Mercedes-Benz taps Unity for new in-car OS

While trying not to be political, Unity is a word that the automotive industry has been using a lot of lately for the drive to go zero emissions by 2050, unity in renewable alternative power sources for our vehicles and unity in the automobile industry as a whole moving forward towards a better tomorrow. 

Mercedes-Benz however will be utilizing the word differently as they will be working with software company Unity Technologies to create the latest Mercedes-Benz Operating System or MB.OS and will replace their older MBUX infotainment platform as used by current models today. 

Unity Technologies has expertise in real-time 3D technology and their platform powers around 70% of all mobile games in the market. Designers and engineers from MB will use the Unity Industrial Collection package to craft a unique user interface and experience which will span the digital cockpit from the instrument cluster, infotainment, and even passenger displays. We were able to report on these massive interactive screens the car maker teased earlier. 

The MB.OS will allow smart vehicles to become smarter as they will get access to services via the cloud and the internet. These technologies will be able to link with the powertrain, infotainment, body, and comfort systems and may even have features like autonomous driving. 

Mercedes-Benz chief software officer Magnus Östberg told Auto News that they want the OS to focus on three key things. There are to shape the user interface according to the luxury brand. Secondly, to create bidirectional communication when it comes to the customer and the brand. Lastly, to integrate the digital lifestyle of the customer into the in-car domain. He also added that with the help of Unity technologies. They will be able to create extremely realistic representations of the real world inside the vehicle and will be dubbed digital luxury. 

With Unity in charge of Human Machine Interfaces aka HMI and other real-time 3D processes, the new MB.OS will become a new standard for the brand. New technology like audio and video streaming, immersive gaming, messaging applications, and even augmented reality will be soon standard in every new car or SUV that comes out from the brand. The use of Artificial Intelligence or AI will also come into play when it comes to adjusting the vehicle settings due to the habits and preferences of the owner. 

The MB.OS will be previewed first in the German carmaker’s Vision EQXX Concept and will include complex real-time 3D graphics. Stay tuned as our vehicles will become as smart as our smartphones.