--- title: "Mercedes-Benz Installing New Tail Lights to Show When Car Is Self-Driving" description: "Mercedes-Benz just received approval for first-of-its-kind turquoise car lights that indicate a vehicle in self-driving mode." date: "2023-12-20" modified: "2023-12-20" authors: - name: "Frank Landymore" job_title: "Contributing Writer" link: "https://futurism.com/authors/flandymore" url: "https://futurism.com/the-byte/mercedes-tail-lights-self-driving" categories: - "Advanced Transport" - "Self-Driving Vehicles" tags: - "mercedes benz" - "self driving" - "Self-driving cars" - "the digest" --- # Mercedes-Benz Installing New Tail Lights to Show When Car Is Self-Driving ![Mercedes-Benz just received approval for first-of-its-kind turquoise car lights that indicate a vehicle in self-driving mode.]() *\Image: Mercedes-Benz\* ## New Blue Mercedes-Benz is trying out a new type of exterior car light in the United States. [*CNN* reports]() that the German automaker has received approval to use turquoise-colored indicators in its head and tail lights to show when one of its vehicles is in self-driving mode — an intriguing new experiment in trying to figure out a place for self-driving vehicles on the roads. Mercedes's self-driving mode is called "Drive Pilot," and is the first of any self-driving systems [to be certified as SAE Level 3](), meaning that when it's enabled, drivers don't have to continuously keep their eyes on the road. They can even go fully hands off and take their feet off the pedals, but must take over when prompted. For now, Drive Pilot only enables this level of autonomy when cruising under 40 miles per hour. Despite those limitations, Mercedes is still speeding past its competitors like Tesla, whose Autopilot and Full Self-Driving systems, both SAE Level 2, require drivers to stay alert and keep their hands on the steering wheel at all times (a safety guardrail that the automaker's enthusiasts [proudly devise ways]() of getting around). Now with a first-of-its-kind car light to herald its self-driving innovations, Mercedes is seemingly having it easier with US regulators [while Tesla]() and General Motor's [robotaxi division Cruise]() have incurred only further scrutiny over the safety of their systems. ## Turquoise Torchbearer So far, the turquoise self-driving lights have been approved in California and Nevada, which are also the only states to have certified Drive Pilot. According [to *Car and Driver*](), California is letting Mercedes trial the lights in test vehicles for two years, starting in early 2024. Turquoise indicators will be embedded in these vehicles' headlights, tail lights, and side mirrors. Meanwhile, Nevada has already approved the lights for use in two of Mercedes' production model vehicles: its 2026 EQS and S-class sedans. The distinctive color, a lighter hue of blue, was chosen because it won't be mistaken for police lights or regular lights on a car. Mercedes said its use is meant to help ease drivers into sharing the road with self-driving vehicles. It will also help anyone passing these cars, cops included, not be alarmed when they see the person behind the steering wheel with their hands off and their eyes off the road. Who's to say that these turquoise lights won't be the cool new way of brandishing that you're driving a very advanced car**?** Of course, if you're skeptical of the technology, you can very helpfully use the flashy indicators to stay clear of these vehicles — so perhaps it's a win for everyone involved. **More on self-driving cars:** *[Tesla Driver Forced to Pay After Killing Two People on Autopilot]()* ## Author At Futurism, my work has often centered on bringing a sense of clarity and insight to complex topics ranging from the regulation of emerging technologies to the esoteric ideologies of Silicon Valley executives, while striving not to lose the poetic sense of awe inspired by often-obscure fields like astrophysics and quantum computing. I broke the story of CNET using AI to produce articles that turned out to be riddled with factual errors and plagiarism — a dam-breaking inflection point, as I've reported, that's inspired copycats and endless discourse while beguiling stakeholders ranging from tech giants to purveyors of spam around the web. My work at Futurism has been cited by publications including CBS News, the Los Angeles Times, Vice, Gizmodo, Engadget, the Verge, and Vanity Fair. I grew up in locales ranging from India to China, and now live in the exotic suburbs of Virginia. In my free time, I'm an avid reader of weird sci-fi literature, an aficionado of East Asian cinema, and, regrettably, a relapsed gamer. Allegedly, I’m working on a debut novel, currently untitled. ### Author social links [Bluesky]()