With intelligent software, the display and operation concept of the MBUX infotainment system adapts completely to its user. Owners of a Mercedes‑Benz C‑Class (series 206; construction period March to June 2021) and S‑Class (series 223 including Maybach; construction period June to November 2021) can now use the over-the-air update (OTA) to install the particularly comfortable Zero Layer. As soon as the update is ready for installation, the customer will be notified via the MBUX infotainment system and via the Mercedes me app.
This clear user interface with large map view and individual selection tiles can be intuitively operated, without having to scroll through sub-menus. The system gets to know the driver and remembers the typical settings or routes. At the appropriate moment, it suggests personalised infotainment, comfort and vehicle functions – precisely tailored to the respective driving situation. An example: a driver calls his family on the way home from work every evening. The vehicle learns this habit and, in the future, will suggest the telephone call at this time directly in a selection tile on the top menu. The driver can, of course, reject this suggestion if necessary with the “Do not suggest now” function, or permanently delete it with “Do not suggest again”. The vehicle also remembers these wishes.
Next to radio/media and telephony, navigation is the most important functionality for users and is therefore always at the centre of the screen unit after this update. More than 20 additional functions are automatically offered with the help of artificial intelligence if they are relevant for the customer: from ENERGIZING COMFORT programmes such as a relaxing massage on long-distance journeys to status queries from connected smart home devices to suggestions for when a phone call is due. The developers have internally named these suggestion modules, which are displayed on the Zero Layer interface, as “Magic Modules”. The Zero Layer made its debut in 2021 in the all-electric EQS and EQE models. It is also now standard on board the C‑Class (series 206) and S‑Class (series 223 including Maybach) models produced in model year 21/2, as it is on other future series models.
The freely selectable and free over-the-air update works very simply: Customers with an active Mercedes me account will receive a notification via the MBUX Infotainment system and via app that this update is available. Download and installation take place in the background after customers have agreed in advance to the installation of software updates. Customers without a Mercedes me account will be informed by post about the availability of the update. To transmit the data, Mercedes‑Benz relies on mobile radio technology and the communication module installed in the vehicle. The customer can now start activation after agreeing to the terms of use. They simply follow the menu navigation of the setup assistant and thus access the new feature quickly and easily. If they would like to keep the original menu, they can quickly switch back and forth between the old and new user interfaces. This is also helpful for different drivers with personal preferences for the home screen view.
