Mercedes names the first half of 2027 as the order start for Germany; eligible existing vehicles are meant to get the feature via an over-the-air update.
Key points
- Mercedes-Benz plans to make MB.DRIVE ASSIST PRO orderable in Germany in the first half of 2027.
- The system is meant to support navigation from start to destination – including motorway exits and city traffic.
- Mercedes classifies the feature as SAE Level 2: the driver must stay attentive and, the manufacturer says, keeps control and responsibility.
Mercedes-Benz wants its route assistance to also guide drivers through German city centres from the first half of 2027. MB.DRIVE ASSIST PRO is meant to help with lane changes, turning and pulling away. That does not make the car drive itself, though: the driver must keep watching traffic and stay in control.
The manufacturer announced the feature on 21 October 2026. It is meant to accompany an active Mercedes navigation route from start to destination. According to Mercedes-Benz, assistance already available on motorways is being extended to further sections of the route – including leaving the motorway and dense city traffic.
What the assistant is meant to handle
With navigation active, the manufacturer says the feature can be switched on via a steering-wheel button. MB.DRIVE ASSIST PRO is then meant to help with changing into the correct lane, merging, turning at junctions, and braking and pulling away at traffic lights. Mercedes describes it as a point-to-point system that covers the entire navigation route.
For the technology, Mercedes names 27 sensors: ten cameras, five radar sensors and twelve ultrasonic sensors. A high-performance computer is meant to process their raw data. These are manufacturer specifications for the hardware; on their own they do not prove any particular accident-avoidance performance in everyday driving.
When the system is coming
The planned order start for Germany is the first half of 2027. Mercedes has not yet published a price, a full list of compatible models or the exact hardware requirements. Availability is meant to depend on the model and gradually extend to Mercedes cars and vans.
According to the company, suitably equipped existing vehicles could also receive the feature via an over-the-air update – explicitly only vehicles with the required hardware. Mercedes also plans to unlock the system for selected customers in Stuttgart and Munich from late 2026. A free trial month is planned, the manufacturer says, for suitably equipped vehicles. How use will be priced after the trial period is still open.
Why the driver must stay attentive
Mercedes classifies MB.DRIVE ASSIST PRO as an SAE Level 2 system. The manufacturer explicitly says the driver must remain continuously attentive and keeps control and responsibility for the vehicle. The announced functions are therefore driver assistance; Mercedes does not describe them as driverless operation.
German traffic law also draws this distinction: Section 1d of the German Road Traffic Act (StVG) describes a motor vehicle with autonomous driving function as one that can carry out the driving task independently, without a driver, within a defined operating area. That is a different description from the Level 2 system Mercedes has announced, where a person at the wheel is meant to stay attentive. Actual use also depends on the model, equipment and the approvals that apply in each case.
For anyone interested, compatibility is therefore the key question. Owners of an existing Mercedes cannot yet assume from the announcement that their own vehicle will get the update. A model and equipment overview, as well as pricing details, are still pending, according to the manufacturer.
Frequently asked questions
Does MB.DRIVE ASSIST PRO drive the car through the city on its own?
No. Mercedes classifies the feature as SAE Level 2. According to the manufacturer, the driver must remain continuously attentive and keeps control and responsibility.
When is the feature meant to launch in Germany?
Mercedes plans the order start for the first half of 2027. An early rollout for selected customers in Stuttgart and Munich is planned from late 2026.
Will all existing Mercedes vehicles get the update?
No. Mercedes names only suitably equipped vehicles. The manufacturer has not yet fully published which models and model years qualify.
What will it cost after the trial month?
No price or pricing model for the period after the planned free trial month has been announced so far.
Your view
Which driver-assistance feature would help you most in city traffic – and which task would you still want to handle yourself? Share it in the comments.
Sources and status
- Mercedes-Benz: MB.DRIVE ASSIST PRO and point-to-point driving in Germany, announcement of 21 October 2026.
- Section 1d German Road Traffic Act (StVG) (in German), German Federal Ministry of Justice / Federal Office of Justice.
Research and data as of: 1 November 2026.
Transparency note: AI-assisted tools were used in researching, structuring and writing this article. The sources used are listed in the article. Publication takes place only after manual editorial approval. Translation of the German-language original on NETZ-TRENDS.de.
