Mercedes-Benz Research and Development India (MBRDI) has equipped the third generation of the new GLS launched recently with fully packed connected services through its latest MBUX multimedia infotainment system. As a timely-innovation, the infotainment system will enable users to navigate to the nearest COVID-19 testing centres using the most updated information provided by ICMR (Indian Council for Medical Research). This makes the SUV provide important information to its users at the time of need through its connected services.

As the number of cases continues to grow across the globe, MBRDI engineers in Bangalore have achieved this integration in a record time of two weeks, in association with leading service provider of maps & location technology, MapmyIndia. The 12.3-inch infotainment system handles requests using voice commands and gestures.

Mercedes-Benz India users will immensely benefit from MapmyIndia’s COVID-19 India Guide, as they will now have real-time and accurate information about high risk or no-go areas, and thus avoid these while travelling. The information is sourced from the latest government notifications and guidelines issued from time to time, and other credible sources.

Commenting on this innovation, Manu Saale, Managing Director & CEO, MBRDI stated, “This is a proud moment where the team has developed this much needed innovation to add another layer of safety for our end-customers in India. Our infotainment team, who have a key role to play on the entire MBUX including the Interior Assist & Rear Seat entertainment, earlier this year was instrumental in launching another timely innovation for Korean market where the infotainment system helps in navigating to stores with N95 masks/ respirators, also.” He added, “Our technology platform for MBUX both in onboard (Car) & offboard (Cloud Backbone) is built in such way to accelerate new services and features to our customer.”

Adapted to suit the Indian requirements, the interior assist software which is another unique function to control the interiors featurs of the car using gesture. Significant portion of the software application for MBUX is developed at MBRDI in Bangalore. An upgraded Mercedes Me connect app is planned to be released, next month for enhanced user experience.

Upon request, the MBUX infotainment panel will display the centre name, address and phone number. This hyperlocal mapping and location intelligence features are designed to ensure vehicle owners to navigate hassle free during the current times. This feature gets automatically activated without any hassle of paying additional fee. As a next step, the team is also working to include Corona treatment centres and many other unique features as well.

Commenting on this collaboration, Rohan Verma, CEO & Executive Director, MapmyIndia, said, “Mercedes-Benz is renowned worldwide for its highest level of safety and customer comfort. Ever since the pandemic broke out, our teams have been developing tools and solutions leveraging its best-in-class indigenously developed location technology to benefit Indians. I am happy that a leading company like Mercedes-Benz India has partnered with us in furthering this effort of ours.”

MapmyIndia team is continuously updating new facilities and health centres (testing, isolation and treatment) capable of handling Corona cases, as they come up across India. These are both government and non-government. This data will be available for all the major cities including Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Bangalore, Hyderabad, and Pune.