Like a learner driver displaying L indicators on their car to warn different highway customers to be cautious round them, Mercedes-Benz is implementing turquoise-colored lights to speak when a car is working in an automatic driving mode.

Such a system is coming to the roads quickly, at the least in California and Nevada the place Mercedes has been given approval to be used of particular exterior lighting on its autos with automated driving modes.

Presently these autos are the 2024 EQS and 2024 S-Class, each of which have an SAE Stage 3-rated automated driver-assist function that delivers true eyes-off, hands-off functionality at as much as 40 mph on choose highways.

The expertise, often known as Drive Pilot, will solely operate in California and Nevada on the subject of the U.S., on account of an acceptable regulatory setting in these states. It has additionally been launched in Mercedes’ dwelling market of Germany. Mercedes this week was additionally granted permission to check Drive Pilot on public roads in Beijing, China.

Mercedes-Benz Drive Pilot

Mercedes-Benz Drive Pilot

Mercedes-Benz Drive Pilot

In California, Mercedes will solely be capable of use the turquoise lights for testing functions, for an preliminary interval of two years. In Nevada, will probably be allowed on autos offered to the general public, beginning with the 2026 mannequin yr.

Mercedes desires the business to standardize turquoise-colored lights to speak when a car is working in an automatic driving mode. In line with the automaker, the colour has each physiological and psychological advantages over different colours, one among which is a transparent differentiation from current car lighting and site visitors indicators equivalent to site visitors lights or emergency lighting. The SAE additionally has the J13134 commonplace that outlines a car driving with a Stage 3 system engaged can use turquoise exterior lights to speak that the car’s automated driving mode is lively.

Automakers have appeared at numerous strategies for an automatic car to speak with different highway customers. These have ranged from lights to digital shows and animations and even a system that mimics human eyes. To this point, solely Mercedes has progressed to having a system allowed to function on public roads.