Mercedes to Roll Out Level 3 Semi-Autonomous Driving Systems in 2024

Chris Teague
by Chris Teague

Marketing buzzwords and questionable advertising practices have led many to believe that self-driving cars are a real thing that people can go out and buy today. However, despite the fact that some automakers literally call their driver assistance tech “self-driving,” there are precisely zero fully autonomous cars on sale. While it will be years before truly self-driving cars become a reality, automakers are developing more advanced systems that have much of the autonomous experience with some caveats. Mercedes is set to be the first company to offer a Level 3 system, which enables hands-free driving in most situations but requires a human’s attention at all times.


The conditional automated driving system is called Drive Pilot, and it’s scheduled for a public rollout in late 2023 to owners in California and Nevada. Regulations are a significant challenge in the U.S., as each state has different rules and regulations around what’s allowed on the road. Mercedes said its initial rollout to two western states would expand to others in the future but noted the differing legal frameworks in other areas.


The Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) splits autonomous driving systems into six levels. Level 0 involves complete human control with no computer intervention. Level 5 is complete automation, which requires no driver input. Today’s most advanced systems, including Ford’s Blue Cruise and GM’s Super Cruise, are Level 2 (partial automation), which means the vehicle can steer and handle acceleration and braking, but the human must remain alert and available to take control at any time. 


Level 3 systems, also called conditional automation, control the vehicle in most situations and can detect changes in the surrounding environment. However, they still require an attentive driver to handle some tasks and emergencies. Tesla’s “full self-driving” (FSD) system, which is targeting Level 5 automation, is evolving as drivers participate in the beta program but remains stuck at Level 2. Though the automaker updates its vehicles’ capability through software updates, Level 5, the highest tier of automation, is a long way off. 


[Image: Mercedes-Benz]


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Chris Teague
Chris Teague

Chris grew up in, under, and around cars, but took the long way around to becoming an automotive writer. After a career in technology consulting and a trip through business school, Chris began writing about the automotive industry as a way to reconnect with his passion and get behind the wheel of a new car every week. He focuses on taking complex industry stories and making them digestible by any reader. Just don’t expect him to stay away from high-mileage Porsches.

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  • Tassos Tassos on Sep 29, 2023

    The EQS is the best looking BEV, better than even the only Tesla I would ever consider (the S) and more luxurious inside etc etc


    The self driving features will come in handy when I'm 110 and my eyesight and reaction times start to suffer.


    But that's four decades away, and only Tim recommends 40 year old "used cars"

    • ToolGuy ToolGuy on Sep 29, 2023

      @Tassos, if you are taking questions:

      • What does "EQ" stand for? EQE Sedan is the electric counterpart of the E-Class am I doing that right? But then the EQE SUV parallels the GLE SUV? What happened to the G and the L? Why not EQGLE?

      • The mbusa.com website runs like it's 1998, so it took me awhile to get to this next one: If I build a 2023 Exclusive Trim EQE 350+ SUV, what does the "350" mean? How about the "+"?

      • How do you personally differentiate between the EQS Sedan and the EQS SUV? When you say "The EQS is the best looking BEV" do you mean the EQS Sedan or the EQS SUV? If the Sedan, before or after the clay model was left to droop in the sun?

  • ToolGuy ToolGuy on Oct 05, 2023

    Had my first EQS Sedan sighting today (three states away from home).

    Was in a fairly ritzy area and couldn't study it, since law enforcement would have been along shortly to remind me that people like me shouldn't be in a place like that.

  • Bd2 Eh, the Dollar has held up well against most other currencies and the IRA is actually investing in critical industries, unlike the $6 Trillion in pandemic relief/stimulus which was just a cash giveaway (also rife with fraud).What Matt doesn't mention is that the price of fuel (particularly diesel) is higher relative to the price of oil due to US oil producers exporting records amount of oil and refiners exporting records amount of fuel. US refiners switched more and more production to diesel fuel, which lowers the supply of gas here (inflating prices). But shouldn't that mean low prices for diesel?Nope, as refiners are just exporting the diesel overseas, including to Mexico.
  • Jor65756038 As owner of an Opel Ampera/Chevrolet Volt and a 1979 Chevy Malibu, I will certainly not buy trash like the Bolt or any SUV or crossover. If GM doesn´t offer a sedan, then I will buy german, sweedish, italian, asian, Tesla or whoever offers me a sedan. Not everybody like SUV´s or crossovers or is willing to buy one no matter what.
  • Bd2 While Hyundai has enough models that offer a hybrid variant, problem has been inadequate supply, so this should help address that.In particular, US production of PHEVs will make them eligible for the tax credit.
  • Zipper69 "At least Lincoln finally learned to do a better job of not appearing to have raided the Ford parts bin"But they differentiate by being bland and unadventurous and lacking a clear brand image.
  • Zipper69 "The worry is that vehicles could collect and share Americans' data with the Chinese government"Presumably, via your cellphone connection? Does the average Joe in the gig economy really have "data" that will change the balance of power?
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