Reportedly: Mercedes-Benz launches 2026 E 300 L with China-developed AI cockpit, starting price cut by RMB 16,000
Reported by IT Home · not yet confirmed by the company or a second independent outlet. We update this page when it is.
Mercedes-Benz launched the 2026 E 300 L sedan with a China-developed AI cockpit, IT Home reported. Starting price is RMB 423,800 (approx. $59,000), down RMB 16,000 from the previous version. The AI cockpit integrates ByteDance's Doubao large model and supports quarterly OTA updates.
China context
- Original name
- 奔驰
- Outside China
- Not stated in the sources yet
- Claims
- Company-reported; not yet independently evaluated
- For builders
- Chinese AI model providers may see increased demand from foreign automakers seeking local AI integration for the Chinese market.
- For investors
- Mercedes-Benz's adoption of Doubao signals ByteDance's growing presence in automotive AI, which could affect valuations of Chinese AI startups in the sector.
Translated from Chinese. Quotes and facts link to the original sources.
The 2026 Mercedes-Benz E 300 L sedan launched in China with a new AI cockpit developed by Mercedes-Benz's China R&D team. The cockpit integrates ByteDance's Doubao large model, adds voiceprint recognition, and supports quarterly OTA updates. The starting price is RMB 423,800, down RMB 16,000 from the previous version.
The AI cockpit features a digital twin 3D car model, flexible interface, multi-task windows, and a virtual assistant with 0.25-second wake-up speed and 98% multi-zone voice recognition accuracy. It supports voice control of third-party multimedia apps and 'see and say' functionality.
Mercedes-Benz is localizing its in-car AI for the Chinese market by integrating ByteDance's Doubao model, which could pressure other luxury automakers to adopt Chinese AI models to remain competitive in China.
The price reduction and AI features may boost E 300 L sales in China, but the impact on Mercedes-Benz's market share is unverified.
Mercedes-Benz plans to roll out the AI cockpit to more fuel and electric models. Watch for announcements of additional models receiving the cockpit and any expansion of Doubao integration.