What Mercedes' Level 3 Certification For Self-Driving Cars Means For Other Automakers

German carmaker Mercedes-Benz has been certified for level 3 autonomous driving system in Nevada, marking a first for any automaker in the country. This essentially allows the manufacturer to produce cars in which drivers can legally take their eyes off the wheel and do secondary tasks, but still requires drivers to be prepared to take back control should the situation require their attention. However, earlier in March, Mercedes-Benz boldly claimed responsibility for crashes that would come after a driver engages the car's advanced driver assistance system. Once it's turned on, the driver is no longer legally liable, but Mercedes-Benz is. "By the end of last year (2021), we were the first [automaker] to get international certification for a Level 3 system," said Gregor Kugelmann, senior development manager at Drive Pilot, the automated driving system employed by Mercedes-Benz.