On September 23, Mercedes-Benz (China) Investment Co., Ltd. and Beijing Zitiao Network Technology Co., Ltd. announced the signing of a memorandum of understanding to upgrade their strategic cooperation. This cooperation shows that multinational automakers are rapidly keeping up with the pace of China's automotive industry's intelligent transformation.
This signing is reportedly an upgrade to the strategic partnership between the two parties, which began in 2023 with Volcano Engine. The collaboration covers various business areas, including intelligent assisted driving, intelligent cockpits, intelligent R&D, digital marketing, and customer operations. The all-new all-electric CLA, the first Mercedes-Benz model to feature the Doubao model, will be launched this fall.
Oliver Thöne, Member of the Board of Management of Mercedes-Benz Group AG and responsible for Greater China, said: "We are vigorously promoting digital and intelligent development powered by cutting-edge AI technology across all our business areas. We are honored to upgrade our strategic partnership with ByteDance, a leading technology company, to further promote the cross-business integration and application of AI technology in the automotive sector. Going forward, we will work together to promote the innovative development of automotive intelligence and AI applications, creating an ever-evolving digital luxury experience for Chinese customers based on the 'Mercedes-Benz standard' and at 'China speed'."
Specifically, in the field of smart cockpits, the two parties will integrate AI capabilities to achieve rapid generation of intelligent applications, deepen cooperation based on Doubao large models, integrate multiple scenarios, and make smart cabins more personalized. In the field of autonomous driving technology, the two parties will cooperate in the cloud field to strengthen the AI genes of intelligent assisted driving research and development. In terms of improving R&D efficiency, Volcano Engine will assist Mercedes-Benz in building big data platform capabilities, and Mercedes-Benz China Digital Technology R&D team will use Feishu's AI capabilities to strengthen the digital collaboration of R&D processes. In the field of digital marketing, Mercedes-Benz will work with ByteDance to open up new media marketing channels and create a digital marketing matrix that integrates brands and dealers. In the field of customer operations, Mercedes-Benz relies on ByteDance's cloud communication technology to achieve accurate information push and stable services.
Providing tailored solutions that meet the needs of Chinese customers is a core focus of this collaboration. Responding to Chinese users' dual expectations for intelligence and practicality, Mercedes-Benz, through technical collaboration with ByteDance, has established a comprehensive demand-response system. On the product side, the all-new all-electric CLA model addresses the core needs of the Chinese market. Addressing range anxiety, it features the world's first electric two-speed transmission specifically designed for energy efficiency, achieving an exceptional range of 866 kilometers under CLTC conditions and an ultra-low fuel consumption of 10.9 kWh/100 km. Prior to its launch, it underwent 180 real-world crash tests and over 2,000 airbag deployments, ensuring a robust safety barrier to stringent standards. Furthermore, in line with Chinese users' high expectations for intelligent interaction, the model integrates AI technology with Mercedes-Benz standards to create a cutting-edge intelligent cockpit and reliable intelligent driver assistance systems.
This full-dimensional cooperation model between the two parties is currently rare in the automotive industry. This move allows Mercedes-Benz to obtain more comprehensive and in-depth AI technology and ecological support, and is expected to give it a differentiated advantage in competition with its rivals.
