Mercedes-Benz gets the green light to begin advanced autonomous driving tests in Beijing

The German manufacturer has now been able to begin testing its Level 4 autonomous driving system around Beijing, on certain roads designated for the purpose, after the Chinese authorities granted it the relevant authorisation. This permit was obtained in collaboration with the Chinese company WeRide, and allows Mercedes-Benz to carry out Level 4 autonomous driving tests in specific areas of the Chinese capital. The company thus aims to continue developing the hardware and software of the future autonomous driving systems that will be integrated into its private vehicles.

Level 4 of the SAE standard refers to fully autonomous driving, but only in predefined environments, and sits just one step below total autonomous driving without restrictions, represented by Level 5. A vehicle equipped with this technology must be capable of carrying out all driving tasks without the driver having to intervene at any point, provided it is within a predetermined area.

In this particular case, this project launched by Mercedes-Benz in China focuses on developing the vehicle’s environment recognition systems, using multiple sensors to do so. For these tests, two units of the German manufacturer’s S-Class are being used, specially equipped with LiDAR, radar sensors and cameras, which work together to provide a comprehensive view of the vehicle’s surroundings.

A leader in autonomous driving technology

Mercedes-Benz currently offers more than 40 driver assistance systems, including enhanced Level 2 features. This should come as no surprise when you consider that the company was the first to bring a Level 3 autonomous driving system to market.

This new project, launched now, represents a significant step forward for the German manufacturer on the road to implementing autonomous driving technologies in the global market, positioning the brand as a leader in innovation within the automotive industry.