German luxury automaker tracing roots to Carl Benz's 1886 patent motorcar, headquartered in Stuttgart. Partnered with Apptronik to pilot Apollo humanoid robots in manufacturing. Invested over EUR100 million in Apptronik, testing humanoids at its Digital Factory Campus in Berlin.
Mercedes-Benz is a German luxury automotive manufacturer whose origins trace back to Karl Benz’s 1886 invention of the first gasoline-powered automobile. Today, the company is one of the world’s leading vehicle producers and is at the forefront of integrating artificial intelligence, advanced automation, and humanoid robotics into automotive manufacturing. Through its partnership with Apptronik, Mercedes-Benz is deploying Apollo humanoid robots in production facilities, including plants in Berlin and Hungary, to support material handling and repetitive manufacturing tasks. The company also operates MO360, a digital manufacturing platform connecting around 30 factories through the Microsoft Cloud, enabling data-driven production and the integration of next-generation autonomous systems.
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Jess AlvarezMercedes-Benz history begins with Karl Benz's 1886 patent in Mannheim and Gottlieb Daimler's parallel work in Stuttgart. Their companies merged on June 28, 1926, to form Daimler-Benz AG.
Mercedes-Benz has used industrial robots since the 1970s. In 2020, MO360 was launched, connecting ~30 plants to Microsoft Cloud for AI-driven optimization.
In March 2024, Mercedes-Benz entered a commercial agreement with Apptronik for Apollo humanoid robots. Initial deployment focused on logistics, delivering assembly kits and inspecting components at Berlin and Kecskemét plants.
Mercedes-Benz's approach combines digital twins, generative AI, and Physical AI for a targeted 20% productivity gain across passenger car manufacturing.
