Mercedes Benz is considered to be the top dog when it comes to luxury cars. This isn’t just because they’re made from the finest materials on the planet, but it is also because they’re leaders in research and innovation. This is why they have managed to beat all of their rivals in the self-driving goose chase
Mercs come with all sorts of driver’s assistance features and this year, they’ve been taken to a whole new level of vehicle autonomy, twice. That’s right, Mercedes (along with Nissan) are the first two automakers to display Level 3 autonomous driving features.
And recently, Mercedes has gotten to Level 4 autonomy, having developed a substitute for valets – another self-driving system. This one is even more impressive since you don’t even need a driver for the job.
The following looks at these two systems:
Level 3 self-driving
We begin with a system that was launched a couple of months ago, yet not many people are aware of it. That’s right, Mercedes developed a Level 3 self-driving system and put it in the latest models of their two flagship sedans – the S-Class and the EQS electric vehicle. These two cars have become the very first on the planet to be recognized at this level.
So, what does this system have to offer then? Well, you can expect the car to drive on its own but with the driver being on standby. It can control the car’s speed and hit the brakes when needed. What’s more impressive is that it can also change lanes when you call for it. The bottom line is that it can do impressive things but only under your supervision.
This system is allowed in Europe after Mercedes were able to prove that it is safe to the concerned authorities. It should be available in North American countries as well. Nissan has achieved a similar system under their ProPilot 2.0 technology on the all-new Nissan ARIYA electric vehicle. Till now, these two brands are the only ones that offer this.
Level 4 Driverless parking system
Now, this one is a lot more recent but it is even more impressive. Basically, the drivers of the cars with this system on it will be able to relax while their cars look for parking spots, all on their own. This means that they won’t need to supervise what’s happening or be anxious since the cars will be able to handle all sorts of road traffic.
Let’s give you some context first. The system is a joint venture between Mercedes and parts manufacturer Bosch, which has gone into the manufacturing of vehicle autonomy hardware. They have built a system that has been approved for commercial usage and is currently implemented in the parking lot of a German airport.
But how does it work though? It is rather simple really. You just drive your Merc into a parking lot and exit it. Turn on the automatic mode from your mobile phone app and the car will start to look for a space itself while you can go on and about your business. It is just like a valet service but there’s no charge and a lesser chance of your car being wrecked by a rookie.
The advantages of such a system cannot be overstated. It is a fact that looking for a parking spot when you have somewhere to be can be absolutely agonizing. In case you’re an inexperienced driver, moving in and out of tight spaces can also be difficult. Therefore this new driverless system fixes both the time and safety problems.
Mercedes’s R & D department is just great, but do you know what’s even greater? A reliable Mercedes parts supply that will guarantee your vehicles proper maintenance.
Mercedes’s innovations this year
Merc has been busy like all of their rivals but unlike most of them, they’ve actually completed and achieved a bunch of awesome milestones. They’ve obviously upgraded their autonomous driving systems to get way ahead of the competition. They have also launched some EQ cars, including the EQXX which has been unveiled not too long ago.
All of this innovation is important as the company has been on the end of some bad press. Their latest offering on their electric vehicles is an acceleration subscription. You basically pay a hefty sum to unlock better acceleration for your Merc. As expected, they are receiving a lot of flack for it, like their BMW rivals were for their heated seats subscriptions some time ago.