German automaker Mercedes-Benz plans to launch its MB.Drive Assist Pro driver assistance system in selected German cities by the end of 2026 before expanding availability nationwide in early 2027, according to company executives.
The automated driving system, first unveiled at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas earlier this year, is designed to provide door-to-door navigation support in urban environments.
MB.Drive Assist Pro operates at SAE Level 2 automation, allowing the vehicle to steer, brake and accelerate autonomously while requiring the driver to remain attentive and prepared to intervene at all times.
Mercedes-Benz said drivers may briefly remove their hands from the steering wheel but must continue monitoring the road continuously, a configuration commonly referred to as “hands-off, eyes-on” driving.
According to the company, the system is capable of handling many urban driving situations without driver input, although operation is currently limited to city environments.
Jörg Burzer, board member for development at Mercedes-Benz, said on LinkedIn following discussions with German Transport Minister Patrick Schnieder that the technology would initially become available in selected German cities before broader deployment.
A report by Handelsblatt said Stuttgart and Munich are expected to be the first cities to receive the system.
Mercedes-Benz said the Western-market version of MB.Drive Assist Pro is being developed in partnership with Nvidia, while a China-specific version launched last year was developed together with Momenta.
According to Mercedes-Benz, the system combines navigation and driving assistance technologies to allow vehicles to navigate urban traffic automatically from departure point to destination.
The company said its cooperative steering approach allows drivers to adjust steering inputs without deactivating the assistance system.
Ola Källenius, chief executive officer of Mercedes-Benz, previously described testing the system during a drive in San Francisco, saying the vehicle was able to navigate urban traffic for more than an hour without requiring intervention.
MB.Drive Assist Pro replaces the company’s earlier Drive Pilot technology, which operated at SAE Level 3 automation and was primarily designed for specific motorway driving conditions.
Mercedes-Benz said the new Level 2 system offers broader usability in urban traffic scenarios, including navigating intersections and handling stop-and-go traffic, while avoiding some of the higher hardware costs associated with Level 3 systems such as lidar sensors.
