Microsoft and Mercedes Want You to Work More—Even While Driving

Mercedes-Benz is no stranger to adding features to its vehicles well ahead of other automotive manufacturers, but its latest proposition has consumers wondering, “Who exactly asked for this?” The automaker recently announced that it’s looking to add new apps to its vehicle software. If everything goes according to plan, your new Mercedes will come with an enhanced Microsoft Teams app and other Microsoft products.

Which Mercedes Vehicles Will Have Microsoft Teams?

These additional features are very new. As a result, only one Mercedes vehicle will currently come with the enhanced Microsoft Teams feature: the newest CLA. Older iterations of the vehicle will still have the features Mercedes currently offers, including their Meetings application.

What Features Will Be Added to Mercedes Vehicles?

According to the company, Mercedes-Benz is updating its Meetings application. The automotive maker reports that “with this update, drivers can use the in-car camera while driving, allowing other participants to see them during a meeting.” Additionally, the app will be able to display “upcoming appointments and enables quick access to frequent contacts.” The company also brags about its “expanded chat function that facilitates reading and writing messages.” It will integrate voice control as well. This way, you can dictate items and you can also “jump directly from the calendar into a Teams meeting provide a seamless user experience.”

Perhaps the biggest new feature, however, is the video function. Unlike current vehicles, which offer access to voice calling, the new Mercedes CLA will have “the ability to use the built-in vehicle camera to participate in Teams calls while the vehicle is in motion.”

Additionally, the new CLAs will have Microsoft Intune, Microsoft’s “cross-platform tool for managing devices and apps.” The company describes it as “a secure, enterprise-compliant ecosystem for the future of mobile work” that “enables the separation of private and business data and allows IT administrators to centrally manage access rights and security policies.”

Does Mercedes-Benz Have Plans for More Updates?

The company is also planning to integrate even more Microsoft features into its cars. The current focus is Microsoft Copilot, the software company’s AI offering. If successful, this integration will be “one of the world’s first applications of its kind in a car.”

Are These Features Safe to Use While Driving?

One of the first questions that comes to mind when learning about new automotive features is, “How safe is this?” There are already heated debates across social media about whether or not bigger car screens contribute to higher rates of distracted driving. So, for an automotive company to introduce multiple new features, including one that puts you on camera, feels like a risky move.

However, Mercedes-Benz claims they’ve added safeguards to keep the new vehicles compliant with vehicle safety standards. According to the company, “the use of the camera abides by the laws of each country.” The company also says that this usage “has been approved for use while the vehicle is in motion.” Additionally, “the meeting video stream turns off automatically as soon as the camera is activated to prevent driver distraction.” This means that you won’t be able to see your coworkers’ faces. Nor will you be able to see any shared screens or decks from the meeting. And to further emphasize safety, the company assures consumers that the camera can be turned off at any time.

Source

Mercedes-Benz Expands Collaboration with Microsoft to Boost In-Car Productivity with Enhanced Meetings for Teams App, Mercedes-Benz, July 17, 2025.

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