Germany allows Mercedes to drive autonomously up to 95 kph

The German Federal Motor Transport Authority (KBA) has given Mercedes the green light to launch an updated version of its conditionally automated driving system, Drive Pilot, in 2025. This system allows the driver to watch a movie or read the newspaper while driving on highways at up to 95 km/hour.

Mercedes was the first to make SAE Level 3 self-driving possible in Europe in its S-Class and EQS. Level 3 automated driving functions take over specific driving tasks. However, a driver is still required. The driver must always be ready to take control of the vehicle when prompted to intervene by the car.

The next level

In 2022, KBA already allowed Mercedes to use Drive Pilot on some stretches of the German Autobahn in dense traffic conditions and with speeds limited to 60 km/hour. The same applies on US highways (40 mph) since January 2023.

Now, the German carmaker is taking Level 3 autonomous driving to the next level, to be used in flowing traffic up to 95 km/hour under certain conditions on the entire 13,191 km-long German Autobahn network.

Mercedes says that when Drive Pilot is activated, “it is legally allowed for the driver to enjoy other activities, such as watching TV or even streaming a movie via services like Sony’s RIDEVU app, reading the newspaper (physically, or through the MBUX system), working or simply relaxing while the car is driving conditionally automated.”

Automated stopping when needed

Suppose the driver fails to take back control even after increasingly urgent prompting and the expiration of the take-over time, like in the case of a severe health problem. Then, the system will brake the vehicle to a standstill in a controlled manner while engaging the hazard warning lights.

More than 35 sensors are used, including cameras, radars, ultrasonic sensors, and LiDAR (laser radar). Mercedes says LiDAR is essential for Level 3 autonomous driving. “Combined with a very detailed digital map, a unique positioning system ensures that Drive Pilot knows precisely which highway lane the vehicle is driving—within a few centimeters.

Option starting at €5,950

Drive Pilot is optionally available on the S-Class and EQS. The price remains unchanged, starting at 5,950 euros (incl. VAT). Cars with Drive Plot will get the update for free in Spring 2025, either by Over-the-Air Update or during a workshop visit.

“It makes me very proud that the world’s fastest system for conditionally automated driving is coming from Mercedes‑Benz. I am confident that with our safety-focused approach, we are right on track to celebrate more automated driving milestones soon,” says Markus Schäfer, Chief Technology Officer at Mercedes.

The next step is to upgrade to 130 km/hour, the advised maximum speed on German highways. However, Germany is still the only country with no speed limits on specific stretches of the ‘Autobahn’.

Benefitting overall safety

Mercedes believes that more autonomous vehicles will benefit road safety when they become familiar. Mercedes claims it is the world’s first automobile manufacturer to develop unique turquoise lights that indicate whether Drive Pilot is active from the outside.

This enables other road users to recognize a Level 3 vehicle and feel comfortable if they see a driver who reads a book, for example. It would substantially enhance public acceptance of automated driving vehicles and allow police officers to identify the system’s status.

However, these ‘Automated Driving Marker Lights” have not yet been permitted in Germany. Mercedes has been testing with them in California and Nevada (US), where they were allowed to do so for testing purposes only for the time being.

Level 4 driving in China

In China, Mercedes is already taking another significant step forward. According to Chinese media, the German premium car manufacturer was given the go-ahead in August of this year to test Level 4 (L4) autonomous vehicles on city roads, highways, and expressways following approval for L3 testing late last year.

According to a statement, vehicles with L4 autonomous driving capabilities can autonomously complete driving tasks in most scenarios without a driver taking over.

According to Mercedes, the vehicle can easily complete parking in and out of parking spaces, make U-turns, handle roundabouts, and make unprotected left turns on busy urban roadways. On highway sections, the vehicle can automatically change lanes when the car in front slows down and perform tasks such as automatically passing through toll booths.