A restricted variety of U.S. Mercedes-Benz EV drivers will quickly have entry to Drive Pilot, a driver-assistance system that Mercedes claims will let drivers take their eyes off the street in sure conditions.

Drive Pilot guarantees to advance self-driving functionality as a result of it is what Mercedes claims is an SAE Stage 3 system providing “conditionally automated driving.” On this case, which means drivers can take their arms off the wheel at low speeds on pre-mapped highways, but in addition take their eyes off the street—one thing that is not allowed with Stage 2 techniques.

Drive Pilot launched in Germany final yr, however this week Mercedes introduced that it had obtained regulator approval to deploy the system in California and Nevada. With that regulatory hurdle cleared, what Mercedes calls the “production-ready” model of Drive Pilot will seem later this yr, beginning with a “restricted fleet” of EQS vehicles, adopted by a broader rollout in early 2024.

Mercedes-Benz Drive Pilot

In line with a Mercedes press launch, Drive Pilot will likely be put in on 2024-model-year variations of each the EQS and the gasoline S-Class sedan and activated via the Mercedes Me Join app retailer. As a result of Drive Pilot has solely obtained formal approval in California and Nevada, vehicles geared up with the system will solely be bought via collaborating sellers in these states.

Pricing begins at $2,500 for an annual subscription. Mercedes claims a subscription-based mannequin is extra applicable as a result of it presents added flexibility for patrons. If an EQS or S-Class proprietor strikes to a different state the place the system is not permitted, or to any space with out the mapped highways vital for the system to function, they will merely cease paying the subscription, Mercedes says.

Drive Pilot is not simply software program although. It consists of further sensors on high of what is already provided within the Driver Help Package deal for the EQS sedan and S-Class. They embody lidar, a digital camera within the rear window, microphones for detecting the sirens from emergency autos, and a road-wetness sensor in a wheel nicely. Drive Pilot-equipped vehicles even have redundant steering and braking {hardware}, plus massive buttons on the steering wheel to activate and deactivate the system.

Mercedes-Benz Drive Pilot

Such a system suits the character of the EQS, which has been a flagship for tech from the beginning. Mercedes has teased that Drive Pilot is on the way in which for different fashions as nicely—like probably a smaller manufacturing EV based mostly on the Idea CLA-Class just lately proven on the 2023 Munich auto present.

Tesla’s driver-assistance techniques have attracted quite a lot of consideration from regulators. Early this yr the NHTSA identified that system posed “an unreasonable danger to motorcar security.”