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Mercedes-Benz Expands Google’s Partnership to Feature New AI Agent

Written by Cláudio Afonso | LinkedIn | X

Mercedes-Benz said on Monday it is expanding its collaboration with Google Cloud to bring multi-round conversational capabilities to its MBUX Virtual Assistant using Google’s new Automotive AI Agent.

The upgraded features will debut in Mercedes-Benz’s new CLA series later this year, the automaker said.

The AI Agent, built on the company’s Gemini AI model, uses data from the Google Maps Platform to provide drivers with real-time responses about navigation, points of interest, and other inquiries. Globally, the system will have information about 250 million locations.

Nearly two years ago, both companies announced a strategic partnership aimed “to further accelerate auto innovation and create the industry’s next-generation digital luxury car experience”.

Mercedes-Benz last week announced that its electric vehicles (EVs) will gain access to Tesla’s Supercharger network in North America starting in February.

Initial access will use adapters for the North American Charging Standard (NACS) before full integration of Tesla’s standard is introduced later in the year. Tesla operates around 20,000 Supercharger stalls across the U.S. and Canada.

Written by Cláudio Afonso | LinkedIn | X

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Cláudio Afonso founded CARBA in early 2021 and launched the news blog EV later that year. Following a 1.5-year hiatus, he relaunched EV in April 2024. In late 2024, he also started AV, a blog dedicated to the autonomous vehicle industry.