We know the feel of our cars from the sensation of the steering wheel in our hands and the response of the pedals to our feet. But more and more, with each passing year, we know them as user interfaces as well.
A good, user-friendly infotainment system can make owning a car pleasant. A bad one can make driving a chore.
Some companies have turned to software manufacturers to handle that part of design. Both GM and Volvo, for instance, are using Google Android-based operating systems for their cars.
Luxury cars have the most complex interfaces, as befits vehicles with the most features. A luxury automaker’s software system is now as central to its brand identity as its hood ornament. Bringing out a new one affects how buyers feel about not just one car but an entire lineup.
With that in mind, Mercedes is looking to replace its well-known MBUX with a new operating system developed in-house. It’s named the new system as if it were a phone’s software update. MB OS will appear on every new Mercedes soon. It’s expected to show up first in small and midsize electric vehicles.
Related: Your Next Porsche Could Compose Background Music to Match Your Driving Style
Will Appear in Smaller Cars First
Most manufacturers introduce new technologies first on flagship cars. But Mercedes says the younger buyers attracted to its smaller cars make a good testing audience for new technologies.
Aritifical Intelligence, 3D Images
MB OS, Mercedes says, will learn from each driver. It will use artificial intelligence to build a profile of each driver’s preferences and adjust accordingly.
New features include 3D navigation (displayed on the cabin-spanning Hyperscreen that turns virtually the entire dashboard into a screen surface) projecting turn-by-turn directions onto a 3-dimensional map of the car’s surroundings, complete with shadows adjusted for time of day.
The existing “Hey, Mercedes” voice-controlled digital assistant will be more conversational, the company says, and have “a more characterful, emotional voice.” Chief software officer Magnus Östberg likens it to a “digital butler.”
It could also be a digital teacher. The system will include an eco driving coach setting, which will help EV drivers learn to maximize their car’s range.
Mercedes expects MB OS to be ready in 2024.
