BERLIN: Mercedes-Benz hopes to acquire certification for Level 3 autonomous driving in the United States this year, and discussions with authorities in China on the topic are ongoing, Chief Executive Ola Kaellenius said in a press call on Thursday.

"We are working on the United States and are in talks with authorities in China about certifying such a technology there," Kaellenius said, having stated earlier that the carmaker wanted to extend Level 3 autonomous driving beyond Europe this year.

Mercedes-Benz was the first automaker to receive clearance from Germany's car watchdog for its semi-autonomous driving system last December, based on technical requirements laid out in United Nations regulations.

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It plans to offer the S-Class with Drive Pilot to customers in Germany in the first half of 2022.