Mercedes-Benz has received a Level 4 autonomous driving test license for privately owned vehicles on urban roads and highways in Beijing, China (i.e., fully autonomous vehicles limited to specific locations and/or conditions), becoming the first international car manufacturer to obtain the test license.

The company plans to conduct tests on designated roads as part of its research in China to enhance software and hardware development for these systems. The tests will study high-level autonomous driving systems' multi-sensor perception and performance under extreme conditions.

Analyst QuickTake: This authorization follows Mercedes-Benz’s previous approval for Level 3 highway autonomous driving system (a hands-free and eyes-off driving system) testing in Beijing in December 2023, marking a significant step toward autonomous driving. Mercedes-Benz has been offering the Level 3 system in the US and in Germany, too.