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by nateguchi 4109 days ago
There's quite a few manufacturers that have this technology other than Mercedes
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Not all of it, some of it - yes. In particular, the Blind Spot assist systems are prevalent in a few different manufacturers.

The more advanced "self-driving" systems are all Mercedes-Benz technology that is part of their high-end vehicles (and not a standard option). Remember, Mercedes-Benz holds over 80,000 patents on this stuff and more coming all the time. There's no doubt they are pioneers in vehicle safety systems including self-driving cars.

Edit: Mercedes-Benz actually omitted quite a few even more advanced "self-driving" features from their new S-Class since, even though the technology was ready, regulatory requirements and drivers themselves were not ready for pure self-driving vehicles. (Taken from an intervew with Marc Andreessen on the new technologies in the S-Class).

Well, just glancing at Volvo's website, their V40 car has Imminent impact braking, pedestrian collision avoidance, active cruise control (same as distronic plus), lane keeping assistance and blind spot assist.

Additionally they have automatic parking.

Missing from this is only the driver alertness detection.

EDIT: relevant link http://www.volvocars.com/uk/explore/pages/innovation-areas.a...

MB have been working on this stuff for decades.

Often they develop these things in conjunction with a supplier like Bosch. They then get a period of exclusivity and then Bosch/whoever are free to sell the systems to other companies.

That's why you can look at an S-Class and figure out what's going to be in an ordinary car in 10 years time. ABS, Airbags, pre-tensioners, stability control, adaptive cruise-control - not all were MB inventions or even debuted on an S-Class, but all have been features of an S-Class long before everything else.