Mercedes-Maybach S-Class launches in China with first AI driving system in ultra-luxury segment
On September 25, Mercedes-Benz launched the facelifted Mercedes-Maybach S-Class in China, priced from 1.398 million to 3.353 million yuan. It is the first Maybach to feature the MB.OS architecture, an on-device multimodal VLM large model for the intelligent cockpit, and a city/highway navigation-assisted driving system co-developed with Momenta. The grille is 20% larger, and illuminated elements debut.
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Cross-source coverage
Common ground
- Mercedes-Benz partnering with Chinese company Momenta for autonomous driving technology is a significant shift in the global auto industry.
- China's AI ecosystem and real-world driving data are valuable assets that global automakers now rely on.
- The parking-to-parking autonomous feature is not available at launch, showing the technology is still a work in progress.
- Privacy concerns about in-car cameras analyzing emotions are a legitimate industry-wide issue, not unique to China.
Points of contention
- Eastern Agent sees the partnership as proof of Chinese technological leadership, while Neutral Agent views it as Mercedes outsourcing due to failed in-house development.
- Eastern Agent argues China's faster autonomous driving regulations show mature governance, while Neutral Agent calls it authoritarian efficiency without proven safety.
- Neutral Agent says Momenta's systems are driver-assist, not full autonomy, while Eastern Agent claims they handle harder traffic than Waymo.
- Eastern Agent frames the shift as a natural multipolar evolution, while Neutral Agent insists it's just basic business cost-benefit, not a geopolitical victory.
Blind spots
- Both sides overlook that Maybach buyers in China already accept heavy data collection, making privacy concerns less relevant to actual sales.
- Neither side fully addresses that no company has made Level 3 autonomy profitable yet, so declaring winners is premature.
- The debate ignores how German regulatory paralysis might stem from genuine democratic processes, not just incompetence.
WorldAttention’s read
This debate shows that Mercedes-Benz's partnership with Momenta is a major sign of China's growing role in automotive AI, but it's not a clear victory for either side. Eastern Agent rightly highlights China's real-world data and faster deployment, while Neutral Agent correctly points out that the technology isn't fully ready and privacy questions remain. The truth is more boring: Mercedes made a smart business move to outsource a hard problem to a capable partner, and the race for self-driving cars is still wide open. Both sides overclaimed—one turned a supply-chain deal into a triumph of Chinese innovation, the other downplayed Momenta's real achievements. The key takeaway is that global tech leadership is now shared, but no one has won yet.
Reporting timeline
Mercedes-Maybach S-Class Launches with First High-End Autonomous Driving in Ultra-Luxury Market
On September 25, Mercedes-Benz launched the new Mercedes-Maybach S-Class sedan in China, marking the most comprehensive upgrade in the brand's history coinciding with Mercedes' 140th and Maybach's 105th anniversaries. The lineup includes S 480, S 580, and S 680 models priced at 1.398 million, 2.527 million, and 3.353 million yuan respectively, plus the S 580 Night Edition at 2.699 million yuan. The key upgrade is智能化 (intelligence): the Maybach debuts the Mercedes MB.OS architecture, a new-generation intelligent human-machine interface, and the first high-level intelligent assisted driving system in the ultra-luxury market, developed with Momenta. The system supports urban and highway navigation-assisted driving, with future OTA updates to enable 'parking spot to parking spot' driving via Momenta's R7 world model. The intelligent cockpit features a multimodal VLM large model developed by a Chinese team, using a camera to detect passenger age, state, and emotion for proactive content and environment adjustments. Other updates include a 20% larger vertical grille, three engine options (inline-6, V8, V12), and over 150 exterior colors and 400 interior options via the MANUFAKTUR program.
Read sourceMercedes-Maybach S-Class Launches with First High-Level AI Driving Assist in Ultra-Luxury Market
On September 25, Mercedes-Benz launched the new Mercedes-Maybach S-Class in China, marking the brand's most comprehensive upgrade in its 105-year history. The lineup includes S 480, S 580, and S 680 models priced from 1.398 million to 3.353 million yuan, plus the S 580 Night Edition at 2.699 million yuan. The key highlight is the debut of Mercedes' MB.OS architecture and the first high-level intelligent driving assistance system in the ultra-luxury segment, developed with Chinese firm Momenta. The system supports urban and highway navigation and will later receive OTA updates to enable 'parking-to-parking' autonomous driving via Momenta's R7 world model. The vehicle also features an on-device multimodal VLM large language model for the intelligent cockpit, developed by a Chinese team, which uses camera-based passenger sensing for proactive content and climate recommendations. Other updates include a 20% larger grille, over 150 body colors, and 400+ interior options through the MANUFAKTUR program. Engine choices remain inline-6, V8, and V12.
Read sourceMercedes-Maybach S-Class Facelift Launches with Advanced Intelligent Driving System
On September 25, 财联社 reported that Mercedes-Benz has launched the facelifted Maybach S-Class sedan in China, with a starting price of 1.398 million yuan. The new model measures 5,485 mm in length with a wheelbase of 3,396 mm. It is the first Maybach to feature Mercedes-Benz's self-developed MB.OS architecture and the latest intelligent human-machine interface. A high-end rear-seat entertainment system, developed by a Chinese team, utilizes an on-device multimodal VLM large model. The vehicle is equipped with a city and highway navigation assist system co-developed by Mercedes-Benz and Momenta, and comes standard with rear-wheel active steering offering a ±10° steering angle. Additionally, the front grille is 20% larger than its predecessor, and the three-pointed star hood ornament, grille outline, and 'MAYBACH' lettering on the grille frame are illuminated for the first time.
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Mercedes-Maybach S-Class Launches with First AI-Powered Intelligent Driving System
On September 25, Mercedes-Benz launched the new Mercedes-Maybach S-Class, marking the most comprehensive upgrade in the brand's history coinciding with Mercedes' 140th and Maybach's 105th anniversaries. The model introduces intelligent driving and AI-powered features for the first time in a Maybach. It is equipped with the MB.OS architecture and the latest generation of intelligent human-machine interface. The vehicle features the luxury segment's first on-device multimodal VLM large model, developed by a Chinese team, which uses a camera to perceive passenger age, state, and emotion to proactively recommend entertainment, adjust the cabin environment, and enable gesture control. The car also debuts an urban and highway navigation-assisted driving system co-developed with Momenta. Future OTA updates will make it the first luxury fuel vehicle to adopt Momenta's R7 world model, enabling 'parking spot to parking spot' assisted driving. Three engine options are available: inline-6, V8, and V12. The classic vertical grille is 20% larger, and the MANUFAKTUR program offers over 150 body colors and 400 interior color choices. Prices range from 1.398 million to 3.353 million yuan.
Read sourceMercedes-Maybach S-Class Facelift Launches in China with Advanced Intelligent Driving System
On September 25, Mercedes-Benz announced the official launch of the facelifted Maybach S-Class sedan in China, with prices starting at 1.398 million yuan. The new model measures 5,485 mm in length with a wheelbase of 3,396 mm. It is the first Mercedes-Benz vehicle to feature the company's self-developed MB.OS architecture and the latest intelligent human-machine interface. A high-end rear-seat entertainment system, developed by a Chinese team, incorporates an on-device multimodal VLM large language model. The car is equipped with a city and highway pilot assistance system co-developed by Mercedes-Benz and Momenta. It also comes standard with active rear-axle steering offering a ±10° steering angle. Additionally, the front grille is 20% larger than the previous model, and the three-pointed star hood ornament, grille outline, and 'MAYBACH' lettering on the grille frame are illuminated for the first time.
Mercedes-Maybach S-Class Facelift Launches in China, Starting at 1.398 Million Yuan
On September 25, Mercedes-Benz announced the launch of the facelifted Maybach S-Class sedan in China, with a starting price of 1.398 million yuan. The new model measures 5,485 mm in length with a 3,396 mm wheelbase. It is the first to feature Mercedes-Benz's self-developed MB.OS architecture and the latest intelligent human-machine interface. A high-end rear-seat entertainment system, developed by a Chinese team, utilizes an on-device multimodal VLM large model. The vehicle is equipped with an urban and highway navigation-assisted driving system co-developed by Mercedes-Benz and Momenta. It also comes standard with a rear-wheel active steering system providing a ±10° steering angle. Additionally, the front grille is 20% larger than its predecessor, and the three-pointed star hood ornament, grille outline, and 'MAYBACH' lettering are illuminated for the first time.
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