Mercedes-Benz’s New Approach to Intelligent Innovation in the AI Era

The opening ceremony of the 2026 Future Auto Pioneer Conference (4th Edition) and the Greater Bay Area Auto Show kicked off in Shenzhen. During the event, Drummond Jacoy, Head of R&D and Procurement at Mercedes-Benz China, delivered a keynote speech outlining three core principles that define Mercedes-Benz’s unique path toward intelligent innovation in the age of AI.

1️⃣ Fully Embracing AI with Rapid Iteration of Cutting-Edge Technologies
AI as an Accelerator: AI is not only an innovation accelerator for Mercedes-Benz but also a new engine driving transformative change.
Software-Defined Vehicles: The MB.OS architecture achieves complete decoupling of hardware and software.
Localized Virtual Assistant "Xiaoben": Integrating Doubao’s Large Language Model (LLM) with multi-agent capabilities, the all-new virtual assistant "Xiaoben" handles more complex requests and possesses a deeper understanding of Chinese customers' needs.
Industry-First Rear Entertainment VLM: Mercedes-Benz becomes the first automaker to mass-produce a rear-seat entertainment system powered by an on-device multimodal Vision-Language Model (VLM). Debuting on the all-new S-Class, it recognizes passengers and gestures to provide proactive services, setting a new paradigm for in-car interaction.
Advanced Driver Assistance: Leveraging reinforcement learning and world models, our ADAS capabilities in critical driving scenarios have improved by 5 to 10 times. This gives the system "human-like intuition," ensuring comprehensive coverage across all road conditions for a safe and composed driving experience.
R&D Efficiency Boosted by AI: Empowering our R&D processes with AI to continuously deliver innovations for our customers at "China Speed."

2️⃣ Upholding Mercedes-Benz Standards while Deepening Integration into China’s Tech Ecosystem
Safety First: Safety remains the most fundamental principle for Mercedes-Benz.
Automatic Emergency Steering (AES): The all-new pure-electric GLC SUV introduces AES, a first for Mercedes-Benz vehicles.
Unmatched Crash Testing: The all-new pure-electric GLC SUV has undergone the highest number of real-world crash tests among Mercedes-Benz models locally, completing over 230 physical tests prior to launch and offering up to 11 airbags.
Deep Local Partnerships: We maintain long-term collaborations with leading tech partners, including ByteDance, Tencent, Momenta, AISpeech, AutoNavi, and Unity.
Academic-Industry Synergy: Our partnership with Tsinghua University has entered its 14th year. The jointly developed multimodal VLM will be featured in the all-new S-Class.

3️⃣ Beijing-Shanghai Dual Engines: Achieving True "Equal Intelligence for ICE and EV"
A New Decade of R&D: In 2026, Mercedes-Benz China’s R&D officially enters its third decade.
Dual R&D Hubs: Operating the most comprehensive R&D network outside of Germany, we are driving innovation from concept to reality at "China Speed."
China-Led Global Projects: Our local team now leads major global initiatives, including the design of the "Xiaoben" virtual assistant, parking-spot-to-parking-spot driver assistance, upgraded luxury UI/UX experiences, intelligent parking assist systems, and the rear entertainment system for the all-new S-Class.
True Equal Intelligence: Starting this year, Mercedes-Benz will become the first automaker to equip all powertrain configurations with cutting-edge intelligent technologies, achieving true parity between internal combustion engines (ICE) and electric vehicles (EV).

For 140 years, Mercedes-Benz has remained steadfast in its commitment to innovation. By embracing AI, strictly adhering to Mercedes-Benz standards, partnering with top-tier tech innovators, and accelerating at "China Speed," we are dedicated to delivering a luxurious mobility experience with equal intelligence for both ICE and EV customers!