Mercedes-Benz has become the first car manufacturer worldwide to secure permits for special exterior marker lights dedicated to automated driving in California and Nevada. In California, the testing permit is initially valid for two years, while in Nevada, it applies to Mercedes-Benz Model Year 2026 production vehicles, remaining in force until statutory modifications are enacted.

These permits enable Mercedes-Benz to gather insights into the dynamics between automated vehicles and other road users. The integration of marker lights is expected to enhance public acceptance of automated driving and bolster road safety.

The marker lights, designed following the SAE J3134 Recommended Practice, are turquoise-coloured and incorporated into the front and rear lights, as well as the two outside mirrors of Mercedes-Benz testing vehicles in California.

Markus Schäfer, Member of the Board of Management of Mercedes-Benz Group AG and Chief Technology Officer, remarked, “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.”

The initial use case for these marker lights will be with Drive Pilot, an SAE-Level 3 system for conditionally automated driving with international type approval. Drive Pilot, certified in Germany in 2021 and in Nevada and California in 2023, will feature the automated driving marker lights in testing vehicles in California.

The choice of turquoise for the marker lights is based on its visibility and ability to be easily distinguished by other road users. This colour minimises confusion with existing vehicle lighting and traffic signals. Turquoise, as recommended in the industry practice SAE J3134, is also backed by test studies highlighting its optimal suitability for automated driving.

Mercedes-Benz is taking steps towards standardizing the use of turquoise marker lights globally to represent the automated driving state. While there is currently no universal framework in the United States, China, or the UN-ECE, California and Nevada's granted exemptions mark a crucial initial move. 

A future harmonised global regulation for turquoise marker lights is anticipated to enhance safety for all road users and drive further technological innovations.

Also read: Mercedes-Benz is first to legally introduce L3 autonomous driving in Tesla's home ground, California