Mercedes Gives Up On Leading Self Driving Technology - Says It Can't Compete

With Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas at the helm, Mercedes-Benz is currently employing a one-two punch in Formula 1, winning races and populating the podium quite frequently. Unfortunately, there's a race that Mercedes won't win – something that doesn’t involve drivers.

In a report by Redaktions Netzwerk Deutschland, Mercedes said that it's withdrawing from the autonomous driving race. Take note that this doesn't pertain to the level 3 self-driving tech found in the 2021 Mercedes S-Class, nor the recently announced partnership between Daimler and Waymo to produce driverless semis.

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Car4life1 - 11/4/2020 11:03:14 AM

0 Boost

Good Move, if it doesn’t make money, it doesn’t make sense...Benz saw all the red tape/legal/lawsuits awaiting manufacturers from local gov./civilians that will erase any profit from the tech.

A technology that most drivers/consumers aren’t asking for nor excited about. It’s interesting the group of auto enthusiast that are most likely to purchase the self driving tech is also the group that will complain about losing control/connection with autos...

Time will only tell, but Benz has done radar guided cruise control since the 90’s and that’s more than enough for now

PUGPROUD - 11/4/2020 12:13:02 PM

-1 Boost

At some point cars will go way of other hardware products and all the margins and profits will be in the software. The good thing is when EV engines, batteries and software technology become ubiquitous it will put downward pressure on consumer prices.

Car4life1 - 11/4/2020 12:23:37 PM

+1 Boost

Timing is everything, when the tech/demand is there, Mercedes will be there, continue focusing on attention to detail, performance, and luxury in your cars Benz, it’s what has made you the best selling luxury marque in the world

CANADIANCOMMENTS - 11/4/2020 1:25:42 PM

+2 Boost

As stated, radar guided cruise control, emergency braking, blind spot warning and 360 degree cameras are about all the tech that is required. Nobody needs the car to drive for them or park itself autonomously.

TomM - 11/5/2020 12:25:58 AM

0 Boost

I disagree . While it is nice to believe that everyone is able to drive a vehicle - the main purpose of a car is transportation - not driving experience.For most people it is an Appliance.

There are plenty of people who do not drive - can not drive that will benefit from the mobility of self driving cars. People with Disabilities alone, but people who have been injured and cannot use/do not have some limbs will benefit from the independence that a self driving vehicle will provide. Then, add in people whose age limits their responses - my mom is 103. You can also add in people going on a long trip down a major Interstate - I regularly(At least twice a year - back and forth) drive I95 to my home in Florida from the Northeast - about 1300 miles. THere was a time I could do that straight through without an overnight stop.

Certainly for performance driving, the driver should be in complete control - but the main MASS MARKET for Self driving cars will Not be that - it will be the ability to not call a Taxi or have a driver that will sell the car.