Mercedes-Benz has announced that its autonomous driving system, DRIVE Pilot, will soon be available in China, directly competing with Tesla’s Full Self-Driving offering. Markus Schaefer, the Mercedes CTO, confirmed the news to Reuters, but did not reveal the launch date.
Earlier this year, Mercedes became the first automaker certified to operate level 3 autonomous driving vehicles in the US, starting in Nevada, and it plans to expand nationwide with an 80mph top speed. While the regulatory environment in the US has varied by state, it is unclear how China will handle the new technology.
Mercedes’ approach to self-driving has been cautious, and the company has worked with regulators to ensure certification in areas where it operates. Unlike Tesla, which has reduced the number of sensors around its vehicles and relies on camera-guided autonomous driving, Mercedes has parallel sensors, including cameras, lidar, and sonic systems, as a failsafe.
Although Mercedes has emerged as a leader in autonomous driving technology, challenging Tesla and other traditional competitors, its careful expansion means it may take some time to catch up in terms of operating vehicles. Nevertheless, with the rollout of DRIVE Pilot in China, Mercedes is poised to gain significant ground in the autonomous driving market.
