To qualify for the licence allowing for Level 4 autonomous driving, Mercedes-Benz vehicles equipped with additional technical applications from Baidu Apollo undertook extensive testing at the National Pilot Zone (Beijing and Hebei) for Intelligent Mobility, with test drivers qualified to handle automated driving.
Daimler has already obtained automated driving test licences in Germany and the US, and has pushed forward automated driving development in China, working together with its local partners to adapt its technologies to China’s traffic environment for consistently improving the safety of all road users as its first concern.
Urban traffic is one of the biggest challenges on the road to autonomous driving. With this approval, Mercedes-Benz test vehicles will now begin real road tests to further perfect the technology in the Chinese capital, a metropolis with unique and complex urban traffic situations.
Daimler has been setting standards in vehicle safety. Its Intelligent Drive assistance systems have seen major advancements on the road to autonomous driving. The Mercedes-Benz S-Class and E-Class sedans offer cutting-edge partially automated driving technology through Intelligent Drive. For instance, the new DIGITAL LIGHT technology increases safety through extending the visual support for driving assistance systems through sensors that detect other road users and adapt light distribution in all situations.
Together with Baidu, Daimler is engaging in research on safer solutions in automated driving for China through the open source Apollo autonomous driving platform. The goal is a deep understanding of the special requirements for automated driving in China, and to develop an early intuition regarding local technical trends.
“Autonomous driving is a key pillar of our global C.A.S.E. strategy, and today’s (July 6) announcement marks a major step forward for our innovation efforts here in China," said Daimler management board member Hubertus Troska.
