Business as Unusual: Webex Coming to E-Class Vehicles

Cisco announced it is working with Mercedes-Benz to provide a mobile office experience in its new Mercedes-Benz E Class vehicles.

This partnership will help people get work done from their vehicles, with the features that Mercedes-Benz and Webex customers are accustomed to, according to Cisco's news release.

Mercedes-Benz and Cisco's partnership makes it possible for an architect in the parking lot of a job site to collaborate with their team back at the firm, for example, or take a meeting between visiting a client and picking up the kids from after-school care.

"Hybrid work is centered on the work you do, not where you do it – whether it's in the office, home, car, or anywhere in between," said Jeetu Patel, EVP/GM of security & collaboration at Cisco. "The mobile office cannot progress without the reliable and secure collaboration technology that only Cisco can provide. This partnership with Mercedes-Benz, a leader in automotive luxury, marks a big step forward in delivering the flexibility that the hybrid workforce demands."

Meetings and Calls

Drivers will be able to conduct meetings and calls with Meetings and enterprise-grade calling with Webex. These features are all part of the Webex Suite.

Webex's proprietary audio intelligence technology offers noise cancelation. Webex's technology makes it easier to hear and to be heard by singling out and boosting the clarity of an individual's voice while eliminating distracting background noises, such as road noise and, at times, co-passengers talking, that come with the flexibility of conducting meetings and calls from the vehicle.

Safety-Centric Approach

When the vehicle is moving, meetings and calls will use audio only.

When parked, users can harness Webex's full immersive collaboration experience in their E-Class, including video meetings, automatic AI-powered transcription, content sharing, and reactions (such as a thumbs up or celebration emoji).

Availability

The interior of the 2024 Mercedes-Benz E-Class was previewed on Feb. 22, 2023. The new vehicle will be equipped with Wi-Fi and cellular data connection, among many other things.

Using either connection, drivers can download the Webex App from the Mercedes-Benz Car App Store to appear directly on the touchscreen of the vehicle's infotainment system, eliminating the dependency on phone.

This offering will be available globally in the new Mercedes-Benz E-Class vehicles, which are expected to arrive at dealerships this spring.