LAT:
Mercedes’ Level 3, available in the U.S. late this year as an option on model year 2024 Mercedes‑Benz S-Class and EQS sedans, will allow a car to fully drive itself, but only on mapped sections of specific highways and, for now, only up to speeds of 40 mph. That limit means the system will be used mainly in heavy, slow-moving traffic, which many find the lowest and tedious form of driving anyway.
The company is so confident in the technology that it’s said the manufacturer, not the driver, takes on the liability if there’s a crash, as long as the system was operated properly. “During the period it is in Level 3, it is the computer driving and not the human,” [Mercedes-Benz CEO ] said. “That’s as clear a line as you can get. It is the computer and it is us who [are] responsible for what’s happening. If you misuse it to do something you’re not supposed to do that’s a different matter. But for all intents and purposes, the liability sits with the product.”