Mercedes-Benz announced today that it has started accepting orders for the EQS all-electric sedan, starting at €106,374.10 for its base model. Deliveries will begin in Germany by the end of September and in the United States in Q4.
In development for several years, Mercedes-Benz unveiled the EQS on April 15th, aiming to take a stab at the EV giants who have dominated the industry. Luxurious and fast, the EQS will battle with the Tesla Model S for the top spot in the high-end luxury EV sector, but Mercedes customers will have to pay slightly more than Tesla owners will.
The Daimler-owned Mercedes released a press statement earlier today that announced the acceptance of orders for the EQS. Capable of an estimated 478 miles of all-electric range, according to WLTP ratings, the EQS has the potential to be one of the best EVs on the market in terms of miles per charge. Coupled with a top speed of 130 MPH and 516 horsepower, the EQS is a competitive EV.
Mercedes EQS EV spied benchmarking against Tesla Model S and Model 3
As the EQS will be available to customers very soon, Mercedes-Benz is also rolling out the introduction of Over-the-Air updates, which will send software fixes and new features to vehicles over the internet. Tesla owners are familiar with this functionality as the automaker regularly rolls out new software versions that equip bug fixes and new entertainment features, among plenty of other things.
Mercedes said it would offer customers a “Roaring Pulse” sound experience and several mini-games to kill time while charging. These include Tetris and Sudoku. It will be free for one year but will cost €89 annually to continue. The OTA updates will also expand to more functions in the future, according to the company. It said that:
“The range of OTA functions is being successively expanded. This means that following the purchase and initial new-car configuration, some of the features of the EQS can be adapted according to personal preferences. This also includes enabling the rear axle steering with a ten-degree steering angle. In addition to the conventional purchasing of individual functions, customers can also take out subscriptions. Temporary activations and free trial periods are also planned.”
Edition 1: A special variant for early orderers
Mercedes will also launch the Edition 1 variant of the EQS, an optional upgrade to the vehicle. It won’t be free and will tack on €18,433.10 onto the price, but will add the AMG line, 21-inch wheels, and several interior and exterior cosmetic features.
- Interior
- AMG Line exterior
- Metallic paint obsidian black
- Panoramic sliding sunroof
- 3 cm (21-inch) AMG multi-spoke light-alloy wheels
- “Edition 1” badge in the window triangles in front of the outside mirrors
- Exterior
- Designo nappa leather upholstery in neva grey/reflex blue
- Luxury seats including 4-way lumbar support and contour lighting
- Multicontour seats for driver and front passenger
- Upper instrument panel and beltlines in nappa-look reflex blue
- Trim elements in open-pore ship’s deck walnut wood
- Designer seat belt buckles front and rear
- Floor mats with “Edition 1” lettering and piping in reflex blue
- Door sill panels with illuminated “Edition 1” lettering in white
Credit: Mercedes Benz
Add-Ons
There is no shortage of add-ons for the EQS, and Mercedes details them greatly. From Intelligent Park Pilot, an “autopark-like” feature, to Air Control Plus that utilizes a HEPA air filter for air quality, there are several additional options to make the EQS well-rounded. You will pay extra for these features, though, and they could add up.
Intelligent Park Pilot
For €1,844.50, the EQS can be outfitted with Intelligent Park Pilot, which benefits valet functions and can park automatically without a driver controlling the car.
“Pre-installation for the INTELLIGENT PARK PILOT is part of the Parking Package with remote parking functions (1844.50 euros1). This prepares the EQS for automated valet service (AVP, SAE level 4). Together with the required special equipment and the corresponding Connect service, the vehicle has the onboard technology to park and unpark fully automatically without driver involvement. This is conditional upon car parks being equipped with AVP infrastructure and national legislation allowing such operations. The Connect service has specific features depending on the country.”
Energizing Air Control Plus
For an additional €535.50, Mercedes-Benz will take a “holistic approach” with the EQS to increase the cabin’s air quality.
“Mercedes-Benz takes a holistic approach to air quality in the EQS. The system is based on filtration, sensors, a display concept and air conditioning. The HEPA (High Efficiency Particulate Air) filter has a very high filtration level that enables it to trap particulate matter, micro-particles, pollen and other substances that enter with the outside air. An activated carbon coating reduces sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxides as well as odours in the interior. The interior air filter has been granted 2021 “OFI CERT” ZG 250-1 certification from the Austrian Research and Testing Institute (OFI) for viruses and bacteria. Using pre-entry climate control, it is also possible to clean the interior air before getting into the vehicle. The particulate levels outside and inside the vehicle are also displayed in MBUX. They can be viewed in detail in the dedicated Air Quality menu.”.
Driver Assistance Packages
Mercedes is also highlighting its Advanced and Advanced Plus Driver Assistance packages that will increase safety for drivers and passengers. Basic features like Lane Keeping Assist and Blind Spot Assist are included in these packages.
Advanced Package
Tacking on €2,082.50, the Advanced Package adds several interesting features that improve safety and functionality for driving.
“The Advanced Package (2082.50 euros1) includes the Assistance Package with the three driving assistance systems Active Distance Assist DISTRONIC, Active Lane Keeping Assist and Blind Spot Assist. Other components include MBUX Augmented Reality Navigation, illuminated door sill panels with Mercedes-Benz lettering and a stowage compartment under the centre console.”
Advanced Plus Package
An extra €7,021 will add the Advanced Package, plus some other supplemental features.
“The Advanced Plus package (7021 euros1) includes the Driving Assistance package Plus[5], the Parking Package with 360° camera and DIGITAL LIGHT in addition to the Advanced Package. DIGITAL LIGHT has a light module with three extremely powerful LEDs in each headlamp, whose light is refracted and directed by 1.3 million micro-mirrors. The revolutionary headlamp technology can also project guide markings or warning symbols onto the road. Two assistance functions[6] are new: the EQS can indicate the start of a cooperative lane change and warn or give a directional instruction if Lane Keeping Assist or Blind Spot Assist detects a hazard.”
What do you think? Let us know in the comments below, or be sure to email me at joey@teslarati.com or on Twitter @KlenderJoey.
Tesla has scaled back driver monitoring to be less naggy with the latest version of the Full Self-Driving (Supervised) suite, which is version 14.3.3.
The latest version is already earning praise from owners, who are reporting that the suite is far less invasive when it comes to keeping drivers from taking their eyes off the road. The first to mention it was notable Tesla community member on X known as Zack, or BLKMDL3.
14.3.3 nags less too https://t.co/IuiWzuYO6O
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) May 18, 2026
Musk confirmed that v14.3.3 was made to nag drivers significantly less, something that Tesla has worked toward in the past and has said with previous versions that it is less likely to push drivers to look ahead, at least after looking away for a few seconds.
This refinement aligns with Tesla’s ongoing push toward unsupervised FSD. The update also brings faster Actual Smart Summon (now up to 8 mph), reliable “Hey Grok” voice commands, richer visualizations, smoother Mad Max acceleration, and an intervention streak counter that rewards consistent use. Reviewers describe the drive as more human-like and confident, with fewer twitches or unnecessary maneuvers.
Musk has repeatedly signaled this direction. In late 2025, he stated that FSD would allow phone use “depending on context of surrounding traffic,” noting safety data would justify relaxing rules so drivers could text in low-risk scenarios like stop-and-go traffic.
We tested this, and even still, the cell phone monitoring really seems to be less active in terms of alerting drivers:
Tesla Full Self-Driving v14.2.1 texting and driving: we tested it
Earlier, ahead of v14, Musk promised the system would “nag the driver much less” once safety metrics improved.
In 2023, he confirmed the steering wheel torque nag would be “gradually reduced, proportionate to improved safety,” shifting reliance to the cabin camera. Subsequent updates like v13.2.9 and v12.4 further loosened monitoring, cracking down on workarounds while easing legitimate distractions.
These steps reflect Tesla’s data-driven approach: FSD’s safety record—reportedly averaging millions of miles per crash—now outpaces human drivers in many scenarios, giving the company confidence to dial back interventions. Reduced nags improve usability and trust, encouraging more drivers to rely on the system rather than disengaging out of frustration.
However, there are certainly still some concerns. In many states, it is illegal to handle a cell phone in any way, requiring the use of hands-free devices. In Pennsylvania, it is illegal to use your cell phone at stop lights, which is definitely a step further than using it while the car is actively in motion.
v14.3.3 represents tangible progress. Making FSD less adversarial and more seamless is definitely a step forward, but drivers need to be aware of the dangers of distracted driving. FSD is extremely capable, but it is in no way fully autonomous, nor does its performance warrant owners to take their attention off the road.
Tesla has officially expanded its Full Self-Driving (FSD) suite in Europe once again, as it will now be offered to customer vehicles in Lithuania, marking a significant milestone as the second European Union country to offer the system.
Tesla confirmed FSD’s rollout in Lithuania this morning:
FSD Supervised now rolling out to Teslas in Lithuania 🇱🇹!
Making European roads safer, one by one pic.twitter.com/Uuj0bNG7pP
— Tesla Europe, Middle East & Africa (@teslaeurope) May 20, 2026
Tesla showed several clips of Full Self-Driving navigation in Lithuania to mark the announcement, while Lithuanian Transport Minister Juras Taminskas highlighted the system’s potential to assist with lane-keeping, speed adjustment, and traffic tasks on longer drives, while emphasizing that drivers must stay alert and ready to intervene.
Just a few weeks ago, Tesla officially entered Europe with Full Self-Driving in the Netherlands. The expansion of FSD on the continent is now officially underway.
Full Self-Driving’s European Journey
Europe has long posed one of the toughest regulatory challenges for Tesla’s autonomy ambitions due to stringent safety standards under the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) framework, particularly UN Regulation 171 for Driver Control Assistance Systems.
The Netherlands’ RDW authority granted the pioneering approval after over 18 months of rigorous testing, including 1.6 million kilometers on European roads and extensive data submissions.
This approval enables mutual recognition across the EU, allowing other member states to adopt it nationally without full re-testing. Lithuania quickly leveraged this mechanism, becoming the second adopter. Tesla positions FSD Supervised as a tool to incrementally improve road safety, with the company claiming it reduces incidents when used properly.
Bottlenecks slowing broader European deployment include fragmented national regulations, varying levels of regulatory skepticism, and requirements for robust driver monitoring. Some EU officials have raised concerns about performance in adverse conditions like icy roads or speeding scenarios, alongside frustrations over Tesla’s public advocacy approach.
Additional hurdles involve data privacy, liability frameworks, and the need for EU-wide harmonization. While countries like Belgium appear to be fast-tracking adoption, larger markets such as Germany, France, and Italy are expected to follow in the coming months, with potential EU-wide progress targeted for later in 2026.
Tesla Full Self-Driving Across the World
As of May, Full Self-Driving (Supervised) is available in approximately ten countries.
In North America, it has been live for years in the United States, Canada, Mexico, and Puerto Rico. Asia-Pacific additions include Australia, New Zealand, and South Korea, while China utilizes what Tesla calls “City Autopilot.” In Europe, the Netherlands and now Lithuania join the list, with more countries mulling the possibility of also approving FSD.
Tesla offers FSD via monthly subscriptions (around €99 in Europe) or one-time purchases (with deadlines approaching in many markets), shifting toward recurring revenue models. Today is the final day Europeans will be able to purchase the suite outright.
This expansion underscores Tesla’s push for global autonomy, starting with supervised and building toward greater capabilities. With Lithuania now online, momentum is building across Europe, though regulatory caution will continue shaping the pace. Owners in approved regions report smoother highway and urban driving, but the system remains Level 2, which requires human oversight.
Elon Musk
Tesla ditches India after years of broken promises
Tesla has ditched its plans to build a factory in India after years of failed negotiations.
Tesla’s long-running effort to establish a manufacturing presence in India is officially over. India’s Minister of Heavy Industries H.D. Kumaraswamy confirmed on May 19, 2026 that Tesla has informed authorities it will not proceed with a manufacturing facility in the country.
Tesla first signaled serious interest in India around 2021, when it began hiring local staff and lobbying the Indian government for lower import tariffs. The ask was straightforward: reduce duties enough for Tesla to test the market with imported vehicles before committing capital to a local factory. India’s position was equally firm, with an ask of Tesla to commit to manufacturing first, then receive tariff relief. Neither side moved, and the talks quietly collapsed.
Tesla to open first India experience center in Mumbai on July 15
India had offered a policy that would reduce import duties from 110% down to 15% on EVs priced above $35,000, provided companies committed at least $500 million toward local manufacturing investment within three years. Tesla declined to participate. The tariff standoff was only part of the problem. Analysts pointed to significant gaps in India’s local supply chain, inadequate industrial infrastructure, and a mismatch between Tesla’s premium pricing and the purchasing power of India’s automotive market as additional factors that made the investment difficult to justify.
First signs of an unraveling relationship came in April 2024, when Musk abruptly cancelled a planned trip to India where he was set to meet Prime Minister Modi and announce Tesla’s market entry. By July 2024, Fortune reported that Tesla executives had stopped contacting Indian government officials entirely. The government at that point understood Tesla had capital constraints and no plans to invest.
The more fundamental issue is that Tesla’s existing factories are currently operating at approximately 60% capacity, making a commitment to building new manufacturing capacity in a new market difficult to defend to investors. Tesla will continue selling imported Model Y vehicles through its existing showrooms in Mumbai, Delhi, Gurugram, and Bengaluru, but local production is no longer part of the plan.
Tesla scales back driver monitoring with latest Full Self-Driving release
Tesla Full Self-Driving expands in Europe, entering its second country
