Mercedes to Test Level 4 Self-Driving Tech in Beijing

Mercedes has received approval to test #Level 4 self-driving technology in the Chinese capital of Beijing – the first international automaker to do so.

The company announced the news in a post on its WeChat account.

Level 4 is defined by the Society of Automotive Engineers as when a vehicle is in total control of driving tasks under specific circumstances, or in a designated area.

The approval will allow Mercedes to commence testing of the tech on both urban roads and highways. In slower moving scenarios, it is understood a variety of maneuvers will be assessed, including parking, reversing and turning left.

On highways, meanwhile, the Mercedes autonomous vehicles (AVs) will change lanes to avoid slower traffic and negotiate toll booths autonomously.

Initially at least, two S-Class sedans retro-fitted with lidar, millimeter wave radar and cameras will be tested.

Beijing has been at the forefront of China’s drive to accelerate the introduction of autonomous driving technology, becoming the first capital city in the world to green-light driverless taxis in March of last year.

The city’s 37-square mile High-Level Automated Demonstration Area (BJHAD), located in a suburb to the south-east of the city, has established itself as one of the foremost hubs for testing of AVs in the country.

Related:Driverless Taxis Approved to Run in Beijing

Self-driving taxis, shuttle buses, street sweepers, delivery vehicles and more are regularly assessed across the zone.

Permission to test Level 4 tech in Beijing can be considered something of a coup for Mercedes, with the likes of Tesla and local big player XPeng yet to gain approval.

It reflects the progress the German giant has made over the past few years in developing and marketing its automated and autonomous solutions. 

Mercedes became the first automaker to offer Level 3 tech – considered conditional automation – in its home market, when it was made available on the S-Class and EQS in May of 2022.

The Drive Pilot tech has also subsequently become the first Level 3 rated system to be sold in the United States, with the states of California and Nevada following Germany’s lead in 2023.

However, although Mercedes is leading the way in terms of testing in Beijing, it’s not the only foreign automaker to have been granted a Level 4 testing license in China.

In 2023, General Motors gained approval to conduct a testing program of its Cadillac Lyriq SUVs in Shanghai.