Mercedes-Benz is turning its Berlin-Marienfelde site into a proving ground for future vehicle manufacturing, combining artificial intelligence (AI), humanoid robots and advanced production systems as part of its MO360 digital ecosystem.
The transformation is centred on the Mercedes-Benz Digital Factory Campus (MBDFC), which the company is positioning as a global testbed for its digital production tools.
Originally launched in 2022, the site has evolved into the core development hub for software-driven manufacturing processes. These technologies are now being prepared for rollout across the carmaker's global production network.
Cutting-edge AI integration
The core of this Berlin operation is MO360, Mercedes-Benz's digital production platform. It's now enhanced with in-house AI features such as the MO360LLM Suite and a multilingual chatbot ecosystem.
The goal is to make complex factory data accessible in real time, so workers can get precise information on machine maintenance or best-practice workflows through simple chat interfaces.
The AI system is also being used to identify production anomalies. Mercedes-Benz has introduced virtual multi-agent AI teams that can analyse large data sets, flag irregularities and offer cause-and-solution breakdowns instantly - cutting down manual troubleshooting and speeding up quality control.
Humanoid robots join the factory floor
Mercedes-Benz has also begun testing humanoid robots in a production environment, starting with Apptronik's Apollo model.
Initially focused on repetitive intralogistics tasks like transporting parts and conducting basic quality checks, Apollo is trained using teleoperation and augmented reality, drawing on the expertise of human workers.
The aim is for these robots to eventually operate autonomously as intelligent assistants within production workflows.
Mercedes-Benz has also committed several million euros as an investment into Apptronik and confirmed Berlin as the launchpad for robot-human collaboration in vehicle assembly.
The move builds on the brand’s long history with industrial robotics, dating back to the 1970s.
New tech, new motors
Berlin-Marienfelde isn’t just about software. It will also become a key site for the production of high-performance axial-flux electric motors from 2026.
The axial-flux design offers significant efficiency and packaging advantages, but manufacturing it is complex: around 100 processes are required, 65 of which are new to Mercedes-Benz and 35 entirely new to the industry.
Mercedes-Benz says many of these methods were developed in-house and have led to over 30 new patent filings, including innovations in laser technology, bonding techniques and AI-driven production logic.
What it means for the industry
While the AI boom has dominated headlines, with Mercedes-Benz itself leaning into the hype with its tech-driven, next-gen CLA sedan, the company's Berlin facility is a rare example of that technology being deeply embedded into day-to-day manufacturing.
By integrating digital tools with human expertise and robotic support, the company is building a more flexible, scalable and efficient production model - one that could shape the future of how cars are built, not just in Germany, but across the industry.
