Mercedes now testing its turquoise lights showing when a car is self-driving in Germany

Mercedes today announced that it's received approval in Germany to test special lights that let everyone around know when a car is self-driving. Turquoise is the color of automated driving, according to the brand.

These lights have previously been in testing in the US in Nevada and California, since the end of 2023, and Germany is now the first European country to allow testing of this technology.

The German approval is valid nationwide and initially limited until July 2028. With this step, Mercedes says "Germany once again underscores its pioneering role in the field of automated driving, having been first to permit conditionally automated driving (SAE-Level 3)".

It's not just other drivers who benefit from Mercedes' turquoise lights - police and traffic authorities can also easily recognize the system status and "determine whether the driver is allowed to engage in other activities during conditionally automated driving".

The turquoise color shines from the front and rear lights as well as the side indicators in the exterior mirrors. Insights gathered from the testing period "can contribute to shaping the legal framework that will later enable series production", Mercedes says in its press release.

If you're wondering why turquoise was chosen, it's pretty easy - it's clearly distinguishable from existing vehicle lighting, traffic signals, and emergency lighting, reducing the risk of confusion. Its visibility also lets other road users quickly and reliably recognize it. Turquoise performed better than other colors in both physiological and psychological factors.