system allows the car to drive itself in most conditions without human intervention. However, emergency measures will still be implemented. There will be times when the vehicle will request for the driver’s input during critical situations.

Though not mentioned by the source, it is understood that cars with the self-driving tech will likely remain equipped with the Attention Assist system of Mercedes too. The system detects when drivers are drowsy, which is a way to make sure that they will be ready whenever the car gives back the control to them.

The current S-Class only has Level 2 autonomy. That means the car can only assist in steering, acceleration and slowing down. The full attention of the driver on the road is still a must.

Marketing of Self-Driving Cars Questioned

Despite the rapid advancement in the development of self-driving cars, Thatcham Research, the UK’s leading car safety body, is urging the government to reassess their laws governing vehicles with semi-autonomous systems. Thatcham’s Matthew Avery argues that the current marketing schemes of automakers which give their vehicles names like “Autopilot” and “Propilot” are unhelpful and they only provide a false sense of security.

Avery believes that while the development of autonomous driving technology delivers big benefits to safety, companies should be careful in tagging marketing names in their cars. He said that drivers might get confused about the extent of the self-driving vehicle’s functions.

About Author

Giancarlo Perlas

Giancarlo Perlas is an economist by profession with a career spanning nearly two decades. His professional journey has seen him assume vital roles in various government and private organizations, particularly in the blockchain and cryptocurrency sectors. Alongside his civic and corporate pursuits is his love for cars, particularly those made by Mercedes-Benz. In 2012, he found himself with like-minded individuals within BenzInsider. From then on, he used the platform as a way to share his passion with the automotive community. Follow his Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/benzinsider, X (formerly Twitter) @giancarloperlas, and IG @benzinsider. View all posts by Giancarlo Perlas →

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