Mercedes announced today that it will be the first automaker on earth to build its own navigation experience based on the Google platform. The new feature will take in-car data into account, will take advantage of the automaker’s latest operating system, and is just the start of a long-term collaboration.
“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, Mercedes’ CEO. “It will be deeply integrated within our signature Mercedes-Benz user interface and fully connected to relevant vehicle functions like the state-of-charge.”
Starting today, that will mean giving Mercedes owners access to Place Details, a Google tool that gives users detailed information about more than 200 million businesses around the world. That includes business hours, photos, ratings, reviews, and more.
Read: Google Maps Now Makes Finding EV Charging Stations A Lot Easier
In the longer term, Mercedes will gain access to Google’s geospatial offerings, including real-time and predictive traffic information, automatic rerouting, and more. These features, as well as YouTube, will be embedded in the Mercedes-Benz Operating System, making them easier to use, and optimizing them for the automaker’s high-resolution infotainment screens.
Mercedes also says that it plans to use these functions to make its advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) better. Google Maps data will be utilized to make vehicles adjust their speed before arriving at intersections, roundabouts, or curves in the road.
In addition, Mercedes plans to use Google Cloud’s AI and Machine Learning capabilities to develop new models faster. The company’s fast data processing will also be used to analyze fleet data, and its open infrastructure will help Mercedes create cloud data management.
“Our partnership with Mercedes-Benz brings advanced technologies from Google Maps Platform, Cloud, and YouTube to help create new experiences for drivers,” said Sundar Pichai, CEO of Google and Alphabet. “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.”
