TL;DR
Mercedes-Benz is pausing the rollout of its Level 3 'eyes-off' Drive Pilot system. The updated S‑Class due at the end of the month will not include the Level 3 capability; reasons and a timeline for any reinstatement are not confirmed in the source.
What happened
Mercedes-Benz has put a temporary hold on the wider deployment of Drive Pilot, the automaker's Level 3 "eyes-off" conditionally automated driving feature. According to reporting first published by Handelsblatt and summarized by the source, the revised S‑Class set to arrive at the end of this month will not be offered with the Level 3 system. Drive Pilot had previously been available in both Europe and the United States, making Mercedes one of the earliest carmakers to offer a Level 3 automation product. The available excerpt does not specify the reasons for this pause, nor does it provide a schedule for when or whether the feature will return to new vehicles or be made available to existing owners; those points are not confirmed in the source.
Why it matters
- The immediate availability of a high-profile Level 3 option in Mercedes' flagship S‑Class is being removed for the upcoming model release.
- Drive Pilot had been accessible in multiple markets (Europe and the U.S.), so the pause affects a deployed automated driving capability rather than just a pilot program.
- Mercedes had been among the first manufacturers to commercialize Level 3 automation, so the pause is notable for industry observers tracking autonomous-driving adoption.
- Timeline and reasons for the pause are not confirmed in the source.
Key facts
- Mercedes-Benz is pausing the rollout of Drive Pilot, described as a Level 3 "eyes-off" automated driving feature.
- The revised S‑Class arriving at the end of this month will not include the Level 3 system.
- Drive Pilot had been available in Europe and the United States prior to the announced pause.
- Handelsblatt is cited as the first outlet to report the change.
- Mercedes was among the early automakers to offer a Level 3 automated driving product.
- The source excerpt does not provide an official Mercedes statement explaining the pause.
- The source excerpt does not detail a timeline for reinstating the feature.
What to watch next
- Whether Mercedes issues an official statement explaining the reasons for the pause (not confirmed in the source).
- If and when Drive Pilot will be reinstated for the revised S‑Class or offered via a later update (not confirmed in the source).
- Whether the pause affects other Mercedes models or markets beyond the revised S‑Class and the previously served regions (not confirmed in the source).
Quick glossary
- Drive Pilot: Mercedes-Benz's branded Level 3 automated driving system, described as allowing "eyes-off" driving under certain conditions.
- Level 3 (conditional automation): An automation level where the vehicle can perform driving tasks and monitoring under certain conditions, but the driver must be ready to intervene when requested.
- S‑Class: Mercedes-Benz's flagship sedan line, often used to introduce advanced technologies for the brand.
- Handelsblatt: A German business newspaper; cited in the source as the first outlet to report the change to Drive Pilot availability.
Reader FAQ
Is Drive Pilot permanently discontinued?
Not confirmed in the source.
Will the revised S‑Class include Level 3 when it goes on sale?
The source states the revised S‑Class arriving at the end of the month will not have the Level 3 system.
Was Drive Pilot previously available anywhere?
Yes — the source indicates Drive Pilot had been available in Europe and the United States.
Why did Mercedes pause the feature?
Not confirmed in the source.
Mercedes-Benz is pausing the roll-out of Drive Pilot, an "eyes off" conditionally automated driving feature that was available in Europe and the US. As first reported by German publication Handelsblatt,…
Sources
- Mercedes temporarily scraps its Level 3 ‘eyes-off’ driving feature
- Mercedes-Benz's MB.Drive Assist Pro is literally next level
- DRIVE PILOT Automated Driving
- Mixed signals in the L3 automated driving market
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