Markus Schäfer revealed plans for a Mercedes-Benz branded high-power charging network

In his remarks during the Mercedes-Benz tech talks at CES 2023, Chief Technology Officer Markus Schäfer revealed plans for a Mercedes-Benz branded high-power charging network starting this year in North America. Rollout in Europe, China and other main markets will follow.

The North American network is scheduled for completion by 2027, by which time a total of more than 400 hubs with more than 2,500 high-power chargers will cover the continent. Spaced at regular intervals close to motorways, major intersections and metropolitan areas, the hubs will offer a premium, sustainable and reliable charging experience.

The locations and surroundings of the Mercedes-Benz charging hubs will be completed with food outlets and restrooms situated nearby.  Facilities will also be equipped with surveillance cameras and other measures to provide a safe and secure charging environment at all times. Selected charging points are covered for protection from the weather. Depending on region and location, the hubs offer four to 12 – and ultimately as many as 30 – high-power chargers (HPC) with up to 350 kW charging power. Intelligent charge-load management allows each vehicle to charge at its maximum capacity, keeping waiting times to an absolute minimum. The network will be open to all-electric vehicle brands.

Furthermore, all Mercedes-Benz charging hubs able to accommodate a roof will be equipped with photovoltaic systems to provide electricity for lighting, video surveillance etc.

Visitors to CES 2023 can take a close look at a life-size model of the VISION EQXX at the Mercedes-Benz booth and learn more about this very special research vehicle.  It made headlines last summer with an average energy consumption of 8.3-kilowatt hours per 100 kilometers (or 7.5 miles per kilowatt hour) on a drive from Stuttgart, Germany to Silverstone, U.K.

Mercedes-Benz also announced the company’s new Automatic Lane Change (ALC) feature, which will come to the North American market this year. ALC enables the car to automatically initiate a lane change and overtake slower vehicles with the cruise control engaged. The system is a further expansion stage of the Mercedes‑Benz SAE Level 2 partially automated driving feature, so the driver remains responsible at all times. To use ALC, the driver sets the speed of the adaptive distance cruise control function (Active Distance Assist DISTRONIC). The Active Steering Assist (activated by default) does the rest.

SAE Level 3 conditionally automated driving coming to Nevada and California in 2023

In May 2022, Mercedes-Benz became the first car manufacturer in the world with an internationally valid certification for conditionally automated driving to offer an option ex-works for vehicles from series production to customers in Germany.  On suitable motorway sections and where traffic density is high, DRIVE PILOT can offer to take over the driving, initially up to the legally permitted speed of 60 km/h.  Mercedes-Benz has applied for certification in the states of California and Nevada. DMV Nevada has approved the application and they are now preparing the certificate of compliance that will be issued within the next two weeks. With that, Mercedes-Benz will be the first OEM to have a Level 3 system to offer in the US – and is optimistic that California will follow soon.

Mercedes-Benz Chief Software Officer Magnus Östberg detailed during the CES 2023 tech talks how Mercedes-Benz is creating the ideal in-car entertainment experience with the help of multiple partners. Collaborations with Apple Music, Universal Music Group (UMG) and Dolby Laboratories, Inc. are bringing ground-breaking innovations in the field of sound to Mercedes-Benz vehicles. Thanks to the collaboration with Apple Music, a Mercedes-Benz is now the first non-Apple device to natively offer Spatial Audio with Dolby Atmos by Apple Music.

“In-car entertainment today is much more than a high-end stereo system. A typical top-of-the-line S-Class or EQS will most likely be equipped with a Burmester High-End 4D-surround sound system with 39 speakers, plus the Hyperscreen. Not to mention all the hardware and software to make it work together. This is how we at Mercedes-Benz create desire: seamlessly combining technology to amaze the user. For this, we look to both inside our organization as well as to valued external partners who can bring new innovations to our vehicles.” – Magnus Östberg, Chief Software Officer at Mercedes-Benz Group AG.

Making its North American premiere, the Mercedes-Benz partnership with digital entertainment platform ZYNC brings seamless in-car content streaming to a new level. Both companies took advantage of the CES 2023 tech talks to announce details of the collaboration, which brings new, curated content and embedded streaming specific to the North American market. Joining Magnus Östberg was ZYNC founder and CEO Rana June (RJ). She explained how ZYNC combines all streaming services seamlessly on a single platform, allowing passengers to stream content onto their screens while traveling and to all occupants when parked.

To round out the day’s discussions, Mercedes-Benz announced a collaboration with the emerging entertainment brand, SUPERPLASTIC. Galen McKamy, Chief Creative Officer of SUPERPLASTIC, joined Alexander Helf, Head of Brand, Design & Lifestyle Communications at Mercedes-Benz, to launch their newly formed partnership at the CES 2023, which included the introduction of an all-new character to the SUPERPLASTIC universe – Superdackel. He is a cultural icon, derived from the “Wackeldackel,” the classic “nodding dog” ornament that’s graced the hearts and dashboards of generations of drivers around the globe. The partners premiered Superdackel in an animated short film.