Mercedes-Benz has announced that it has become the first international manufacturer authorized to test Level 4 autonomous driving technologies in China.
This approval will allow the German brand to start testing models equipped with Level 4 autonomous driving on the roads and highways of Beijing.
This level of autonomous driving allows the car to take control of all major driving components. It is capable of driving autonomously, but only on predetermined routes. In the event that the car deviates from the defined route, driver intervention is required. If the driver does not intervene, the vehicle activates the safety protocol that immediately immobilizes the car.
Therefore, Mercedes-Benz will now have the opportunity to test and evaluate the performance of the autonomous driving system under various conditions, such as parking, making U-turns, and turning left on busy roads, all without driver intervention.
It is worth noting that Mercedes-Benz currently offers Drive Pilot, a Level 3 autonomous driving system that is available in Germany and the USA.
In addition, the German brand recently confirmed that 15 models will now offer the function of Automatic Lane Change to overtake a vehicle, a system that will be available in 33 European countries.
