In the future, S-Class drivers will be able to have the Drive Pilot drive them over the autobahn.
Munich Daimler Head of Development Markus Schäfer is certain: After 136 years of automotive history, a new era is now beginning. After all, his group is currently initiating a “radical paradigm shift” – the dream of the robot car is getting closer. “The lunar probe has landed,” says Schäfer.
The reason for its euphoria: Mercedes-Benz was the first vehicle manufacturer in the world to receive a so-called “system approval” for highly automated driving (Level 3) from the Federal Motor Transport Authority (KBA). This means that from now on, the brand with the three-pointed star is no longer only allowed to use assistance systems to keep its lane in its luxury S-Class sedan, but can also offer a technical pilot that enables the driver to turn away from the traffic at times.
For the first time, responsibility is completely transferred to the technology – at least on suitable motorway sections, in traffic jams or slow-moving traffic and at a maximum speed of 60 kilometers per hour. This is what the legislator in Germany intends to do.
Daimler manager Schäfer speaks of a “pioneering achievement” and a “breakthrough”. In fact, with their “Drive-Pilot” the Swabians are becoming the pioneers in the industry. Because the “autopilot” of the US electric rival Tesla is strictly speaking just a level 2 plus system. And Audi and BMW have not yet approved level 3 for the A8 or the iNext.
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Google, Amazon and Aurora are aiming for level 5 right away
Even Daimler is still a long way from the ideal of a car without a steering wheel, in which the computer drives from A to B in every situation without the assistance of a person (level 5). Nevertheless, the evolutionary approach of the world’s oldest vehicle manufacturer in the development of autonomous driving could prove to be more productive than the path taken by many tech companies.
The Google subsidiary Waymo, Amazons Zoox or Aurora have been burning a lot of money for years trying to establish a revolutionary level 5 system immediately. However, the attackers have not yet got beyond the operation of small robot fleets in individual cities. Their technology is far from mature and extremely expensive.
Daimler, on the other hand, can monetize its progress directly, level by level. The group will initially offer its Drive-Pilot as special equipment for presumably several thousand euros from 2022 exclusively in the S-Class and a few months later also in the fully electric sister model EQS.
The system can be used on 13,191 kilometers on local motorways – this corresponds de facto to every single motorway section in this country. International use is to take place gradually as soon as the legal situation in other markets allows.
“With the lidar-based system, we have developed an innovative technology for our vehicles that offers customers a unique, luxurious driving experience and gives them the most important thing: time,” explained Mercedes-Benz CEO Schäfer.
In fact, the Drive-Pilot is seen internally as a kind of motorway chauffeur. If the traffic slows down, the driver only needs to press two buttons above the thumb hollows in the steering wheel – and he can turn to sideline activities.
Netflix is allowed, sleep is forbidden
You can then surf the Internet or stream Netflix, for example. On the other hand, it would be forbidden to sleep or leave the driver’s seat. The reason: the driver must be able to take over the wheel again within ten seconds in the event of danger. Nevertheless, thanks not least to the Drive-Pilot, Daimler hopes to sell more digital services in its cars in the future. Especially since people are stuck in traffic jams for more than 520,000 hours a year on German autobahns alone.
Schäfer is confident that the willingness to buy new high-tech features is “unbelievably high,” that the Drive-Pilot will strike with customers. The level 3 system is particularly interesting “for commuters or on holiday trips,” says Albert Waas. The auto expert from the Boston Consulting Group believes that big money can only be achieved with level 4 systems, i.e. when the technical systems carry out all driving tasks independently.
“The customer can either purchase the automated driving function directly when buying a car for around 10,000 to 15,000 euros or book it later if necessary for five to 15 euros a day,” states Waas. Vehicle manufacturers such as Daimler can also use subscriptions that can be booked at a later date to reach customers who would initially shy away from the high costs of special equipment when purchasing them.
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