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Mercedes becomes the first automaker to sell autonomous cars in the U.S. that don't come with a requirement that drivers watch the road (fortune.com)

submitted 7 months ago by MichaelTen to c/technology

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[–] cAUzapNEAGLb 86 points 7 months ago* (last edited 7 months ago) (17 children)

...

As of April 11, there were 65 Mercedes autonomous vehicles available for sale in California, Fortune has learned through an open records request submitted to the state’s DMV. One of those has since been sold, which marks the first sale of an autonomous Mercedes in California, according to the DMV. Mercedes would not confirm sales numbers. Select Mercedes dealerships in Nevada are also offering the cars with the new technology, known as “level 3” autonomous driving.

...

Drivers can activate Mercedes’s technology, called Drive Pilot, when certain conditions are met, including in heavy traffic jams, during the daytime, on spec ific California and Nevada freeways, and when the car is traveling less than 40 mph. Drivers can focus on other activities until the vehicle alerts them to resume control. The technology does not work on roads that haven’t been pre-approved by Mercedes, including on freeways in other states.

...

U.S. customers can buy a yearly subscription of Drive Pilot in 2024 EQS sedans and S-Class car models for $2,500.

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Mercedes is also working on developing level 4 capabilities. The automaker’s chief technology officer Markus Schäfer expects that level 4 autonomous technology will be available to consumers by 2030, Automotive News reported.

...

[–] [email protected] 57 points 7 months ago (11 children)

Hmm, so only on a very small number of predetermined routes, and at very slow speeds for those roads.

Still impressive, but not as impressive as the headline makes out.

[–] VindictiveJudge 50 points 7 months ago (8 children)

And definitely not worth the $2500 a year they're asking for the feature.

[–] Cryan24 33 points 7 months ago (1 children)

Chances are, If you can afford the car, then that amount is nothing to you.

[–] ours 14 points 7 months ago (1 children)

Having known one, some of their customers love their feature loaded cars to brag about and feel extra special. Some will definitely pay the 2.5k gladly.