NVIDIA said its DRIVE AV software will enter production this year in the all-new Mercedes-Benz CLA, marking the first U.S. launch of its enhanced Level 2 point-to-point driver-assistance system.
The CLA is the first Mercedes-Benz model built on the company’s new MB.OS platform.
The system uses NVIDIA’s full software stack, AI infrastructure and in-vehicle compute to support features such as urban navigation, proactive collision avoidance and automated parking.
DRIVE AV is built on a dual-stack architecture that pairs end-to-end AI driving models with a redundant safety stack based on NVIDIA’s Halos safety system.
Mercedes-Benz said the software-defined design enables future upgrades via over-the-air updates, including planned enhancements to MB.DRIVE Assist Pro. The CLA has already received a five-star Euro NCAP safety rating, with active safety systems contributing to the result.
NVIDIA said its technology allows vehicles to learn from large volumes of real and simulated driving data, supporting cooperative steering between the driver and assistance system. Production deployment in the CLA is expected in the U.S. by the end of 2026.
Why This Matters Today
The rollout marks a significant production milestone for NVIDIA’s automotive software strategy, moving its AI-driving stack from test fleets into consumer vehicles at scale.
Mercedes-Benz is among NVIDIA’s largest partners adopting “AI-defined” vehicle architectures built for continuous software updates.
The deployment also highlights the broader industry shift toward Level 2+ systems, which expand assisted-driving functions in cities while maintaining driver supervision.
Automakers are pairing AI-based perception and decision models with traditional safety redundancies to meet regulatory and safety requirements.
Our Key Takeaways:
- NVIDIA’s DRIVE AV software will debut in the new Mercedes-Benz CLA in 2026, delivering enhanced Level 2 assisted-driving capabilities including point-to-point urban navigation.
- The platform combines end-to-end AI driving models with a parallel safety stack based on NVIDIA Halos, enabling redundancy, proactive collision avoidance and automated parking.
- Mercedes-Benz plans to deliver future upgrades through over-the-air updates as NVIDIA expands its full-stack automotive software across additional vehicle programs.
You may also want to check out some of our other tech news updates.
Wanna know what’s trending online every day? Subscribe to Vavoza Insider to access the latest business and marketing insights, news, and trends daily with unmatched speed and conciseness. 🗞️
