Mercedes-Benz has partnered with software company Unity Technologies to power the infotainment elements of its upcoming Mercedes-Benz Operating System (MB.OS).
Unity says its software engine will provide future Mercedes-Benz vehicles with infotainment displays with “stunning graphics and interactivity with speed and performance.”
Industry Technologies is best known for developing the game engine used in Pokémon Go, Monument Valley and Cuphead. The latest of these games has been brought to the Tesla infotainment system and can be played in the car.
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The US-based software company also develops “real-time 3D” technology that is used in a variety of design and engineering, manufacturing, sales and marketing, and service and operations applications.
Vision EQXX Credit: CarExpert
Mercedes-Benz AG developers will use the Unity Industrial Collection to create the user interface (UI) and user experience (UX) for the MB.OS Human Machine Interface (HMI), which is another term for the instrument cluster and infotainment screen.
This new infotainment operating system was previewed with the Mercedes-Benz Vision EQXX electric research prototype.
Unity Technologies was chosen by Mercedes-Benz as its HMI development platform of choice “after a thorough and rigorous evaluation process against competing real-time HMI and 3D development solutions.”
One of the competing companies that Mercedes-Benz studied was believed to be Epic Games with its Unreal Engine, which will power future Volvo infotainment systems.
Credit supplied: CarExpert
Unity Technologies says its “leadership in real-time 3D development” will allow Mercedes to potentially implement 3D avatars that can act as “digital butlers”, along with 3D maps and artificial intelligence (AI) that can change the vehicle configuration.
The first Mercedes-Benz vehicles with MB.OS will debut in 2024. It will eventually be extended to the rest of the Mercedes-Benz range.
The first MB.OS vehicles will be built on the new MMA small car platform, which will underpin four new vehicles.
This new platform may be the last to be introduced with the option of internal combustion power, as from 2025 Mercedes-Benz has said that all new platforms will be electric only.
Credit supplied: CarExpert
These other electric platforms include the MB.EA architecture for medium and large vehicles, AMG.EA for performance cars and VAN.EA for vans.
In addition, Mercedes-Benz has previously confirmed that it will reduce the number of small models it offers while also launching more high-end vehicles as it aims for higher margins.
The company says it expects “disproportionate growth” in what it calls its high-end vehicle segment, citing a 40 percent increase in S-Class sales last year plus “record” Mercedes-Maybach sales.
This internal segment comprises all Mercedes-AMG and Mercedes-Maybach vehicles, as well as the G-Class and essentially everything with an S: GLS, EQS, EQS SUV and S-Class.
Credit supplied: CarExpert
Mercedes-Benz will also reduce its range of Entry Luxury models from seven to four, although it is not abandoning this part of the market.
The company says these changes will “reposition Mercedes-Benz in the segment, fine-tuning the desires of discerning customers more precisely.”
Mercedes-Benz also plans to go electric-only by 2030, albeit with the disclaimer “where market conditions allow”, and aims to be CO2 neutral by 2039.
MORE: Mercedes-Benz debuts new small car platform in 2024 MORE: Mercedes-Benz plans high-end push, Mythos sub-brand, Maybach SL