Mercedes-Benz used the 2024 Guangzhou auto show to spell out its answer to the question of how a 138-year-old carmaker stays relevant in the age of intelligent, electrified vehicles: keep petrol and electric models on the same level of technology and safety, according to Chinese outlet 电动邦 (Dian Dong Bang).
The German brand argues that electrification is ultimately a stepping stone toward a broader era of intelligence, where chips and AI need electric current to function. Rather than choosing sides between combustion and battery power, Mercedes says it is pursuing what it calls "oil-electric parity" - applying the same standards of safety, driver assistance and in-car interaction across all powertrain types.
Safety through simulation and X-ray testing
On the safety front, Mercedes says it has used digital simulation since the 1980s. Today, its virtual testing can split a vehicle into 1,500 units, each analysed in fine detail for crash forces. Every model is subjected to 15,000 simulated collisions before a physical prototype is built, which the company says eliminates most safety risks early and cuts costs.
For real-world crash tests, Mercedes says it is the first automaker to apply X-ray technology, capturing images at 1,000 frames per second to help engineers resolve the last remaining safety blind spots. For electric models, the focus shifts to protecting the battery and electric drive system. The battery pack is designed with a high-strength housing, and models like the new all-electric G-Class get an additional underbody "shield plate" for extra protection against impact and thermal runaway.
Mercedes also highlighted data privacy measures: voice interactions leave no chat logs, and personal data from facial recognition or navigation stays in the vehicle. Driving scenarios are anonymised before being uploaded to the cloud for AI model training, and users can switch off cloud services entirely. The company says this approach, known as federated learning, will debut on the new E-Class.
Intelligence that feels the same in every powertrain
In the cabin, Mercedes is rolling out its 56-inch MBUX Superscreen, paired with a Qualcomm 8295 cockpit chip. The setup powers the "mind-reading voice assistant" and uses Unity 3D engine rendering for the interface and navigation. These features will appear on the new electric EQE, the 2025 long-wheelbase GLC SUV and its plug-in hybrid version, and the 2024 long-wheelbase C-Class and E-Class with their PHEV variants.
For driver assistance, Mercedes currently uses L2+ systems with either radar-plus-camera or camera-only sensing, powered by Nvidia Orin-X chips. The company says it may move to a purely vision-based approach for future L2++ systems.
Mercedes is also localising its software for China. Its local R&D team has adapted the third-generation MBUX system to better understand Chinese speech patterns, and tuned the L2+ driver assistance to handle Chinese road conditions. Apps such as Amap, Tencent Video, Bilibili and NetEase Cloud Music are integrated into the infotainment system.
After a day of test drives across petrol, plug-in hybrid and battery-electric models, 电动邦 (Dian Dong Bang) reporters said they could not tell the difference in parking assistance, driver assistance or voice interaction between powertrain types. The L2+ system, they noted, changes lanes and brakes smoothly even in combustion models, without the jerky sensations often associated with traditional gearboxes.
Looking ahead, Mercedes says the electric CLA arriving in 2025 will introduce the MB.OS domain architecture, enabling L2++ full-scenario intelligent driving without high-definition maps, all-scenario parking assistance, an AI-powered virtual assistant, and a new MBUX immersive navigation experience.
