Mercedes will be able to sell cars in California with level 3 automatic driving

The California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) gave the green light on June 8 to Mercedes-Benz, approving the use of its self-driving system on special highways, which does not require full driver control. The German automaker is becoming like this the very first to receive permission to sell or rent cars with such a factory in California, expecting Tesla, despite the fact that the US state represents one of the main markets of Elon Musk’s company: how reports the agency Reutersit is where it delivered 16% of its vehicles worldwide in 2022.

In particular, Mercedes-Benz’s “Drive pilot” system was approved by the DMV level 3 of the Society of Automotive Engineers (Sae), which allows drivers to take their eyes off the wheelwhile being ready to take back control of the vehicle should the need arise. The system can also be used only on the highwayduring the day, at a speed not exceeding 40 miles per hour (more than 64 kilometers per hour).

The German automaker has announced that it will put the system on the 2024 S-Class and EQS Sedan models, on cars sent to the US market. In this sense, the first deliveries are already planned for the end of 2023. There are other automated driving systems approved for use on American roads, such as for example. Tesla’s Autopilot or General Motors’ Super Cruisewhich are however classified in SAE level 2 and therefore require motorists to never be distracted.

The approval granted gives Mercedes-Benz permission to offer its “Drive pilot” system on California’s Bay Area, Central Valley, Los Angeles, Sacramento and San Diego highways and on highways connecting Southern California to Nevada. Earlier this year, Mercedes-Benz also received approval to implement advanced self-driving systems on Nevada roads.