Mercedes-Benz: Approval for Level 3 testing in Beijing

As one of the first automobile manufacturers, Mercedes-Benz has received approval in Beijing to test highly automated driving systems (Level 3). The German premium manufacturer will begin corresponding trials on designated highways in the Chinese capital and will work closely with the relevant authorities.

Pioneers in automated driving

Mercedes-Benz has always been a pioneer in automated driving. It began in 1986 with the test of a cruise control system. Today, according to its own claims, the company is the world’s first automobile manufacturer to have internationally valid system approval for highly automated driving (SAE Level 3) and a driverless parking system (SAE Level 4). In China, Mercedes-Benz has been conducting test site trials of Level 3 systems for years.

“After bringing our Drive Pilot to Germany and the USA, the test license in Beijing is the next important milestone to make highly automated driving ready for Chinese roads,” emphasized Markus Schäfer, CTO Development and Procurement and Member of the Board of Management of Mercedes-Benz Group.

Redundancy for Safety and Reliability

The Level 3 system Drive Pilot builds on the sensor technology of the driving assistance package and includes additional sensors that Mercedes-Benz considers essential for safe highly automated driving. These include a LiDAR sensor, an advanced stereo camera in the windshield, a multi-purpose camera in the rear window, and microphones, particularly for detecting blue lights and other special signals from emergency vehicles, as well as a moisture sensor in the front wheel well. In addition, the S-Class and EQS with the Drive Pilot option have redundant steering and braking systems as well as a redundant onboard electrical system to remain maneuverable even if one of these systems fails and to ensure a safe handover to the driver.

Already on the Road in the USA

The advantages for the customer are obvious: In highly automated driving, the activated Drive Pilot allows the driver to turn away from traffic and focus on certain secondary activities, whether it's communicating via the In-Car Office, surfing the internet, or relaxing while watching a movie. Mercedes-Benz introduced this system in Germany as an optional highly automated driving system in the S-Class and the all-electric EQS sedan in 2022. In the USA, the series version of the Drive Pilot already made its road debut in California and Nevada with a small fleet of EQS sedans. The delivery of the EQS sedan and S-Class of the 2024 model year so equipped will be possible from early 2024 through participating Mercedes-Benz dealerships in California and Nevada.

Autobahn: up to 130 km/h

For the development and approval of the highly automated driving system, engineers, lawyers, compliance managers, data protection experts, and ethics experts worked together as an interdisciplinary team. Mercedes-Benz approaches system design step by step to prioritize safety. By the end of this decade, the manufacturer aims to extend availability on the highway up to 130 km/h. In the meantime, the Stuttgart-based company plans to offer an intermediate system in Germany that can reach 90 km/h when following a vehicle ahead on the highway.

Adapting vehicles to the Chinese market through local development team

In China, Mercedes-Benz integrates its global research and development experience with an on-site R&D team to deliver bespoke products for its Chinese customers, in collaboration with local partners and in compliance with local regulations.

To better adapt the Level 3 automated driving system to the infrastructure and traffic conditions in China, the local research and development team was heavily involved in the early stages of global development. Since 2021, Mercedes-Benz has been testing and validating the system in the Middle Kingdom to continuously improve the performance of the Level 3 system. Key focuses of local R&D efforts include adapting the system to China's specific traffic signs, markings, construction zones, special lanes such as for buses, and continuously optimizing logic, algorithms, and parameters for scenarios like vehicle merging.