---
title: "New Mercedes Cars Can Warn You About Potholes"
description: "\"Look out, pothole!\""
date: "2021-08-14"
modified: "2021-08-16"
authors:
  - name: "Lewin Day"
    job_title: "Contributor"
    link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/lewin-day"
url: "https://www.thedrive.com/tech/41960/new-mercedes-cars-can-warn-you-about-potholes"
categories:
  - "Car Tech"
  - "Mercedes-Benz News"
  - "News"
  - "News by Brand"
tags:
  - "Mercedes-Benz"
---

# New Mercedes Cars Can Warn You About Potholes

![](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/images-by-url-td/content/2021/08/communiquaMAINER.jpg>)
*\<em\>www.thedrive.com</em>*

Car-to-car communication is something that's often been touted as a key technology that will shape the future of driving. Mercedes-Benz has invested heavily in its own Car-to-X system, which shares data from vehicles via a cloud system run by the German automaker. It's now getting an upgrade, with new models now able to directly warn drivers of potholes in the road ahead, reports [*Motor1*](<https://www.motor1.com/news/526058/mercedes-car-communication-pothole-warning/>).

The new feature is available on the new S-Class, C-Class, and EQS models. If a suitably equipped car hits a pothole, it will be detected by the system from the signature of rapid suspension movements. The car will then send a signal to the Mercedes Car-to-X cloud servers via a cellular connection. Other Mercedes cars driving through the area will then be warned via the Car-to-X system.

![message-editor%2F1628732080619-sclass23.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/content-b/message-editor/1628732080619-sclass23.jpg>)
**Mercedes**

Warnings will show up on the navigation screen, paired with an audible announcement of "Look out, pothole!" Earlier Mercedes models equipped with the Car-to-X system will deliver a less-obvious warning of "Traffic event ahead." The system will also warn drivers of other hazards, such as strong crosswinds, speedbumps, or weather conditions.

![message-editor%2F1628732098747-cartoxbeaner.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/content-b/message-editor/1628732098747-cartoxbeaner.jpg>)
**Mercedes-Benz**

Of course, the system won't do anything to actually fix the initial problem. Perhaps an update down the line will automatically notify the city to fix badly damaged streets. [New machinery](<https://www.thedrive.com/news/38805/jcbs-new-all-in-one-roadwork-machine-fixes-potholes-in-under-10-minutes>) means that repairing potholes doesn't have to take forever, either.

It bears noting that the system is manufacturer-specific. This means that if you're the only driver with a Mercedes in the area, you're not going to get any useful information from the Car-to-X system. However, if your city has plenty of new Benzes getting about, you might find it to be highly useful.

The system also requires a "Mercedes Me" account. Basic functionality comes free for the first three years with eligible models, with subscription fees payable beyond that point.

It's a feature that will become more valuable as the deployed fleet of equipped vehicles grows larger. In time, we'd expect to see automakers coming together to share data [to provide a broader dataset of hazards to drivers](<https://www.thedrive.com/article/6517/car-to-car-communication-could-be-mandatory-by-2023>). However, such networked communication systems, often termed Car-to-Everything systems, are still in a nascent stage. It will take significant time and effort to implement a truly capable system that serves all vehicles on the road.

*Got a tip? Let the author know: lewin@thedrive.com*

## Author
Lewin Day is a contributing writer tackling everything from breaking news after the offices empty out to sharing feature articles on wrenching, robotics, and the trials and tribulations of being a down-to-earth car enthusiast. He lives in Adelaide, Australia.

### Author social links  
[LinkedIn](<https://au.linkedin.com/in/lewin-day-64897944>)  
[Twitter](<https://twitter.com/rainbowdefault>)