In early 2026, Mercedes-Benz introduced the MB.Drive Assist Pro system at CES in Las Vegas, with a U.S. launch planned shortly after. Now, the manufacturer has announced the introduction of its advanced partially automated urban driving system at SAE Level 2 for Germany, significantly expanding the assistance functions already available for highway use.
Specifically, MB.Drive Assist Pro is designed to support door-to-door driving in urban traffic, handling tasks such as merging, changing lanes, turning, braking and starting at traffic lights. However, the driver remains responsible for monitoring and controlling the vehicle at all times.
Existing customers can purchase the features, provided their vehicle is technically ready, through an over-the-air update in the future. MB.Drive Assist Pro unlock price in Germany has not yet been announced. In the United States, Mercedes has introduced a subscription model priced at $3,950 (approximately 3,520 euros) for three years. In Germany, customers will receive a free one-month trial to test the system.
MB.Drive Assist Pro will be implemented from the end of 2026
By the end of 2026, selected customers with compatible models will benefit from the new features, as Mercedes plans a pilot launch of the system in Stuttgart and Munich. According to Mercedes, selected individuals will be notified separately and will receive the update for their respective vehicles. The manufacturer intends to incorporate insights from these initial customer experiences into continuous system improvement.
The approval of the system in Germany is possible thanks to the regulations of the UNECE Working Group on Automated/Autonomous and Connected Vehicles. The new UN regulation R171 establishes the relevant provisions and safety requirements that vehicles with driving assistance systems must meet. Mercedes-Benz can use this framework for the future introduction of MB.Drive Assist Pro throughout the EU without the need for additional individual approvals.
The Level 2 urban system hardware includes 27 sensors (ten cameras, five radars, twelve ultrasonic sensors) and a computer with up to 254 TOPs (Trillion Operations Per Second). The software architecture combines the MB.OS operating system with NVIDIA Hyperion, the Halos security system and Alpamayo software.
media.mercedes-benz.com, mbpassion.de (DE) (US subscription model)
