Well, that’s peculiar. Mercedes-Benz has announced that the next iteration of MB.OS—its in-house and onboard infotainment software—will include Microsoft Intune. This will integrate Microsoft products and functions into MB.OS, sort of like Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
And key among those integrated products and functions is the addition of Microsoft Teams, so that drivers and passengers can take work calls while on the go. Yes, because that’s exactly what Mercedes was missing. You might be asking yourself ‘why?’ And don’t worry, so are we.
Thankfully, the chairman of the board of management at the Silver Arrows, Ola Källenius, answered our burning curiosity, “Through our industry-leading collaboration with Microsoft, we are making it even easier for our customers to stay productive while on the move. By integrating the latest Microsoft workspace tools, such as Microsoft Teams, directly into our new operating system, MB.OS, we’ve created an intuitive and safe user experience that boosts efficiency and reduces distractions at the same time.”
OTHER STORIES YOU MIGHT HAVE MISSED:
BMW has become the savior of wagons in the Philippines
LTO waives late fees on license renewal and vehicle registration
That’s probably not the type of efficiency that disgruntled customers were complaining about, but we digress. At least Mercedes-Benz has promised that staying productive while behind the wheel would not hinder the driver’s awareness. Any presentation slides and on-video callers will not be presented on the main infotainment display, but Mercs with indoor cameras can be used to stream video into Teams calls.
This probably isn’t the most attractive thing to drivers, but perhaps the business executives who sit comfortably in the back of an S-Class would appreciate this added functionality. But wouldn’t they rather recline their seats and doze off?
While the rule isn’t set in stone, you probably should not be taking work calls or doing any kind of work while driving. In-car communication has advanced so that you can take calls and send messages without taking your eyes off the road and your hands off the wheel, but anything that takes your focus off the road should probably not be addressed. And that’s for your safety and the safety of your fellow road users.
This update will first hit the 2026 CLA, which is scheduled to drop in the European and American markets later this year. Mercedes-Benz also announced that it will continue to work with Microsoft to develop an AI-powered platform that can “transform the vehicle into a third workspace, complementing the office and the home office.”
Remember when Mercedes-Benz was about bank-vault build quality, and not workspaces?
