Mercedes-Benz receives approvals for turquoise-coloured automated driving marker lights

Mercedes-Benz has become the first car manufacturer to receive permission to use special turquoise blue marker lights in California and Nevada. These lights are specifically designed to signal the presence of an automated driving system and will be integrated into the front and rear lights and side mirrors of Mercedes-Benz vehicles.

In California, the permit is initially limited to two years and applies only to vehicles intended for testing. In contrast, in Nevada, the permit extends to the 2026 model year, covering the EQS and S-Class DRIVE PILOT models. The introduction of turquoise blue lights will begin with these models.

DRIVE PILOT, Mercedes-Benz’s innovative SAE Level 3 automated driving system, allows the driver to engage in other activities under certain conditions while the system drives the car. This internationally certified system is already in use in Germany. The United States made the first step towards the introduction of DRIVE PILOT in California and Nevada, where its use has been legally approved.

The turquoise blue color was chosen for these signal lights due to its high visibility and distinction from other traffic signals. Additionally, the turquoise blue color is psychologically and physiologically more effective than other colors, helping to reduce confusion with existing signal lights.

Mercedes-Benz is striving for the standardization and harmonization of the turquoise blue color on a global scale. The goal is to create a unified system that will contribute to the worldwide understanding and acceptance of autonomous driving technology. Currently, there is no uniform regulatory framework for the use of turquoise blue lights on production models in many countries, but California and Nevada have taken the first steps towards achieving this goal.