is transportation editor with 10+ years of experience who covers EVs, public transportation, and aviation. His work has appeared in The New York Daily News and City & State.
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Mercedes-Benz sent out a notice to customers recently announcing its plans to discontinue MBUX Sound Drive, an interactive audio feature that syncs music to the car’s actions. The feature was first announced less than a year ago at CES in partnership with Black Eyed Peas frontman Will.i.am.
Notices went out recently to customers that MBUX Sound Drive would be turned off on December 17th, according to one email obtained by The Verge. “We are working to continue to offer you comparable, innovative services,” the automaker said.
The “innovative musical experience” uses sensors and software to link music to driving. Mercedes used composed musical tracks to pair with regular functions like EV recuperation, acceleration, steering, and braking. During CES, Will.i.am said that the feature turned the whole car its own “orchestra.” Drivers could opt in by selecting Sound Drive through their infotainment screen, which then connects the car’s hardware with the music software through “in-car signals” that enable the music to react to the driving characteristics in real-time.
It was a fun, if superfluous, gimmick that enabled music to “react” to certain driving actions. For example, if you slow down the vocals would fade, and when you accelerate the bass kicks harder. The feature would only work with 30 or so pre-selected tracks, though Mercedes intended it to be an “open music platform” so any musician could create their own auditory soundscape for driving.
Using the company’s MBUX operating system, artists from around the world are invited to “create tracks” for a variety of driving functions. But apparently the vision for the technology didn’t pan out as expected. In an email, Mercedes spokesperson Cathleen Decker confirmed that MBUX Sound Drive was shutting down.
“In the context of our ongoing review and further strategic development of our portfolio of digital extras, we have decided to deactivate MBUX SOUND DRIVE and remove it from our offerings at the end of this year,” Decker said. “This adjustment allows us to continuously optimize our offerings and focus on developing future-oriented innovations.”