Autonomous driving
Mercedes starts selling driver assistance systems
A developer at Mercedes Benz, in a moving Mercedes EQS 580 4Matic using the Drive Pilot. Photo: Carsten Koall/dpa
© dpa-infocom GmbH
Mercedes was the first car manufacturer in Germany to receive approval for the operation of a system that allows the driver to relinquish control in certain situations. Now the sale of this system starts.
Mercedes is the first manufacturer in Germany to start selling a system for highly automated driving that can completely take over control in slow-moving traffic on the Autobahn.
For the S-Class it costs 5000 euros plus VAT, as the group announced. With the EQS electric model, a good 7400 euros before VAT are due because a driver assistance package has to be booked. While orders start on May 17, according to Mercedes, the first vehicles with the system should be delivered in the summer.
So far, driver assistance systems have been used in cars, which can relieve the driver of various tasks such as staying in lane or maintaining a safe distance. However, people remain responsible and must keep their hands on the wheel. This applies, for example, to Tesla’s Autopilot assistance system.
Mercedes was the first car manufacturer in Germany to receive approval for the operation of a system that allows the driver to relinquish control in certain situations and watch TV, for example. However, he must be ready to take control again at any time.
Only works on highways
The use of the system called “Drive Pilot” is limited to very specific situations due to legal requirements. This only works on motorways, at speeds of up to 60 kilometers per hour and only as long as the distance to the vehicle in front is not too great. If the system recognizes that the requirements are met, it can be activated by the driver. While Drive Pilot steers the car, responsibility lies with Mercedes. When the system asks the driver to take control again, they have up to ten seconds to do so.
There are other restrictions as well. Drive Pilot should drive on construction sites. However, Mercedes initially dispenses with this in view of the additional complexity. According to legal requirements, a car in automatic mode must stay in its lane. If, for example, a lane change is necessary at a motorway junction, the car has to hand over control to the driver. The responsible Mercedes Vice President Georges Massing assumes that the legal leeway will be expanded if the systems prove their worth in everyday life and create trust: “There will be pressure on the system from the market and from all corners, so that there will be more freedom gets.”