- Mercedes-Benz is permitted to use turquoise marker lights in California and Nevada where its SAE Level 3 self-driving system is approved.
- The EQS sedan and S-class will have unique exterior lights that indicate to others when autonomous drive mode is activated.
- The turquoise marker lights will first be tested in California, and Nevada has approved them for production on the 2026 EQS sedan and S-class.
Mercedes is mixing things up when it comes to marker lights. That’s because it’s the first automaker to be approved to use turquoise-colored exterior lights in the United States. The indicators are specifically meant to show the status of the company’s SAE Level 3 autonomous-driving system.
Spotting Self-Driving Cars
Dubbed Drive Pilot, the system allows the driver to hand over primary duties to the car at speeds up to 40 mph. Of course, the driver must be ready to re-take control of the car at any time if it’s unable to drive itself. Mercedes says if any system fails there are braking and steering fail-safes to safely maintain control of the car until the driver regains control. Earlier this year, it was certified for use in California and Nevada.
Those two states are also where the new turquoise marker lights have been permitted for use. It starts with California, where Mercedes has been approved to test the lights for two years. Nevada has approved the lights for production models, starting with the 2026 EQS sedan and S-class. On the California test vehicles, the turquoise markers will appear in the cars’ headlights, taillights, and on their side mirrors.
Mercedes says the uniquely colored marker lights have the potential to make people more comfortable with the idea of self-driving cars. The company says the lights will improve traffic safety and also help police officers know when drivers aren’t driving because of the indicators.
Why turquoise? Well, not only is it already the color the SAE recommends to identify active automated-driving systems, but Mercedes says the shade provides reliable visibility and is easily distinguished from other existing vehicle and traffic lights. The company said it hopes to help standardize the turquoise marker lights for use on production cars around the world.
Eric Stafford’s automobile addiction began before he could walk, and it has fueled his passion to write news, reviews, and more for Car and Driver since 2016. His aspiration growing up was to become a millionaire with a Jay Leno–like car collection. Apparently, getting rich is harder than social-media influencers make it seem, so he avoided financial success entirely to become an automotive journalist and drive new cars for a living. After earning a journalism degree at Central Michigan University and working at a daily newspaper, the years of basically burning money on failed project cars and lemon-flavored jalopies finally paid off when Car and Driver hired him. His garage currently includes a 2010 Acura RDX, a manual ’97 Chevy Camaro Z/28, and a ’90 Honda CRX Si.