California’s Department of Motor Vehicles has approved Mercedes-Benz’s Level 3 'DRIVE PILOT' system to be sold to the public, making it the first in the state to not require the driver’s attention at all times, Reuters reports.
The 'DRIVE PILOT' system allows drivers to take their attention away from the steering wheel while being able to reclaim control if needed.
With the approval, Mercedes-Benz plans to implement the feature in 2024 S-Class and EQS Sedan vehicles. The first deliveries of these vehicles are slated to happen later this year.
The DMV said that it may only be used under certain conditions, however: it may only be used during daylight while driving at 40 MPH or slower. The feature will only be permitted on California highways in the Bay Area, Central Valley, Los Angeles, Sacramento, San Diego, and the interstate highway between Southern California and Nevada.
The announcement undercuts competitor Tesla in their home state of California, which made up 16% of the carmaker's global deliveries last year, Reuters estimates. Though Tesla has advertised “Full Self-Driving” in some of their vehicles, its Autopilot feature meets only SAE Level 2, requiring the driver’s constant supervision.
