- The German Federal Motor Transport Authority has approved the conditional use of the Drive Pilot system in S-Class and EQS.
- It allows the autonomous driving tech to take over certain driving conditions at up to 95 km/h.
The luxury car market is gradually getting overcrowded, especially with the introduction of cheaper imitations. Hence, being competitive is the key to staying afloat in the business. Mercedes-Benz continues to maintain a stronghold in the space with its innovative approach to its products, in addition to its focus on styling, comfort, and performance.
Recently, the three-pointed star marque recorded another milestone as it expanded the regulatory approval for its Level 3 autonomous driving technology in Germany. According to Mercedes-Benz’s press release, the German Federal Motor Transport Authority (Kraftfahrt-Bundesamt or KBA) already approved the Drive Pilot’s 95 km/h (59 mph) version.
Mercedes S-Class and EQS Getting the Drive Pilot in Germany
The German regulator’s stamp of approval will allow Mercedes to roll out the technology initially to its flagship models, the S-Class and EQS, by spring this year. Qualified customers can get the update as a free optional upgrade.
The system employs a conditionally automated driving technology integrating the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) Level 3 protocol. Drive Pilot allows drivers to perform other tasks while on the road, like having a meeting, watching on their car’s infotainment system, tinkering with their mobile devices, and more.
The KBA’s blessing only lets drivers totally rely on the tech under certain conditions. It includes being attentive when the car needs to transfer control back to the driver during emergency situations or when the system deems it necessary. Nonetheless, drivers could delegate their driving tasks to it in flowing traffic within the Autobahn’s 13,191 km (8,196.5 mi) stretch at speeds of up to 95 km/h.
Safety Standards Within Drive Pilot
Mercedes touts Drive Pilot as the “world’s safest SAE level 3 system in a series-production vehicle.” It employs a redundant design featuring dual safeguards in its electronics, steering, and braking. If the system fails to turn back control to the driver in cases where the person is having severe health problems or for any other reason, the vehicle will enter into a standstill in a controlled manner while activating the hazard lights.
All these are made possible with the 35 camera and ultrasonic sensors as well as conventional and light-based radars (LiDAR) around the car.
Pricing for the S-Class and EQS Autonomous Driving Feature
Interestingly, Mercedes said that it’s keeping the price of the optional Drive Pilot at 5,950 euros, inclusive of VAT. Owners who already availed of the feature in their cars can activate its functions for free via an OTA (Over-the-Air) upgrade online or by visiting authorized dealerships. The company reminded them that there’s no need for additional hardware installation to get the software update.
The luxury automaker aims to develop an enhanced version of the tech to take advantage of the Autobahn’s 130 km/h (80.77 mph) limit for conditionally automated driving.
