"As soon as we are on the highway, we will start the autonomous driving mode," said Daimler executive Wolfgang Bernhard as he steered the Mercedes-Benz Actros truck towards a busy stretch of motorway in Baden-Wurttemberg.
It successfully piloted the vehicle along the motorway, reaching speeds up to 50mph.
The system identifies markings on the road as well as other vehicles and obstacles with a camera and radar mounted at the front of the lorry.
"The highway pilot brings more safety because it is never inattentive, it is never tired, it is always present 100%," Bernhard said. "It never loses concentration or focus.
"No matter how well you accelerate, slow down or steer a truck you can never do it as good as the highway pilot can," he added.
The company reiterated the requirement that a human driver be present and focused on the road at all times and said that the technology is supposed to help rather than replaces drivers.
