Mercedes-Benz hopes to introduce Degree 3 autonomous driving within the U.S. this 12 months, CEO Ola Kallenius mentioned, after profitable certification in Germany for the know-how final 12 months.
“It’s our goal to roll out this know-how this 12 months,” Kallenius informed reporters on Thursday throughout Mercedes’ 2021 outcomes name.
Mercedes has been conducting checks within the U.S. and speaking to the authorities there, he mentioned, with out providing specifics aside from to say he hoped the know-how could possibly be provided on a large scale quite than piecemeal.
Mercedes was the primary automaker to obtain clearance from Germany’s automobile watchdog for its Degree 3 driving system, which it calls Drive Pilot, final December, based mostly on technical necessities specified by United Nations rules.
Drive Pilot can function at 60 kph (37 mph) or under, on sure German highways — what Kallenius described as heavy-traffic or visitors jam conditions.
Drivers can take their palms off the wheel and interact in “sure secondary actions” resembling watching films, sending e-mails or speaking with colleagues, Mercedes says.
Mercedes plans to supply the S-Class with Drive Pilot to clients in Germany within the first half of 2022, and the identical function can be accessible on the EQS full-electric sedan, Kallenius mentioned.
The automaker has additionally been in discussions with the authorities in China about introducing the system there, he mentioned.
Degree 3 autonomous driving, as outlined by SAE Worldwide, signifies that the motive force can hand over management to the automobile, however should be able to take over when prompted.
It’s seen as a key threshold within the race to develop absolutely self-driving vehicles, as a result of it raises essential questions on whether or not the motive force or the automaker has legal responsibility within the occasion of an accident.
Plenty of automakes have shied away from utilizing the time period or mentioned they may go straight to increased ranges of automation through which the automobile is absolutely in management.
As such, SAE Ranges 0,1 and a pair of are labeled as “driver help methods,” whereas Ranges 3-5 are thought-about “automated driving methods.”
Different automakers are searching for to win certification for Degree 3 methods. Honda took an early lead in March 2021 when it launched the Legend Hybrid EX in Japan outfitted with the top-shelf Honda Sensing Elite suite of driver-assist applied sciences.
Audi was one of many first to construct within the functionality, on its A8 sedan in 2017, however in 2020 deserted efforts to activate it in Europe and the U.S.
BMW reportedly hopes to launch Degree 3 options on the 7 Collection sedan this 12 months. Stellantis mentioned in December that it’s going to introduce Degree 3 know-how — developed in partnership with BMW — on its vehicles by 2024.
Volvo Vehicles this 12 months plans to start out testing its Journey Pilot system, which it describes as “unsupervised autonomous driving” in California, the place it could debut forward of different markets.
Journey Pilot can be accessible as an add-on subscription on the automaker’s coming full-electric flagship SUV that can go into manufacturing later this 12 months at Volvo’s U.S. manufacturing facility close to Charleston, South Carolina.
Chief Product Officer Henrik Inexperienced says Volvo has purposely prevented utilizing the SAE degree designations as a result of they’ll trigger confusion.
Journey Pilot will initially solely be operational on highways and Volvo envisions it lowering the psychological pressure of driving in heavy visitors. When the system is engaged Volvo says it takes over accountability for the driving.
Kallenius mentioned Thursday that Mercedes was additionally engaged on bettering its Degree 2 driver-assist methods. “You will note far more refined Degree 2-Plus methods,” he mentioned. “We’re engaged on performance that goes approach past what we’ve got on the highway at present. To you as a driver, that can really feel like Degree 4 — so a automobile that drives autonomously.”
Reuters contributed to this report