Mercedes‑Benz is further leveraging the power of artificial intelligence (AI) to expand its MBUX Voice Assistant capabilities with a new general knowledge function[1]. Using AI, it can now provide up‑to‑date answers to knowledge-based questions by initiating a Microsoft Bing search. It then creates natural language responses using ChatGPT through Microsoft Azure OpenAI Service. Last year, Mercedes‑Benz was one of the first automakers to introduce ChatGPT as a US-beta program and is now bringing this functionality into series-production vehicles for the first time.

With this feature in the car, users can ask all kinds of general knowledge questions – from pop culture to geography, science, health, and history – and freely converse about the chosen topic to get more information. The intelligent system is also ‘context-aware’. This means it can respond to follow-up requests for additional information, even if the speaker uses vague words. For example, the question could be: “How many Grammy awards has a certain artist won?” After receiving the answer, the user could add: “When was the first?” and the system would respond correctly as it already understands the background. Customers can still use the MBUX Voice Assistant to ask queries covering lots of everyday topics, such as the weather, stocks and shares, news reports, and sports results.

“By adding an AI-driven knowledge feature to our MBUX Voice Assistant, we are making it even easier for customers to connect with their vehicle in an entertaining and rewarding way. Our unique AI software seamlessly interacts with ChatGPT and Bing through Microsoft Azure OpenAI Service to deliver information like never before. This is another proof point on our journey towards the hyper-personalised in-car user experience.”
Markus Schäfer, Member of the Board of Management of Mercedes‑Benz Group AG, Chief Technology Officer, Development & Procurement

Users enjoy a seamless experience as the new function is directly integrated into the MBUX Voice Assistant. Just like before, passengers can activate the assistant by saying “Hey Mercedes”. This makes it easy to use and it also creates a safe driving experience as the conversation is then entirely hands-free. Alternatively, they can press the speech button on the steering wheel to activate the assistant. To maximise the functionality, the conversation history is stored for up to one hour, allowing the user to ask follow-up questions. Starting today, the new function will be available as a free update to over three million vehicles with the MBUX infotainment system[2]. It will initially be offered in three languages: German, British English and American English. Users from other markets can change their system language to try out the feature.
Sophisticated AI ensures data privacy at all times

With this new feature, Mercedes‑Benz is tapping into the power of Azure OpenAI Service’s leading generative AI models backed by the enterprise-grade security, privacy and reliability capabilities of the Azure cloud platform. Mercedes‑Benz retains complete control over the IT processes in the background. All voice command data collected is stored in the Mercedes‑Benz Intelligent Cloud, where it is anonymised and analysed.

To mitigate the risk of customers accessing toxic, harmful, illegal, and controversial content, Mercedes‑Benz has implemented a risk assessment tool to evaluate system responses and identify best practices to reduce the possibility of harmful responses.

The Supervisory Board of Mercedes-Benz Group AG has decided on changes to the company's Board of Management. In 2025, Mercedes-Benz will bid farewell to the highly esteemed board members Sabine Kohleisen, Renata Jungo Brüngger, and Hubertus Troska as their contracts expire and they retire. They have significantly shaped the company over many years with their dedication and expertise. With the appointment of the new board members Mathias Geisen, Oliver Thöne, and Olaf Schick, a rejuvenation of the Board of Management is initiated and, at the same time, the consistent transformation of the company is continued.

Sabine Kohleisen, board member for Human Relations (HR) and Labour Director, has asked the Supervisory Board of Mercedes-Benz Group AG not to extend her contract, which expires at the end of November 2025. In the interest of the company and to accelerate the rejuvenation of the Board, she will step down from her mandate on April 30, 2025. As a key architect of personnel change and the profound transformation and digitalisation of the HR department, Sabine Kohleisen, together with her team, has set the course for Mercedes-Benz to be one of the most attractive employers in Germany.

The successor to Sabine Kohleisen will be Britta Seeger, currently board member for Marketing & Sales, starting on May 1, 2025. Over the past years, Britta Seeger has made crucial strategic decisions for global sales. Under her leadership, the digitalisation of sales channels has been significantly advanced, our brand has been rejuvenated and realigned, and customer orientation has been consistently expanded. Britta Seeger will hand over sales responsibilities and start her induction into the role of board member for HR and Labour Director on March 1, 2025.

Mathias Geisen, currently Head of Mercedes-Benz Vans, has shaped the van division into an extremely successful business unit in recent years, whilst using his entrepreneurial skills to drive the future van portfolio. He will be appointed to the Board of Management on February 1, 2025, and will take over the leadership of the Marketing & Sales board division on March 1, 2025.

"Sabine Kohleisen has filled her role as board member for Human Relations and Labour Director extremely successfully and professionally and has played a decisive role in shaping many of the company's future-oriented decisions. The Supervisory Board sincerely thanks Sabine Kohleisen for her successful work and her willingness to contribute to the new structure of the Board of Management. I am particularly pleased that Britta Seeger, after eight successful years as board member for Marketing & Sales, will take on the extremely important role of board member for Human Relations and Labour Director for the transformation of Mercedes-Benz. With her broad experience and high personal credibility, she will significantly shape and drive further necessary changes in our company within the context of a globally changing automotive industry. With Mathias Geisen, we are appointing a skilled strategist and internationally experienced product and sales expert to the Board of Management, who has recently demonstrated his abilities at Mercedes-Benz Vans. The Supervisory Board is very much looking forward to further collaboration with both of them."
Martin Brudermüller, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Mercedes-Benz Group AG

"In her clear, strategic and always approachable manner, Sabine Kohleisen has led the employees and the HR division of Mercedes-Benz through the spin-off of the truck division and into the future. For all of us on the Board of Management, Sabine has been a highly valued confidante and professional partner during these challenging years. I thank Sabine for over 34 years at Mercedes-Benz and wish her all the very best for her future! At the same time, I thank Britta Seeger for eight very successful years in leading our Marketing & Sales division. Whether in the reorganisation of sales, the digitalisation of sales processes, or the positioning of our brand, Britta has consistently transformed her area, made it fit for the future, and always thought first and foremost of our customers’ needs. I am very much looking forward to continuing to work closely with Britta in the future."
Ola Källenius, Chairman of the Board of Management of Mercedes-Benz Group AG

China remains the most important market for Mercedes-Benz. During a phase in which the company is further expanding its collaboration with local partners and technology leaders, Hubertus Troska, currently the board member for Greater China with planned retirement in 2025, has decided to take on a new role as Board Member and General Authorised Representative of Mercedes-Benz Group AG for China starting on February 1, 2025. In this role, he will fully dedicate himself to the complex transformation of the business system, as well as a smooth and successful transition to his successor in the company’s highest-volume market until his retirement on July 31, 2025.

Oliver Thöne, currently head of Product Strategy and Steering, will succeed Hubertus Troska starting on February 1, 2025. Oliver Thöne currently holds one of the most important key positions in vehicle development at Mercedes-Benz Cars. Under his leadership, the course for the future product portfolio of the entire Mercedes-Benz Group up to the 2030s was successfully set.

“After a unique career, Hubertus Troska, one of the most experienced European managers in China, is leaving our company. Mercedes-Benz owes him and his diligent leadership for the market success in China over the last decade. With the appointment of Oliver Thöne, we are further rejuvenating and strengthening our Board of Management. Oliver Thöne is distinguished by his strategic foresight, the clarity of his analyses, and his exceptional understanding of our highly complex business system. The Supervisory Board is very much looking forward to future collaboration with him.”
Martin Brudermüller, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Mercedes-Benz Group AG

“Hubertus Troska symbolises the overwhelming success of Mercedes-Benz in China. During his twelve-year responsibility for the Chinese market, he has more than tripled sales in the country, massively expanded the local production network and development capacities, and created an extremely capable team in China. With exceptional cultural sensitivity and the greatest diplomatic skill, he was the ambassador of Mercedes-Benz in China and a highly valued partner of our local joint ventures. I am very pleased that Hubertus will remain with us and bring his expertise for several more months as Board Member and General Authorized Representative for China, and I sincerely thank him for over 36 very successful years in various positions at Mercedes-Benz."
Ola Källenius, Chairman of the Board of Management of Mercedes-Benz Group AG

After nearly ten years of successful board membership, Renata Jungo Brüngger will leave the company at her own request on October 31, 2025, shortly before her contract expires. With her consistent and visionary leadership, she has further developed and restructured the governance approach at Mercedes-Benz and played a significant role in systematically embedding sustainability into the corporate strategy. Together with her team, she has firmly established a compliance system that is anchored and valued throughout the company.

Renata Jungo Brüngger’s successor will be Olaf Schick, starting on October 1, 2025. Olaf Schick is currently member of the Board of Management of Continental AG, responsible for Finance, Controlling, Integrity, and Law. Before his time at Continental, Olaf Schick was already successful in various roles at Mercedes-Benz for many years, including as Head of Finance & Controlling Greater China and Head of the Compliance department.

"With Renata Jungo Brüngger, a skilled, visionary and assertive lawyer with high resilience and a consistent working style is leaving our company. The Supervisory Board expresses its heartfelt thanks and appreciation to Renata Jungo Brüngger for her contributions to the company during very challenging times. At the same time, the Supervisory Board and I are very pleased that Olaf Schick is returning to Mercedes-Benz and will take over Renata Jungo Brüngger’s responsibilities on the Board. With his extensive experience both at Mercedes-Benz and in another DAX company, he is the perfect fit for the important Integrity, Governance, and Sustainability board division."
Martin Brudermüller, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Mercedes-Benz Group AG

"Renata Jungo Brüngger has shaped our company for nearly ten years as board member. With her extensive experience, she is a mainstay who, together with her team, has provided guidance to many colleagues in the most challenging situations. Her clear, analytical perspective and her extremely consistent advocacy for sustainability and good corporate governance have also influenced our work for the future. I wish Renata all the very best."
Ola Källenius, Chairman of the Board of Management of Mercedes-Benz Group AG

Today the Board of Directors of the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA) has elected Ola Källenius, Chairman of the Board of Management of Mercedes-Benz Group AG, as the new ACEA President for 2025. In times of global geopolitical and macroeconomic challenges, effective leadership is crucial to tackle these issues and strengthen the competitiveness of the European auto industry. Källenius succeeds Luca de Meo, CEO of Renault Group, who has held the position as ACEA president since early 2022.

Ola Källenius expressed his gratitude and outlined his vision for the future:
“ACEA is one of the most relevant and trusted industry voices in Brussels. I’m honoured to be taking over from Luca de Meo as ACEA president at such a critical moment for Europe’s automotive industry. Thank you to the members of ACEA for placing their trust in me, and to the entire ACEA team who are tirelessly bolstering the standing of our industry with the political institutions in Brussels.
During my presidency, ACEA will focus on improving regulatory conditions with the goal of sharpening our competitive edge in the digital and electric era. We will work towards fostering a market-driven decarbonisation of our industry. And we will champion international trade that is free, fair and rule based.
I’m confident the EU automotive industry has what it takes to continue being successful in the global competition.”
About ACEA

The European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA) was founded in 1991, with former Daimler-Benz as one of its founding members. Today, the association unites Europe’s 14 major car, truck, van, and bus makers. ACEA works to drive the sustainable growth of the European automotive industry by advocating for policies that support innovation, competitiveness, and environmental stewardship. The association engages with policymakers, stakeholders, and the public to promote the interests of the automotive sector and to ensure that it remains a key driver of Europe’s economic and technological progress.

George Russell

It has been a strange weekend for us as a team. It’s been very up and down. There’s been moments where we’ve looked quick and then other times when we’re not sure where the pace has gone. We are a little confused by that but, on my side of the garage, we didn’t have the speed to fight for the first couple of rows today. That is frustrating but P7 is likely the best we could have hoped for today. It was a real shame for Lewis too. He’s been really quick this weekend, ahead of me comfortably, and I think he would have been right up there at the end of Q3.

Looking ahead to tomorrow, it will be tough to move forward. It is perhaps surprising to see the Alpine of Pierre Gasly and the Haas of Nico Hulkenberg up there, but I think firstly they did an amazing job and secondly, I think that their pace this weekend is genuine. We will have a fight on our hands but we will take that on and look to end the season as strongly as we can.
Lewis Hamilton       

Today was really unfortunate. We’ve worked so hard to get the car into a good place and it has been feeling strong all weekend. Sadly, our timing at the end of Q1 wasn’t the best. We weren’t able to optimise the out lap, having to push through traffic. That compromised my last effort in that session; a bollard then got stuck under the car at turn 14 and affected the final few corners of the lap. To that point, I was level on pace with George and looking good to make it through to Q2. It is obviously really frustrating.

It is difficult to say what would have been possible if we had made it through to the final part of Qualifying. We have been looking good across the practice sessions so I think we could have challenged for the first couple of rows. It is what it is though, and I will be giving it my all to end as strongly as we can tomorrow. It will be difficult from P17, but I will be trying to enjoy it as much as possible and make up as many positions as we can.
Toto Wolff, Team Principal & CEO

We need to apologise to Lewis and everyone in the team who has worked so hard to deliver a great final weekend for him here in Abu Dhabi. He has been quick across all three practice sessions and was looking good for a strong result tomorrow. Sadly, we totally let him down at the end of Q1. We made the mistake of not sending the drivers out early enough. That compromised both their out laps and then their final push laps as they wrestled through traffic. Lewis was then additionally compromised by a bollard becoming stuck under his car. Without that, he would likely have got through, but we shouldn’t have been risking so much in Q1.

It will be very difficult for Lewis to get back to where he should have been racing tomorrow. Nevertheless, I know he will be giving it absolutely everything to do so. That is his character and always has been. With George starting P7, we will also be looking forward, but we must be realistic. The cars ahead of him have looked quick and it will be challenging to make progress. Hopefully we can enjoy a better day than today though and end the season on a high.
Andrew Shovlin, Trackside Engineering Director

That was a tough evening and one that didn't go the way we had hoped. Firstly, we can only apologise to Lewis for his Q1 exit. Traffic is always a challenge here in Qualifying and something that you account for. Unfortunately, we didn't get it quite right. Both cars left the pit lane at the back of the queue; with overtaking in the tunnel not allowed, many cars ahead took the opportunity to form larger gaps to the car in front than usual. That left Lewis and George on the back foot and having to cut their way through traffic on the out lap to make the flag. They were then further compromised by having less than ideal gaps to the car ahead of them. All that said, both were on pace to make it through to Q2 before a loose bollard became stuck under Lewis's car at turn 14. That impacted him in the final few corners and, in an already tight session, cost him a couple of vital few tenths.

It is not the way we wanted to head into our final race day together. We will be doing everything we can tomorrow to enable Lewis to work his way back through the field. Fighting drives are an absolute speciality of his and we know he will be giving it his all to end our time together on a high.

On George's side, he has struggled pace wise a little more this weekend. We will need to evaluate why that is but, in the meantime, our focus is on trying to make gains tomorrow. Starting from P7 that will be tough. The field is close, and we know overtaking is a challenge here. Nevertheless, we will see what we can do and hope that we can finish the year more strongly than we did today.

Ready to write the final chapter in an incredible story

245 races. 84 wins. 78 pole positions. 153 podium finishes. Eight World Constructors’ Championships. Six World Drivers’ Championships.

A career that, to this point, has been powered solely by Mercedes-Benz; over 20,000 racing laps and 100,000 racing kilometres.

This weekend marks the closing chapter in the longest and most successful team-driver partnership in the sport’s history. The final race of a relationship with the three-pointed star that began 26 years ago.

Saying farewell after such a journey together is therefore about so much more than just marking records and statistics. It’s about paying tribute to a remarkable individual. Recognising a person who has catalysed and led change in our sport. How together, we have strived to make a lasting impact far beyond podium celebrations and trophy collections.

Launching this evening, and working with London-based agency AMV BBDO, the team has created a global campaign that pays tribute to Lewis’s remarkable record, capturing the highs and lows of 12 seasons together.

‘Every Dream Needs a Team’ bridges between the hopes of the young Lewis Hamilton aiming for F1, and the aspirations of the next generation he has inspired. One that sees our sport as a place where they can achieve their own hopes and dreams. ‘Every dream needs a team’ speaks to the essential truth of our sport that Lewis has always recognised – that we win, and we lose, together. That success is a collective endeavour.

The centrepiece is a film produced, thanks to the support and collaboration of Formula One, by prettybird and directed by Grammy Award winner Melina Matsoukas. It blends young people for whom Lewis has been an inspirational figure – including our next generation of Mercedes F1 racers, karters Luna Fluxa, Kenzo Craigie and James Anagnostiadis – with iconic archive from Lewis’s time with the team, and his own early career. It is underscored by Stormzy’s iconic track “Blinded by Your Grace, Pt.2” and includes original commentary from some of the team’s most memorable moments.

The film is only the starting point for the team’s tributes to Lewis and his achievements. An outdoor campaign featuring iconic photography (attached) of Lewis and the Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team will light up landmarks in Kuala Lumpur, the UK, and the US, including locations such as Times Square. Over the race weekend in Abu Dhabi, Hamilton will carry the campaign message on his car, underscored with the names of 150 fans, representing the millions of loyal followers who have been part of the incredible journey.

Toto also recorded an open voice note for Lewis, offering heartfelt parting words and advice. A modern-day equivalent of an open letter, the note captures Toto’s perspective as both a leader and a friend. Distributed via WhatsApp, the voice note reflects the campaign’s emphasis on connection, authenticity, and shared memories.

From out-of-home advertising in the UK, US and Malaysia, 150 fan names being carried on Lewis’s car, a special message from our partner WhatsApp on his clothing, to the final farewell among team-mates at the end of next week, we will honour the remarkable role Lewis has played in our team – and the defining achievements of his years with us.

Lewis has achieved every possible dream with Mercedes that he could have possibly imagined as a young racer. But racing in red is something you simply can’t do with the Silver Arrows. So, as he heads to Maranello with our deep gratitude and warmest of wishes in a few weeks’ time, we will turn the page and the begin the next chapter of our adventure.

But that’s for then, and this is for now. In the coming days, our message is simple: thank you, Lewis.