Mercedes-Benz will test vehicles with self-driving capability in Beijing. As the first foreign automaker allowed to conduct autonomous car tests in China, Mercedes is setting a groundbreaking precedent.
Mercedes-Benz has received approval to test autonomous cars ranked at Level 4 in Beijing, meaning it can operate independently without human oversight for extended periods under certain conditions. Robotaxi services like Alphabet’s Waymo One and Baidu’s Apollo Go are classified at Level 4 according to the SAE scale of self-driving capability.
The specific tests that Mercedes' autonomous cars will perform include parking, reversing, and making left turns (including U-turns) in busy traffic, as reported on Chinese social media on August 2, according to Bloomberg.
The most advanced self-driving system available from Mercedes today is ranked Level 3, known as Drive Pilot, which is limited to only a few regions. A Level 3 car can operate independently for short periods but still requires monitoring.
The Drive Pilot system has significant limitations, as it is designed for use in traffic on select highways, requiring a lead car in front and favorable weather conditions. The system is currently limited to speeds of up to 40 mph, although Mercedes plans to increase this limit.
Competing systems, such as Tesla's Autopilot with Full Self-Driving and General Motors' Super Cruise, are rated at Level 2 as they still require the driver to monitor the road at all times and take control when needed.
Mercedes' self-driving system relies on various cameras and sensors equipped on modern cars, along with some additional system-specific hardware, including a lidar sensor, extra cameras at the front and rear, microphones to detect emergency vehicles, and a moisture sensor in the front wheelhouse to assess road conditions.
