Mercedes-Benz S-Class
The driver can let go of the steering wheel in certain situations.
(Photo: Daimler)
Immendingen At first glance, there are only two buttons above the thumb hollows in the steering wheel. But Daimler engineer Michael Decker assures: Whoever presses it, enters a completely different world. A second later, three turquoise lights flash around the steering wheel. The so-called drive pilot in the S-Class is now active, the car drives autonomously.
“Now we can turn to the sideline,” says Decker proudly and lets go of the steering wheel. The head of the Automated Driving division at the Mercedes manufacturer switches on the ZDF kitchen battle on the display. The manager pays no more attention to the hustle and bustle outside on the four-lane road. “You will soon really be able to do that in level 3 operation,” enthuses Decker: “This is the big paradigm shift.”
The highly automated S-Class with the developer on board still only curves around on the Daimler test site in Immendingen, Baden. But from the second half of 2021, the Mercedes Drive-Pilot could be used for the first time in everyday life on German autobahns – at least on suitable sections of the route, in traffic jams or slow-moving traffic and a maximum speed of 60 kilometers per hour. That is the current legal situation.
The S-Class is likely to be the first production car in the world in which not only assistance systems are used, for example, for keeping in lane, but also actually have a technical pilot who enables passengers to completely turn away from the traffic. The responsibility is transferred from the driver to the technology.
“This is a major innovation step,” states Stefan Bratzel, Director of the Center of Automotive Management (CAM). “It is very possible that Mercedes will really be the pioneer in this field.”
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