"Mercedes was one of the first automakers to offer a Level 3 driving system to its customers when it launched Drive Pilot with the electric EQS sedan and the gas-powered S-Class in the fall of 2023. At up to 40mph in traffic jam situations on highways, Drive Pilot provided hands-free, eyes-off driving that allows the driver to look away from the road at something else, like a game or a movie. It was big leap up from hands-free Level 2 systems - Tesla's Autopilot and Full Self-Driving (FSD) included - which still require the driver to be in full control, looking ahead and paying attention while the system is active."
"But now Mercedes says it is temporarily scrapping the feature, citing middling demand and the high production costs of developing the technology. On top of that, the automaker is getting ready to roll out a new Level 2++ feature called Drive Pilot Assist that is rolling out this year. The system is similar to Tesla's FSD in that it can be used in cities but requires the driver to stay attentive."
""We don't want to offer a system which customer-wise doesn't have much benefits and we know another system will come with the next two [or] three years with much more customer benefit," said Mercedes spokesperson Tobias Mueller. Mueller said that Drive Pilot's customer appeal was limited by its operational design domain, or ODD, meaning the set of specific circumstances and criteria that are necessary for the system to work. The system was only legal to use in Germany in Europe, and on certain highways in California and Nevada in the US."
Mercedes is temporarily pausing its Level 3 Drive Pilot system and will not include it in the revised S-Class arriving at the end of the month. Drive Pilot launched in fall 2023 on the EQS and S-Class and enabled hands-free, eyes-off driving up to 40 mph in highway traffic jams. The system's limited operational design domain (ODD) and legal availability only in Germany and parts of California and Nevada constrained customer appeal. Mercedes cites middling demand and high development costs and plans to introduce a Level 2++ Drive Pilot Assist this year that requires driver attentiveness.
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