vehicle data for safer and more efficient mobility.

Using anonymised vehicle data provided voluntarily by customers, Mercedes Benz helps detect road damage, identify unclear signage and provide a much clearer picture of what’s happening across the road network. The result: earlier detection of infrastructure damage, faster and better targeted maintenance as well as improved road safety. Modern Mercedes Benz vehicles are equipped with advanced sensors that can detect road conditions and environmental information. All data is processed in an anonymised and aggregated form and cannot be traced back to individual drivers or specific vehicles. Data protection is an integral part of the entire process right from the start. Two current projects demonstrate this digital transformation in practice.

The Baden Württemberg Ministry of Transport is using anonymised vehicle data from Mercedes Benz to build a digital database for the traffic-sign register (Verkehrszeichenkataster, VZK). This marks the first time a standardised procedure has been established for the systematic recording, maintenance and analysis of official road signs across all categories. Thanks to the expandable Mercedes Benz database, the need for time‑consuming site inspections, mapping and manual data collection is reduced. The VZK is available as an open-source solution with standardised interfaces, providing a central overview of innovative mobility services, research and intelligent traffic management.

The successful collaboration continues within the Dutch ROMO programme. Following proof of the effectiveness of vehicle data in phase one, Mercedes Benz Connectivity Services GmbH has once again been selected as an innovation partner for the next stage (2026–2029). Mercedes Benz is working closely with national partners, including the Dutch Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management and the Netherlands National Road Traffic Data Portal (NDW), to identify infrastructure damage, accident hotspots and critical road-surface conditions. These insights support authorities in planning and managing maintenance and winter services across a road network of approximately 130,000 kilometres.

As a multi‑brand provider of connectivity and data services, Mercedes‑Benz Connectivity Services GmbH is driving forward digitalisation in the automotive industry and offers innovative, data‑driven product solutions. Business customers can acquire vehicle‑specific and vehicle‑related services to, for example, optimise their fleets. Its customers include passenger car and van fleet operators and their service providers, car rental companies, leasing firms and insurance companies, as well as neutral servers and app and software developers. Mercedes Benz Connectivity Services GmbH is part of Mercedes‑Benz AG.