Long story short, Mercedes-Benz has become the first automaker to sell vehicles equipped with Level 3 self-driving technology directly to U.S. consumers. The EQS and S-Class sedans come with the Drive Pilot feature, which, unlike Tesla’s full self-driving beta, doesn’t require users to take their eyes off the road.
Mercedes’ Level 3 vehicle went on sale in December, but it can only be legally sold in California and Nevada, Fortune writes. The DMVs in both states approved the car for sale last year, making the company the only automaker authorized by the US government to sell the technology to American citizens.
Drive Pilot, which requires a $2,500 annual subscription, only works in certain situations and areas, such as on clear days, in heavy traffic, on certain highways in California and Nevada, and when driving below 40 mph. It doesn’t work on roads that Mercedes hasn’t pre-approved, and it can’t be used on construction sites.
While Drive Pilot is engaged, users can take their eyes off the road and their hands off the wheel, but they can’t fall asleep or move seats, as is common in Teslas. The vehicle is equipped with a surveillance camera in the driver display to ensure the driver is ready to take over if requested.
Read: Six levels of autonomous driving systems
Enabling this feature unlocks activities on the center display, allowing the driver to play games, watch videos and enjoy in-car entertainment features.
Road users in California and Nevada can spot a Mercedes using its self-driving feature by looking for turquoise lights in the vehicle’s rearview mirror, headlights and taillights. The same color lights are also displayed inside the car to let drivers know the system is active.
Waymo and GM’s Cruise operate robotaxis equipped with Level 4 self-driving technology, but they aren’t available for sale to the public, and the technology is far from foolproof: Cruise suspended its service after a pedestrian was hit by a car’s wheels and dragged 20 feet. Mercedes says it’s working on a Level 4 car, but won’t start selling it until 2030.
