Sign up for our weekly emails to stay up to date on the latest news!
Mercedes-Benz has gained approval to test special marker lights for automated driving across Germany. These turquoise lights signal when the vehicle’s DRIVE PILOT system, a top-tier Level-3 automated driving technology, is active. This milestone highlights Germany’s leadership in automated driving and marks a key step in enhancing road safety and technology acceptance.
Key Highlights
- First in Europe: Germany leads with approval for testing automated driving marker lights.
- Turquoise Color: Chosen to distinguish automated driving from other vehicle lights.
- DRIVE PILOT Speed: Enables hands-free driving up to 95 km/h.
Mercedes-Benz is pioneering the future of driving with its latest approval from the Stuttgart Regional Council. This nationwide permission, valid until July 2028, allows the company to test marker lights that show when a vehicle is in automated mode. These lights are crucial for informing other drivers, traffic authorities, and police whether the driver can legally perform tasks like texting while the car operates autonomously.
The marker lights are built into the front, rear, and side mirror indicators. When DRIVE PILOT kicks in, they glow turquoise—a color selected for its standout visibility and low confusion risk with existing lights or signals. Research backs turquoise as the best choice, outperforming other colors in both clarity and recognition, making it a smart pick for safety and standardization.
Germany’s role as a trailblazer shines through here. It was the first nation to greenlight Level-3 automated driving, and Mercedes-Benz seized that chance in 2021, earning the world’s first international type approval for DRIVE PILOT. Now, with this testing phase, Germany continues to set the pace in Europe, following similar exemptions in Nevada and California, where trials began in 2023.
Markus Schäfer, Member of the Board of Management of Mercedes‑Benz Group AG, Chief Technology Officer, Development & Purchasing, said: “We take a holistic approach to automated driving development at Mercedes-Benz, considering aspects whose significance grows with increasing fleet size. The use of marker lights and the communication between the vehicle and its surroundings is therefore the next evolutionary milestone for Mercedes-Benz. I am proud that this special exemption acknowledges our efforts to promote acceptance and trust in this technology.”
The testing aims to refine the tech and shape future laws for mass production. The DRIVE PILOT system itself is a game-changer, letting drivers go hands-free at speeds up to 95 km/h on German highways’ right lanes—making it the fastest Level-3 system in a production car worldwide. Tests will use specialized vehicles to ensure everything runs smoothly.
This approval isn’t just about tech—it’s about trust. By using turquoise marker lights, Mercedes-Benz is making automated driving clearer and safer for everyone on the road. As testing rolls out, the insights gained could pave the way for broader use, solidifying Germany’s spot at the forefront of this automotive revolution.
Sign up for our weekly emails to stay up to date on the latest news!
