"Close Collaboration" The 5-Year Partnership Behind LG Electronics Revealed by Daimler

LG Electronics and Mercedes-Benz employees are examining parts produced for the development of the 'MBUX Hyperscreen.' (Photo by Daimler Magazine)

[Asia Economy Reporter Jeong Hyunjin] "We found a strategic partner for complex and technical challenges, and that partner was LG Electronics."

German Daimler revealed the production process of Mercedes-Benz's ultra-large infotainment system, the next-generation 'MBUX Hyperscreen,' introducing its connection with key partner LG Electronics.

According to an article titled 'MBUX Hyperscreen Development Story' published by Daimler on the 7th, Mercedes-Benz and LG Electronics first conceived the MBUX Hyperscreen five years ago in 2016. The MBUX Hyperscreen is a next-generation artificial intelligence (AI) infotainment system characterized by a dashboard that spans the entire front area of the driver and passenger seats as a screen. After its world premiere in January last year, the system-equipped electric sedan The New EQS was first unveiled at the Seoul Mobility Show in December of the same year, and it was first delivered to domestic customers on the 20th of last month.

Robert Heidenthaler, Mercedes-Benz Purchasing Quality Engineer, said, "(We) started the initial groundwork with LG Electronics in 2016," introducing that the first agreement between the two companies was made at an executive meeting related to MBUX Hyperscreen with future partners held in Seoul. Subsequently, the Hyperscreen project began with a display concept workshop at Mercedes-Benz headquarters in B?blingen, Germany, where LG Electronics experts from Korea also attended. The workshop discussed the current display, lighting, and various technical implementations.

Mercedes-Benz employees are inspecting cover glasses in a cleanroom at a factory in Osan, Gyeonggi-do. (Photo by Daimler Magazine)

Matthias Paul, a colleague engineer of Heidenthaler, said, "We worked intensively on detailed specifications for six months while closely communicating with LG Electronics and internal related departments." He mentioned that all matters, including the shape of the Hyperscreen, were confidential, and before the system's name was decided, its shape was sometimes called 'Glass Eagle' and at other times 'Powerwall.' Daimler explained that although it seemed technically difficult to connect the instrument cluster and dashboard into a single display on the front of the vehicle when the product was first conceived in 2016, they achieved this through active development. It is reported that the MBUX Hyperscreen panel is supplied by LG Display.

The two engineers also introduced that they frequently visited Korea during the five-year project. Heidenthaler divided the project into pre- and post-COVID-19 periods, saying that for three years before overseas business trips became difficult in February last year, they often visited a location near Seoul for development, and afterward, they also went to Japan, China, and Vietnam. Paul expressed gratitude to the Korean experts they collaborated with, saying, "Having dinner together after a hard day's work is important in Korean business culture. In a relaxed atmosphere, sharing local food and drinks allowed us to have conversations that were difficult to bring up during work."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.