Mercedes-Benz Can Now Sell Semi-Autonomous Vehicles In California
Mercedes-Benz USA received approval to be the first company to sell to consumers in California vehicles equipped with an automated driving system.
The California Department of Motor Vehicles said it issued an autonomous vehicle deployment permit allowing Mercedes-Benz USA LLC to offer its Drive Pilot automated driving system on designated state highways under certain conditions without the active control of a human driver.
Atlanta-based Mercedes-Benz USA is now the first company authorized to sell or lease to the public vehicles outfitted with what’s called an SAE Level 3 automated driving system, according to the California DMV.
Under the deployment permit, Mercedes-Benz can offer its Drive Pilot system in the Bay Area, Central Valley, Los Angeles, Sacramento and San Diego, but the system can only be operated on state highways — no city or county streets — during the day at a maximum speed of 40 miles per hour.
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