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Mercedes Halts 'Eyes Off' Driving Feature
13 Jan
Summary
- Mercedes paused its Level 3 'eyes off' Drive Pilot feature due to low demand.
- High production costs and upcoming Level 2++ systems contributed to the decision.
- The feature faced limitations, including weather and highway restrictions.
Mercedes-Benz has paused the deployment of its 'eyes off' conditionally automated driving system, Drive Pilot. The company cited limited customer demand and significant production costs for the Level 3 technology. This decision means the revised S-Class, launching soon, will not feature the system.
Initially launched in late 2023, Drive Pilot allowed hands-free, eyes-off driving at speeds up to 40 mph in traffic jams on highways. However, its operational design domain was restrictive, limiting use to specific highways in California and Nevada, and only in Germany, under clear weather conditions and on mapped roads. The system also required specific sensor functionality, facing challenges with lidar supplier Luminar.
Mercedes is now prioritizing a new Level 2++ system, Drive Pilot Assist, designed for city use but requiring driver attention, similar to Tesla's FSD. The company indicated a potential future merger with Drive Pilot if regulatory environments become more favorable, acknowledging that newer systems will offer greater customer benefits.
