Mercedes-Benz has reached a partnership with ECARX and Xingji Meizu, with plans to equip the facelifted long-wheelbase E-Class for the Chinese market in 2027 with the Flyme Auto smart cockpit system.
According to reports from 36Kr citing sources familiar with the matter, Mercedes-Benz has reached a partnership agreement with ECARX and Xingji Meizu to integrate the Flyme Auto smart cockpit system into its China-specific models. The first vehicle to feature Flyme Auto will be the next-generation long-wheelbase E-Class, scheduled for release in 2027.
As of the time of publication, Mercedes-Benz has not issued an official statement regarding the collaboration.
ECARX is a smart vehicle technology company founded in 2017 with backing from Geely Group, while Meizu was acquired by Geely in 2022 as part of its broader push into mobile and connected ecosystems. The two companies jointly introduced the Flyme Auto in-vehicle system in 2023, debuting on the Lynk & Co 08 EM-P. Since then, Flyme Auto has been adopted across a wide range of popular models under the Geely umbrella—including the Galaxy, Geely, and Lynk & Co brands. Prior to the system’s release, Geely’s in-car software was widely regarded as a weak point in its product experience.
As of June 2024, vehicles equipped with Flyme Auto across Geely Group brands have collectively sold over 1.16 million units, with a monthly increase of 130,000 units. The Flyme Auto 2.0 version has also started rolling out, offering improved AI functionality and user interface design. For the Mercedes-Benz models, the system is expected to deliver a more fluid and advanced interaction experience, including hands-free voice assistant with multi-command support—a significant upgrade for the brand’s current infotainment capabilities.
Mercedes-Benz’s decision to incorporate Flyme Auto reflects its broader effort to address shortcomings in vehicle intelligence within the Chinese market. In the first half of 2024, Mercedes-Benz’s sales in mainland China declined by 14% year-over-year, continuing a two-year trend of market weakness.
To reverse this trend, the company has taken several strategic steps. In advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS), it has partnered with local technology provider Momenta. Now, in the smart cockpit space, it is working with Meizu to deliver a more localized and intelligent in-car experience.
Currently, Mercedes-Benz’s core models for the Chinese market—including the long-wheelbase C-Class, E-Class, and GLC—are equipped with the third-generation MBUX system, which runs on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8295 chipsetand includes 5G connectivity. While Mercedes-Benz has already introduced native lane-level navigation optimized for China, its systems still lag behind top domestic NEV brands in areas such as voice interaction and app ecosystem integration.
To strengthen its position in cockpit software, Mercedes-Benz has developed a new proprietary MB.OS operating system, which will debut on the upcoming electric CLA. Built on a new electrical architecture, MB.OS is designed to support generative AI models and frequent OTA updates, putting it on par with China’s leading NEV players.
However, MB.OS is only compatible with vehicles built on new EV platforms like MMA, meaning it cannot be deployed on Mercedes-Benz’s current internal combustion engine (ICE) models, which still account for the majority of its sales in China. In this context, the adoption of Flyme Auto represents a pragmatic solution to enhance the intelligence of Mercedes’ existing ICE lineup.
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