Mercedes is revealing the first details about its upcoming MB.OS infotainment system, which will replace the current MBUX. The latter offers new connected features and will offer even more efficient Level 3 autonomous driving.
Today, cars are becoming more and more connected and technologically advanced. Several recent models are not equipped with touch screens and other digital phones. So much so that some even overdo it, like the upcoming SUV from the Italian-American brand Aehra, which turns into a movie theater. It is also impossible not to remember the first version of the Tesla Model S with its huge 17-inch vertical slab. A real UFO for that time!
New opportunities
Mercedes is also very strong in this regard, offering on its EQS and EQE an incredible 1.40 meter wide hyperscreen that combines no less than three screens in one. Something that will inspire some manufacturers, and in particular Rising Auto on their R7 and F7. For several years, the star firm has been offering the MBUX (Mercedes-Benz User Experience) system, which was introduced on the current A-Class released in 2018.
This is now available for all models in the line, but will now give way to a whole new generation that will change its name for the occasion. This is the MB.OS system, already mentioned a few weeks earlier, when the manufacturer presented the latest generation of its MBUX for its future E-Class. If this new system does not see the light immediately, Mercedes is already giving us some information.
Mercedes MBUX – E-Class
In its press release, the German firm announces that this new software will be rolled out to all models in its catalog without saying which one will unlock it. We only know that it will appear in the middle of the decade, along with the new MMA (Mercedes Modular Architecture) modular platform, which will be designed for entry-level electric models. So it could happen that a replacement for the current Class A will be released and it will be the first to be equipped with MB.OS.
This new system, developed in-house and in collaboration with Nvidia, will primarily allow the driver to enjoy a more complete and practical infotainment system. This will include Google Maps navigation integration. It will also be possible to obtain information on more than two million businesses, such as restaurants and shops, through the Place Details system, which will be launched for the first time in the latest generation of MBUX.
Improved autonomous driving
New apps like YouTube, Webex or Zoom will also be offered. It will also be possible to play arcade games in the car thanks to the Antstream platform already offered by Tesla. However, the American firm has a slight head start as it recently offered a Steam catalog for its Model S and Model X. The upcoming E-Class will also let you watch TikTok videos and play Angry Birds.
But that’s not all, because MB.OS will also be a new turning point for autonomous driving. Currently, the Drive Pilot system of the EQS system allows level 3, but only up to 60 km/h, although European legislation allows driving up to 130 km/h. It will be possible with this new version. To do this, the star firm, which has one of the best systems with Ford, recently partnered with Luminar to integrate a more efficient LiDAR sensor.
It will still be necessary to wait before you can sleep in your car on your way to work, and Level 4 autonomous driving isn’t planned until the end of the decade, according to the manufacturer. The latter will also offer more services in its vehicles thanks to various offers, namely MB.Connect, MB.Charge and MB.Drive, which combine numerous driving assistance and comfort functions. The brand’s vehicles will be compatible with remote OTA updates to add new features after the vehicle is purchased.
Mercedes is also announcing the expansion of its catalog of paid products and services, which can be purchased directly from the car using the touch screen. As a reminder, the manufacturer already offers several subscription features such as rear-wheel steering and increased power on its electric models. The strategy is similar to BMW, which launched a heated seat subscription for 20 euros per month.
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