Match Made in Tech Heaven? Mercedes-Benz & Google Announce Partnership

Shortly after unveiling the New E-Class interior, Mercedes-Benz & Google have announced a partnership between the luxury automaker and tech giant, aimed at developing the next-generation digital luxury car experience.  As part of the partnership, Mercedes-Benz will be the first automaker to create its own branded navigation experience, based on new in-car data and navigation capabilities from Google Maps Platform.

The partnership allows Mercedes-Benz to leverage Google’s leading geospatial offering, including real-time and predictive traffic information, automatic rerouting, and detailed information about places, to provide a superior navigation experience to its customers.  The features will be embedded into the upcoming Mercedes-Benz Operating System (MB.OS), with easy usability and outstanding graphics on the car’s high-resolution screen.

In addition, the partnership will bring the YouTube app into the Mercedes-Benz infotainment system, further enhancing the user experience. Mercedes-Benz will also use Google Maps data to enable assisted driving features, such as automatic speed adjustments before intersections, roundabouts or curves.

The companies have agreed to explore further collaboration using Google Cloud’s leading artificial intelligence (AI), data, and open infrastructure solutions.  Mercedes-Benz intends to use Google Cloud’s AI and machine learning capabilities to create, train, and deploy new models at speed, enhancing customer experiences.  The company also plans to use Google Cloud’s fast and efficient data processing platform to analyze fleet data.  Mercedes-Benz will also use Google’s open infrastructure to securely innovate and scale from on-premises to edge to cloud across its current technology landscape.

“We invite only the very best partners to enhance our operating system and to add to the Mercedes-Benz customer experience.  Google has been a leader in maps and navigation for many years.  With our strategic partnership, we are excited to create unique services and to elevate the level of convenience for our customers,” said Ola Källenius, Chief Executive Officer, Mercedes-Benz.

As a first step, Mercedes-Benz will give customers access to Place Details provided by Google, helping them find detailed information about more than 200 million businesses and places around the world, including business hours, photos, ratings, and reviews.  Place Details will be available starting today in all vehicles with the latest generation of MBUX in applicable markets.

“Our partnership with Mercedes-Benz brings advanced technologies from Google Maps Platform, Cloud, and YouTube to help create new experiences for drivers.  In addition to enabling Mercedes-Benz to design a customized navigation interface, we’ll provide our AI and data capabilities to accelerate their sustainability efforts, advance autonomous driving, and create an enhanced customer experience,” said Sundar Pichai, Chief Executive Officer, Google and Alphabet.

The partnership between Mercedes-Benz & Google is set to bring significant advances to the auto industry, creating a unique driving experience that pairs trusted, reliable information from Google Maps with the luxury brand and feel of Mercedes-Benz.