MB.Drive Assist Pro, Mercedes’ equivalent of Tesla’s FSD/TAD, is scheduled for release in the first half of 2027.

Mercedes announced an expansion of its partnership with Nvidia and officially stated that it will introduce its autonomous driving system (SAE Level 2) in the first half of 2027. This is intended to be equivalent to Tesla’s FSD/TAD, a system capable of driving the car from start to finish (point-to-point) under human supervision and responsibility, without requiring excessive human involvement in steering, monitoring signs, or the route.

Mercedes abandons its own solution in favor of Nvidia

Mercedes was the first car manufacturer in Germany to receive approval to deploy a partially autonomous driving system (SAE Level 3, “eyes off the road”) called Mercedes Drive Pilot. However, the software had numerous limitations; even recently, after several years of supposed development, it would suddenly shut down when a motorcycle rider squeezed between cars on the road. As a result, the company quietly stopped promoting this feature and decided to opt for other solutions. In the current announcement regarding the new MB.Drive Assist Pro, the old Mercedes Drive Pilot is now merely referred to as anonymous “established assistance systems.”

Mercedes Drive Pilot during tests in the Mercedes EQS (c) Mercedes

The new MB.Drive Assist Pro driver assistance system is theoretically inferior because it is classified at a lower level (non-autonomous, SAE Level 2; practically: 2++, meaning it requires constant human supervision). However, all the presentations indicate that the software is far more functional. It handles traffic well both on highways and in cities, capable of navigating from start to destination. There are also no strange restrictions such as a maximum speed limit of 60 km/h or the requirement for other vehicles on the road (!).

MB.Drive Assist Pro in the Mercedes CLA Electric

MB.Drive Assist Pro is capable of changing lanes, entering and exiting highways, making proper turns at intersections—at least according to its promises. It requires “only” a suitable, fairly modern car equipped with Nvidia-based computers that can handle the Alpamayo software. It utilizes 10 cameras, 5 radars, and 12 ultrasonic sensors. Mercedes even claims to be the first car manufacturer to offer such a system, and this is true as the company aims to fully comply with UNECE R171 regulations. Tesla requested that certain rules be exempted due to their alleged impracticality (“people don’t drive this way”).

The software will begin being sent to selected Mercedes buyers at the end of 2026 as part of a beta testing phase. Full availability of the service is expected in the first half of 2027.

Article Rating

Reader Ratings

[Total: 3 votes Average: 4.7]

Don’t miss new content — CLICK and FOLLOW Elektrowoz.pl on Google News. You might also be interested in the following ads: