Before Tesla and Waymo: How Mercedes Quietly Mastered Autonomous Driving in the ‘90s
Mercedes stunned the world by testing a fully autonomous car in 1994, years ahead of today’s self-driving giants. See how it happened.
- 1,000KM+ – Distance driven autonomously by a Mercedes S-Class in 1994
- 1986 – Start date of the revolutionary PROMETHEUS project
- First real-world highway test – Years before commercial names like Tesla or Waymo existed
Long before the chatter of Teslas and robotaxis, Mercedes-Benz pulled off a jaw-dropping feat of engineering. Back in 1994, Mercedes ran a self-driving S-Class sedan for over 1,000 kilometers on active French highways—decades before anyone would utter the phrase “autonomous vehicle” in everyday conversation.
This technological leap didn’t happen overnight. The journey began in 1986, with the PROMETHEUS project—Europe’s visionary venture to reimagine road safety, using digital sensors, machine vision, and neural networks. By collaborating with leading automakers and institutions, Mercedes pioneered ways for vehicles to “see” road signs, interpret lane markings, and react to traffic in real time.
Against a backdrop of humming engines and the uncertainty of open roads, Mercedes’ modified S-Class wowed onlookers by automatically changing lanes, braking for slower cars, and following the highway—all with minimal human input. Without fanfare, this was the birth of autonomous driving.
Mercedes-Benz | Waymo | Tesla
How Did Mercedes Pull Off Self-Driving in 1994?
The formula was groundbreaking: mount cameras, hook up radar sensors, feed everything into pioneering neural network software—and run it all on hardware that, by today’s standards, looked straight out of a sci-fi movie. This wasn’t just theory. Mercedes unleashed this tech directly onto busy motorways, not in a closed lab. The result? Over 1,000KM traveled with barely a touch from the human “backup” behind the wheel.
Why Was the PROMETHEUS Project Forgotten?
Despite redefining what was possible, the project stayed largely under the radar. Why? The bulkiness and expense of the computers kept it from public roads. Plus, in the 1990s, few believed a robotic chauffeur belonged outside of science fiction. Mercedes pressed on quietly, fine-tuning the tech in the background, confident that the world would someday catch up.
What Came Next—and How Did It Shape Today’s Cars?
In 2013, Mercedes stunned crowds again as its S 500 Intelligent Drive autonomously retraced Bertha Benz’s historic route, this time using streamlined, state-of-the-art systems founded on the same core principles. While companies like Tesla and Waymo later made headlines, Mercedes-Benz’s early work laid the technical and regulatory groundwork for today’s mainstream push toward driverless cars.
How Can You Learn More or See Groundbreaking Cars in Action?
Want to see the next wave of car culture and innovation? Platforms like Supercar Blondie and SBX CARS showcase live supercar auctions, bringing the future of automobility into focus for a global audience.
Ready for the Future? Don’t Let History Pass You By!
- ✔ Know that Mercedes pioneered real-world self-driving tech before Tesla or Waymo
- ✔ Explore the PROMETHEUS project’s legacy with today’s modern autonomous cars
- ✔ Stay up-to-date with innovations by watching live car auctions at SBX CARS
- ✔ Follow the evolution of AI and vehicle automation at Mercedes-Benz and Waymo
If you love cars and innovation, dive deeper—because the next chapter in autonomy is already in motion.
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