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Little bit of history
Updating the navigation maps stored in the vehicle began with the E-Class in 2016. What previously required the insertion of a data medium such as a DVD, or a workshop visit, now takes place automatically over the air every three months, assuming the customer has activated this service in the Mercedes me Portal.
Benefits of Over-the-Air Updates for Drivers
Over-the-air updates offer significant advantages for Mercedes-Benz owners. Drivers can enjoy the latest features, improved navigation, and enhanced safety systems without scheduling service appointments. OTA updates also help maintain the vehicle's value by ensuring it remains technologically current. Furthermore, these updates can address software bugs or vulnerabilities quickly, reducing the risk of security issues.
Security and Privacy in OTA Updates
Mercedes-Benz prioritises the security and privacy of its customers when delivering OTA updates. Each update is encrypted and authenticated to prevent unauthorised access. The company regularly tests its systems for vulnerabilities and works with cybersecurity experts to ensure robust protection. Customers can also review update details and manage their preferences through the MBUX interface, giving them control over their vehicle's software environment.
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Over-the-air updates are not new for us. Thanks to our many years of experience and many successfully run OTA campaigns over the years, our customers always have the latest software in the vehicle. With ‘over the air’, it is not just software updates that we can deliver to vehicles already sold, but also features which haven’t even been invented yet. OTA enables the vehicle to become a more and more effective tool for the customer as time goes on
Georges Massing, Head of Digital Vehicle & Mobility at Mercedes-Benz AG.
How does the Mercedes over the air work
How does over the air work in concrete terms? As soon as a new update is available from Mercedes-Benz, a message is shown in the central display; the download and installation of the update run in the background.
Important note: the user then has to agree again explicitly to the activation. In this way, the vehicle is always up to date with software.
To transmit the data, Mercedes-Benz relies on mobile radio technology and the communication module installed in the vehicle – this is the most secure way. A further option for an updated and improved user experience is the additional booking of new functions in the Mercedes me Store:
Smartphone Integration such as CarPlay or Android Auto,
In-Car Office or the digital radio DAB+ for optimum radio reception are available there.
And the best thing of all: services whose subscription has expired can also be renewed quickly and easily online via the Mercedes me Store.
However, some features and services will not even require an update in the vehicle. The reason being that MBUX is a hybrid system and draws upon data and software stored in the vehicle as well as upon information stored in the cloud.
This applies, for example, to the voice assistant “Hey Mercedes”. It constantly learns new words and phrases through exchange with the cloud. Questions such as “Where is the nearest pizza place?” or “How did the national football team do today?” naturally also rely on the latest information in the cloud.
In addition, the latest traffic and weather information is constantly transferred to the vehicle, including associated data such as the snow depth in ski areas. Currently, A-Class customers who have been using MBUX since 2018 are now receiving the additional streaming services TIDAL and Amazon Music, as well as access to the Mercedes me Store in MBUX, while in specific languages MBUX is switching to use the familiar form of “you”.
In this way, updates become upgrades. Depending on the age of the vehicle there are more functions available for downloading which are already on board more recently built models.
The Future of Connected Vehicles
As automotive technology evolves, OTA updates will play an increasingly important role in the connected vehicle ecosystem. Mercedes-Benz is investing in artificial intelligence and machine learning to enable vehicles to adapt to driver preferences and road conditions. In the future, we can expect even more personalised features, predictive maintenance alerts, and seamless integration with smart home devices, all delivered through secure OTA updates.