Mercedes-Benz has achieved a landmark victory, becoming the first automotive manufacturer globally to secure permits for specialized exterior marker lights designed for automated driving systems in both California and Nevada. This pioneering approval marks a significant step forward in the development and public acceptance of automated driving technology. The California permit is designated for testing purposes of these unique turquoise-colored lights on freeways and is valid for an initial two-year period. Nevada’s permit is even more groundbreaking, allowing for the installation of these special marker lights on production vehicles, starting with the 2026 model year EQS and S-Class DRIVE PILOT vehicles, and will remain in effect pending any legislative changes.
These permits provide Mercedes-Benz with invaluable real-world data on how automated vehicles interact with other road users. The integration of these marker lights is expected to significantly boost public confidence in automated driving, enhancing overall road safety. By clearly indicating when the automated driving system is engaged, these lights enable law enforcement and other drivers to readily understand the vehicle’s operational status, crucial for navigating interactions and ensuring responsible use of automated driving features. The turquoise lights, designed according to SAE J3134 Recommended Practice, are strategically incorporated into the front and rear lighting systems, as well as the side mirrors of Mercedes-Benz test vehicles in California.
Markus Schäfer, Member of the Board of Management of Mercedes-Benz Group AG, Chief Technology Officer, Development & Purchasing, emphasizes the significance of this achievement: “With the development of automated driving marker lights, Mercedes-Benz is once again setting new industry standards. We are the first automaker in the world to receive such approvals in the U.S., specifically in California and Nevada. The more automated driving vehicles populate the road, the more important communication and interaction between the vehicle and the environment become.”
DRIVE PILOT: The First Application of Mercedes Lights
The initial deployment of these innovative Mercedes Lights will be on test vehicles in California equipped with DRIVE PILOT. DRIVE PILOT stands as the world’s first SAE-Level 3 system for conditionally automated driving to receive internationally recognized type approval. Having secured certification in Germany in 2021, DRIVE PILOT obtained further validation in both Nevada and California in 2023, reflecting each state’s independent certification requirements. While DRIVE PILOT has been available for order in Germany since 2022, it has recently made its debut on US freeways in California and Nevada in a limited fleet of Level 3 equipped EQS Sedans. Customers in California and Nevada anticipating the Model Year 2024 EQS Sedan and S-Class models equipped with DRIVE PILOT can expect deliveries to commence in early 2024 through authorized Mercedes-Benz dealerships.
Why Turquoise? The Science Behind Mercedes-Benz Marker Lights
The selection of turquoise as the color for these marker lights was deliberate, guided by rigorous testing and analysis. Two key factors underpinned this choice: turquoise’s high visibility ensures quick and reliable detection by other road users, and its distinctiveness minimizes confusion with existing vehicle lighting and traffic signals, such as red, amber, and blue emergency lights. This strategic differentiation significantly reduces the potential for misinterpretation on the road. Furthermore, extensive studies have indicated turquoise as the optimal color for automated driving signals. Both physiological and psychological assessments have demonstrated that turquoise consistently outperforms other colors across a range of metrics. This finding aligns with the industry-recommended practice SAE J3134 “ADS Marker Lamps,” which also advocates for turquoise for indicating the activation of an automated driving system. The development and validation of this novel lighting concept involved a collaborative effort from a diverse team of Mercedes-Benz experts, including engineers, compliance specialists, data protection officers, and ethics advisors.
Setting a New Standard: Mercedes-Benz and the Future of Automated Driving Lights
Mercedes-Benz is actively championing the standardization of turquoise as the globally recognized color for indicating automated driving mode. This commitment to standardization aims to foster universal understanding and acceptance of this groundbreaking technology. Currently, a unified regulatory framework for turquoise lights in production vehicles is lacking across major regions including the U.S., China, and the UN-ECE (United Nations Economic Commission for Europe). The pioneering approvals granted by California and Nevada represent a crucial first step towards establishing this global harmonization. A future globally standardized regulation for turquoise marker lights for automated driving promises to enhance safety for all road users and drive further advancements in automated driving technology.
Mercedes-Benz USA (MBUSA), headquartered in Atlanta, is responsible for the distribution, marketing and customer service for all Mercedes-Benz products in the United States. MBUSA offers drivers the most diverse lineup in the luxury segment with 18 model lines ranging from the sporty GLA SUV to the flagship S-Class and the dynamic all-electric vehicles from Mercedes-Benz. MBUSA is also responsible for Mercedes-Benz Vans in the U.S. More information on MBUSA and its products can be found at www.mbusa.com and www.mbvans.com.
