MERCEDES-BENZ CANADA - At CES 2024, Mercedes-Benz, Audible, and Amazon Music announced a unique collaboration that ushers in a new and exciting chapter of in-car storytelling and music listening. Mercedes-Benz customers will soon be able to use Dolby Atmos to immerse themselves in audio storytelling in addition to music. This new dimension of listening pleasure marks another first for Mercedes-Benz in-car entertainment. The riders will be wrapped in multi-dimensional sound of exceptional clarity that places them in the centre of the story.
"This collaboration with Audible and Amazon Music is another important facet of digital experience in a Mercedes-Benz. Immersive audio storytelling enables our customers to benefit fully from the advanced sound technology in our vehicles. For us, unparalleled in-car entertainment is a further dimension of the hyper-personalized user experience."
Markus Schäfer, Member of the Board of Management at Mercedes-Benz Group AG, Chief Technology Officer
The basis for the collaboration is the integration of the immersive Dolby Atmos audio experience in the Burmester 4D and 3D Surround Sound System. Both are available as options in Mercedes-Benz vehicles with the latest MBUX infotainment system. The incorporation of the Audible and Amazon Music apps in MBUX grants customers who have a subscription to these providers immediate access to a continuously growing choice of audio books, Originals, podcasts and music in Dolby Atmos. Audible and Amazon Music subscribers also have access to the entire catalogue of each respective streaming services. Imagine listening to your favourite author, podcast host or musician in a fully immersive way that feels like they are in the car with you. This is a new kind of in-car audio storytelling like never experienced before.
"Mercedes-Benz is an ideal innovative industry leader for Audible and Amazon Music to work with on evolving in-car entertainment. Vehicles are one of the places people spend the most time listening to audio storytelling and music. Bringing our brands together allows us to innovate the audio experience for customers, transforming it into something more emotional, immersive and unexpected."
Steve Boom, Amazon VP for Audio, Twitch and Games
With more than 850,000 audiobooks, podcasts and Audible Originals in its global catalogue, Audible is the leading producer and provider of premium audio storytelling and the go-to 'storyteller' for millions of people around the world. Audible offers dozens of titles in Dolby Atmos and with a growing global catalogue, listeners can feel the stories surrounding them in next-level detail, depth and clarity, from cinematic blockbusters narrated by a stellar cast of actors like The Sandman Act III, to original reimagining of classics like David Copperfield, and immersive natural soundscapes found in The Healing Power of Nature.
Global rollout is anticipated to begin in Q3 2024 via an over-the-air (OTA) update for customers of the new Mercedes-Benz E-Class and CLE Coupe and Cabriolet with 3rd-generation MBUX. A further rollout is planned for successive models in the future. Amazon Music in Dolby Atmos is planned to be available in select models produced starting in December 2023 onward with 2nd generation MBUX. Customers with Audible and Amazon Music accounts can access both apps and their respective content available in Dolby Atmos.