Mercedes says it will bring the in-car entertainment experience to a “new level” thanks to a newly announced partnership with California-based tech company ZYNC.
Together, the companies will work to create a bespoke entertainment experience designed specifically for Mercedes’ in-car screens. The aim, the companies say, is to make a seamless experience tailored to the automaker’s UI technologies, like the MBUX Hyperscreen.
“Through our partnership with ZYNC, Mercedes-Benz aims to unleash the full potential of in-car entertainment via benchmark-setting hardware like the MBUX Hyperscreen by transforming it into a portal that expands the MBUX digital experience beyond the car,” said Magnus Östberg, Mercedes’ chief software officer.
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That will allow customers to access an ever-growing list of global and local streaming services, which currently includes 30 outlets. Each will be ideally suited to the specific infotainment screen it is playing through. ZYNC, claims to offer best-in-class video playback with adaptive bitrates and minimal on-board caching requirements.
“As well as even smoother, more direct and personalized access to owned and third-party content such as ZYNC provides, augmentation with interactive services will help us further deepen customer engagement and dialogue,” said Östberg.
Naturally, safety is a priority for Mercedes, so its in-car entertainment services will only be available when the vehicle is parked and it will comply with local regulations regarding front seat entertainment while the vehicle is in motion. It says, however, that it is ready to introduce in-motion front seat entertainment where legal approval exists for its Level 3 automated vehicles.
Mercedes will be the first automaker to use ZYNC technology, which will be introduced on the EQS and S-Class in Europe at the end of 2022. It will be rolled out in more vehicles and markets after that.