Mercedes becomes the first Tier 3 certified automaker in the US.

Mercedes is the first automaker in the US to develop a Level 3 driver assistance system. Currently only valid in Nevada.

A few weeks ago at CES, Mercedes announced that it would be the first automaker to earn SAE Level 3 Automated Driver Assistance System (ADAS) certification. This became official just recently when the brand confirmed that its ADAS Drive Pilot is now compliant with Nevada Chapter 482A, which governs the use of autonomous vehicle technology on the state’s roads. This makes Drive Pilot the only legal Level 3 system in the United States today.

Mercedes is the first automaker in the US to develop a Level 3 driver assistance system.

Level 3 capabilities, as defined by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), allow the vehicle to handle “all aspects of driving”once enabled, but still require the driver to remain alert to regain control when needed. This is a big step up from the Tier 2 systems we have today: Tesla’s Full Self-Driving, Ford’s Blue Cruise, and GM’s Super Cruise. They are all complete systems on the highway, but the driver must remain very attentive, including keeping their hands on the wheel, and they are responsible for what ADAS does when activated.

On the other hand, the Mercedes Drive Pilot system can manage bumper-to-bumper collision situations at speeds up to 65 km/h “in suitable areas and even in heavy traffic”without the driver having to keep their hands on the steering wheel. Once switched on, the system retains its the voice, stays in the stream, moves to the destination programmed into the GPS, and can even respond to “unexpected traffic situations and deal with them on its own, i.e. with evasive maneuvers on the lane or by braking.”

Currently only valid in Nevada.

To do this, the Drive Pilot system uses numerous sensors scattered throughout the vehicle, including cameras, LiDAR, radar and ultrasonic sensors, and microphones, to keep an eye on approaching ambulances. The system even compares data received on board with data received from GPS to always know where the vehicle is on the road.

Currently, Drive Pilot is only available for the 2024 S-Class and EQS sedan. Both vehicles are expected to hit the roads in the second half of this year.