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Daimler tests a self-driving, mass-produced truck on real roads
Daimler's dreams of self-driving big rig trucks just took one step closer to reality. The automaker has conducted the first-ever test of its semi-autonomous Highway Pilot system in a production truck on a public road, driving an augmented Mercedes-Benz Actros down Germany's Autobahn 8. While the vehicle needed a crew to keep watch, it could steer itself down the highway using a combination of radar, a stereo camera array and off-the-shelf systems like adaptive cruise control. The dry run shows that the technology can work on just about any vehicle in the real world, not just one-off concepts.
Inhabitat's Week in Green: new EV concept cars and Napmobiles
Each week our friends at Inhabitat recap the week's most interesting green developments and clean tech news for us -- it's the Week in Green. Up until now, Tesla has blazed a trail in the electric vehicle market -- but the major automakers are finally starting to catch up. This past week Porsche unveiled its new Mission E electric car, which packs over 600 horsepower and recharges in 15 minutes flat. Meanwhile, Audi showcased a sleek all-electric SUV to rival the Tesla Model X, and Mercedes-Benz debuted a car that can actually transform at high speeds. Even LA is jumping on the green-car bandwagon -- the city just announced plans to launch the largest electric vehicle fleet in the US. If you prefer pedal-powered transportation, don't miss out on a chance to win a Public V7 bike in our back-to-school giveaway -- it only takes a second to enter!
The German car industry is buying Nokia's Here maps
Nokia is selling its Here maps service to a group of German car makers for €2.8 billion (roughly $3.07 billion). The consortium is comprised of Mercedes' owner Daimler, BMW, and Audi. As the latter is a VW subsidiary, the buyers essentially represent the entire German car industry -- or at least all the big hitters. It was previously reported that Uber was interested in purchasing the service, but the car companies clearly brought the most attractive offer to Nokia's table.
Mercedes-Benz takes on Tesla with a home battery of its own
Guess what, Tesla: you're not the only car maker getting into the home battery game. Mercedes-Benz has unveiled a personal energy cell that, like Tesla's Powerwall, uses giant batteries to store surplus power from your home's solar panels and keep you off the conventional energy grid. The German firm is taking a more modular approach than its American counterpart, though. Each pack only holds 2.5kWh of electricity, but you can combine up to eight of them to hold 20kWh, or twice as much as a Powerwall. That potentially suits it to certain businesses, not just your own abode. Whatever you think of Mercedes' pack, it may be your best hope of getting some clean energy storage in the near future. With Tesla's unit already sold out through mid-2016, you may have little choice but to register for the Mercedes equivalent and wait until it ships in September.
Daimler and Qualcomm team up on connected car tech
Car companies aren't usually good at wireless tech, and wireless companies aren't great with cars -- if you want to make wireless-savvy vehicles, you'll probably need some teamwork. Accordingly, Daimler and Qualcomm have forged a partnership that should improve connected cars. The first phase of this collaboration will focus on bringing cellular data and wireless electric car charging to your ride. They're not saying when they expect to bring their combined efforts to market, or what comes next. With that said, it won't be shocking if you're one day driving an electric Mercedes that's always online and never needs to plug in.
Mercedes-Benz has an Apple Watch app, too
Apple Watch apps aren't all about sorting payments and getting notifications. There are plenty that play nice with your car, too. Following the likes of BMW and Volkswagen, Mercedes-Benz announced its own software for the wearable that provides walking directions to and from where the car is parked. Using the MB Companion app, Mercedes owners can also search for driving directions from the Apple Watch or and iPhone before they even sit down in the driver's seat. As you might expect, info like fuel level, range, maintenance codes and and odometer readings can be swiped through on your wrist, too. When it arrives this fall, the app will work with Mercedes-Benz C-Class and S-Class vehicles that sport the Command Online tech, and support for other models is said to follow after launch.
Daimler is using EVs and ridesharing to teach teen drivers
The days of learning to drive in your family's ancient sedan might soon be over. Daimler is running a pilot program that teaches German teens to get around using electric versions of the Mercedes B-Class and Smart Fortwo. According to the company, an EV's smooth automatic transmission lets students focus on the traffic around them, not the basics of getting from A to B. They only move on to gas-powered cars when they're ready to master stick shifting.
Riding in Mercedes' luxurious, self-driving car of the future
A four-wheeled vision of gleaming silver glides toward me, shining brightly under the warm California sun. The vehicle looks otherworldly against the empty backdrop of the former naval base in Alameda, a site perhaps more famous for Mythbusters stunts than automobile demonstrations. This, however, is no ordinary automobile. The curvature of metal heading in my direction is more reminiscent of zeppelins and supersonic spacecraft; the stuff of childhood dreams and science fiction. This is the Mercedes-Benz F 015 Luxury in Motion, a concept car representing the future of autonomous vehicles. And I'm about to go for a ride in it.
Mercedes will have 10 new plug-in hybrid cars by 2017
After dipping its toes into the plug-in hybrid waters, Mercedes-Benz is ready to jump in with both feet. The automaker is planning to launch 10 new plug-in hybrid models between now and 2017 -- on average, that's a new green machine every four months. The only two confirmed US models so far are the 2016 C350e (above) and S550e, both of which arrive this fall, but Mercedes is promising that vehicles from the C-Class on up (including the GLE-Class SUV) will get the semi-electric treatment. Between these and pure EVs like the B-Class Electric Drive, you may not have to compromise on model selection just because you want an eco-friendly ride with a tri-star badge.
Best of CES 2015 Awards, Automotive: Mercedes F 015 concept car
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How NVIDIA plans to drive the adoption of autonomous cars
One of the biggest surprises at this year's Consumer Electronics Show was just how deep NVIDIA is getting into the automotive field. Given how reliant on armies of sensors the autonomous cars of the near future will be, however, it makes sense that the company best-known for its desktop computing power is at the forefront of transportation tech. We briefly spoke with the company's senior manager of automotive technology, David Anderson, about where he sees driver-less cars going, how long it'll take to get there and how the insurance industry might react once we do.
A closer look at the crazy car tech of CES 2015
Over the past few years, the world of connected automobiles has exploded. Self-driving cars, heads-up displays and in-car infotainment systems have become mainstays of CES and this year was no exception. Join us as we take a visual tour of Mercedes' futuristic F 015 road-ready lounge, Audi's indestructible rear-seat Android tablets and everything in between. This is the wild world of automotive tech at CES 2015. For more automotive technology and beyond, check out our 2015 CES Field Guide.
Mercedes-Benz unveils its vision of a self-driving car
Mercedes-Benz is far from the first automaker to experiment with self-driving cars, but it's making up for that in style at CES. Meet the F015 Luxury in Motion, a previously hinted-at concept car designed from the ground up for robotic transportation. Passengers normally sit face to face so they can talk more, and anyone can control the car through remote units and gestures (courtesy of Leap Motion) -- this is really a classic, luxurious carriage remade for the modern era, according to Mercedes. The vehicle even has color-coded LED lights on the front and back to let you know what the car is thinking. It can tell you whether or not it's in autonomous mode, or give pedestrians a heads-up when it's safe to cross. You probably won't ever see the F015 go on sale, but it's a good clue as to what Mercedes hopes you'll drive (or rather, not drive) in the years ahead. Aaron Souppouris contributed to this report.
Mercedes and LG keep drivers awake, brake cars automatically
CES 2015 is shaping up to be a big event for Mercedes-Benz, which will discuss its plans for self-driving cars in a keynote speech and show off a crazy prototype. LG has now revealed that it will supply the mono and stereo camera systems that will keep the cars in their lanes, dim the headlights, brake autonomously, and spot pedestrians or cyclists. The Korean company will also supply biometric systems to monitor the driver's eye movement and alertness, along with mobile and home entertainment expertise. Mercedes, in turn, will license part of its 6D Vision self-driving tech back to LG to use with other automakers.
Porsche and Mercedes want electric cars that can fight Tesla
German automakers aren't strangers to high-end electric cars, but they've typically focused on supercars instead of sedans -- a problem when Tesla is rapidly encroaching on their business. At last, though, it appears that die Deutschen are gearing up to fight Tesla on its home turf. Manager Magazin has sources claiming that Porsche and Mercedes-Benz are developing all-electric vehicles that would gun directly after the Model S. Details of these new rides are scarce, but they'd reportedly have a range of at least 250 miles. Porsche's car would be a smaller take on the Panamera you see here, while Mercedes has so far committed only to an EV that would compare to its E- or S-class sedans.
Daimler sells its stake in Tesla as its EV partner grows up
They grow up so fast, don't they? It seems like just yesterday (well, 2009) that Daimler bought a stake in Tesla to give it a boost and secure a partner for electric car development, and the German automaker is now selling that stake a mere five years later. According to the company, an investment is simply "not necessary" any more -- Daimler can cooperate with Tesla on EVs without needing a say in its finances. The sale is theoretically a win for both companies. Daimler will pocket about $780 million, while Tesla can attract a wider range of investors.
No camouflage can hide this weird Mercedes prototype
Spy photos from our sister site Autoblog have revealed a concept car from Mercedes that looks like it was beamed back from 20 years in the future. The silver-colored vehicle sports a wedge shape, cycle fenders, an extreme cab-forward design and narrow tires -- calling to mind Volkswagen's 260MPG XL1 hyrid. Our guess? The tires and aerodynamics suggest an extreme-mileage vehicle, likely a full-on EV, hybrid or other green-tech vehicle, perhaps with a self-driving option. As for when we might see it, we'd place a bet on January at Las Vegas. That's when Mercedes-Benz CEO Dr. Dieter Zetsch will deliver his CES 2015 keynote speech, and yes, unveil an all-new concept car. For a full gallery, check the source. [Image credit: Autoblog]
Mercedes will talk self-driving cars and debut a new concept at CES
If you haven't started thinking about next year's CES yet, Daimler AG has beat you to the punch. Not only will Mercedes Benz CEO Dr. Dieter Zetsche be delivering a keynote about autonomous vehicle tech and its greater impacts, but he's going to debut a new concept vehicle too, according to the Consumer Electronics Association. Considering the the topic of his speech and the fact that Mercedes has been showing off a semi-truck with a pretty impressive auto-pilot system for the past year or so, it isn't much of a stretch to guess this new ride will be at least semi-autonomous. Don't want to miss his address? Set a calendar reminder for 8 p.m. Pacific, January 5th, 2015 at the Cosmopolitan in Las Vegas. Or, you know, you could always come back here where we'll be covering the show from the ground. It's up to you!
Free Mercedes DLC rolls into Mario Kart 8 later this month
Following word that the previously Japan-exclusive Mercedes Benz-themed DLC for Mario Kart 8 would be appearing in the West, we now have an official launch date: August 27. "An Aug. 27 game update to Mario Kart 8 for the Wii U console will deliver a variety of new features for players, including the ability in-game to download three free Mercedes-Benz cars that players can race: the modern Mercedes-Benz GLA, the 300 SL Roadster from the 1950s and the legendary Silver Arrow of the 1930s," reads Nintendo's official statement. As fits the Mushroom Kingdom setting, each of these vehicles can be customized using Mario Kart 8's selection of whimsical automobile parts, though the GLA features its own, unique wheel options. Additionally, the update will tweak a few annoyances in Mario Kart 8. Online stability will be improved, the leaderboards seen between races will offer more useful information and players will be granted more options when viewing Mario Kart TV replays. Best of all, the update will be available as a free download to anyone with a Wii U and a copy of the game. [Image: Nintendo]
Mercedes' semi-autonomous truck lets its driver relax on the highway
If you've ever driven a highway on a major trip, you know how monotonous it can get -- and it only gets worse for big rig operators, who may spend every day on those uneventful roads. Mercedes-Benz may eventually let those long-haul drivers make better use of their time, though. It just recently demonstrated Future Truck 2025, a semi-autonomous concept vehicle that takes the reins on the highway. A combination of radar and stereo cameras keep the machine on the right course once it's up to speed, freeing the driver to check up on the family or get work done. It can optionally talk to other vehicles to anticipate upcoming construction or traffic jams, and it's smart enough to get out of the way if an ambulance comes speeding by.
