Early 2025, Mercedes-Benz Presents A New Era Of Autonomous Driving In Germany And Can Even Watch Movies

JAKARTA - Mercedes-Benz updated the SAE Level 3 Pilot Drive system in Germany after obtaining approval from the German Federal Motorcycle Transport Authority.

With this approval, you can drive automatically without seeing and without holding the wheel up to 95 km/hour, allowing the driver to watch, read, or send text messages.

Starting in early 2025, this system will be available for the luxury models S-Class and EQS along the German autobahan road (the toll road that stretches along 13,191 km). Drivers can enjoy this convenience at no additional cost if their car is equipped with Drive Pilot, simply through over-the-air software updates or visits to official workshops.

Quoted from the manufacturer's release, Friday, December 20, when the Drive Pilot is activated, drivers are legally allowed to carry out various other activities, such as watching movies through the Sony RIDEEVU application, reading digital newspapers through the MBUX system, working, or simply relaxing. With this system, the usual monotonous travel time can be used more productively or fun, while the car handles driving tasks.

"I am proud that the fastest automatic driving system in the world comes from Mercedes-Benz. With a safety-first approach, we believe we are on the right track to achieve new achievements in automated driving," said CTO Mercedes-Benz Group AG Markus Sch wayfer.

To ensure safety, Drive Pilot uses 35 advanced sensors, including radar, camera, lidar, and ultrasonics. The system is designed to manage various situations on the highway. If the driver fails to take control after the warning, the system will automatically stop the vehicle safely while turning on the danger warning light.

The system is offered at a price of 5,950 euros, which is considered competitive compared to similar technologies in the international market. However, Drive Pilot still has some limitations: this system cannot be used on narrow residential roads, and drivers are not allowed to sleep during travel.