Mercedes-Benz S580 Incident

Mercedes-Benz has conducted a review of the incident and the following is based on that review. The subject Mercedes-Benz Drive Pilot test vehicle was traveling between 15-20 mph in the #2 northbound lane on the [XXX] in California in stop and go traffic with the L3 ADS activated by the driver. The vehicle's ADS determined that a truck traveling in the adjacent lane had a trajectory towards the Drive Pilot's lane, and so the Mercedes-Benz test vehicle autonomously applied the brakes to avoid a collision. After applying the brakes and bringing itself to a standstill, the Mercedes-Benz was then struck in the rear bumper by a trailing semi-truck that did not stop in time. No injuries were reported, no airbags deployed in either vehicle, and both vehicles were able to be driven from the scene of the incident. The Mercedes-Benz vehicle experienced minor damage to the rear bumper, and no damage was observed on the semi-truck at the scene. The CA Traffic Collision Report for the subject incident noted a violation of California Vehicle Code 22350 (unsafe speed for traffic conditions) by the semi-truck in the #2 lane that struck the rear bumper of the Mercedes-Benz.