Mercedes-Benz puts ByteDance's Doubao AI into its updated E-Class in China
Mercedes launched its updated long-wheelbase E-Class in China with a cockpit built by its Chinese team around Doubao, so AI is now part of the car itself.
The short version
- Updated long-wheelbase E-Class launched in China on November 2
- Three E 300 L variants, priced from RMB 423,800 to RMB 509,800
- Doubao, ByteDance's AI model, is built into Mercedes' virtual assistant
- Voiceprint recognition supports up to six users
- Major over-the-air updates are planned every quarter
Why it matters
AI is moving from apps you choose to download into products you buy, and a car's voice assistant is something you may use every day. Before you buy, it is worth testing how well it understands you. Software updates mean the car you test may improve after you drive it home.
What Mercedes launched
As TechNode reported, Mercedes-Benz launched its updated long-wheelbase E-Class in China on November 2. The car comes in three E 300 L variants, priced from RMB 423,800 to RMB 509,800.
The headline feature is the cockpit, meaning the dashboard screen and voice system. Mercedes says it was developed independently under the leadership of its Chinese research team.
How the AI cockpit works
The cockpit connects ByteDance's Doubao model, a Chinese AI system, to Mercedes-Benz's own virtual assistant. In practice, the assistant you talk to has a large AI model behind it.
The voice system accepts commands tied to what is on the screen. It also uses voiceprint recognition, which identifies a person by the sound of their voice, and it can handle up to six users.
Drivers also get a configurable interface where they can combine different conditions and actions into personalized routines. The car now offers Huawei HiCar next to Apple CarPlay, so phone users have more than one way to link their handset to the screen.
Why the local development matters
The cockpit was not simply imported. Mercedes handed the design lead to its Chinese research team and chose a local AI model to power the assistant. Adding Huawei HiCar alongside Apple CarPlay points the same way, toward fitting the car to the phones and services its buyers already use.
What happens after you buy
The system is set to receive major over-the-air updates every quarter. These are software upgrades sent wirelessly, with no trip to a dealer.
Mercedes also plans to bring the cockpit to more of its combustion-engine and electric models. If that happens, this E-Class may be an early look at a wider rollout rather than a one-off.
What to watch
- Which other Mercedes-Benz models get this cockpit, and when
- What the quarterly updates add in practice
Try it
Next time you test-drive any new car, spend five minutes with the voice assistant. Give it a few everyday requests and see how well it understands you.
Sources and links
- ReportingTechNode: the article we sourced
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Listen to the daily showsFirst reported by TechNode · Read the original. Written by the SI Agent News Desk from the reporting above.Written with AI from the source above. Every number is checked against the source. Spot a mistake? Corrections.