The City of Long Beach has joined forces with Mercedes-Benz Research & Development North America in a groundbreaking public-private partnership. This collaboration, supported by Mercedes-Benz USA Urban Mobility Solutions and Xtelligent, aims to revolutionize urban transportation management and foster a more livable, environmentally sustainable city.
“This forward-thinking partnership positions Long Beach as a leader in the rapidly evolving landscape of transportation technologies,” stated Mayor Robert Garcia. “This initiative will not only highlight the capabilities of our skilled local workforce but also create valuable STEM learning opportunities for our students, reinforcing our city’s dedication to nurturing a thriving technology-driven ecosystem.”
This ambitious ten-month project will concentrate on several key areas designed to optimize urban mobility:
- Intelligent Traffic Management: Implementation and testing of an advanced intersection control system. This system is designed to dynamically adjust traffic signal timings at selected intersections, enhancing traffic flow and safety.
- Data-Driven Transportation Policy: Comprehensive data analysis utilizing insights from connected vehicle fleets and existing city sensors. This data will be crucial in informing future transportation policies and traffic engineering strategies, leading to more efficient and effective urban planning.
- Community STEM Engagement: A dedicated community youth workshop for Long Beach residents and students. This workshop will provide hands-on STEM education, particularly focusing on engaging under-resourced communities and fostering the next generation of innovators.
This partnership strongly aligns with the goals of the Long Beach Accelerator Program, reinforcing the City’s commitment to collaborating with local businesses on cutting-edge technologies that generate positive civic impact. Furthermore, it underscores the importance of cultivating science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education opportunities for Long Beach students, ensuring future readiness in a tech-centric world. The planned community workshop will be instrumental in delivering STEM education to local students, with a particular emphasis on inclusivity and reaching under-resourced communities, as health and safety conditions permit.
This project is also a significant component of Long Beach’s broader Smart City Initiative. This initiative strategically leverages data and technology to address urban challenges and enhance the quality of life for all Long Beach residents. By embracing innovation, Long Beach is actively working to create a more responsive and efficient urban environment.
The public-private partnership with Mercedes-Benz Research and Development North America and Xtelligent directly reflects Long Beach’s commitment to environmental sustainability and digital inclusion. The city is dedicated to ensuring equitable access to digital literacy training, internet resources, technology devices, and other essential digital inclusion resources. Addressing transportation challenges, particularly congestion and associated emissions in urban areas, is also a core focus for Mercedes-Benz Research and Development North America, making this partnership a synergistic opportunity to develop impactful solutions.
“We are excited to collaborate with Xtelligent and the City of Long Beach to pioneer solutions for pressing urban transportation issues. By utilizing our test vehicle fleet, we aim to gather vital data that can optimize traffic signal timing and effectively reduce traffic congestion,” stated Philipp Skogstad, CEO of Mercedes-Benz Research & Development North America. This highlights the commitment of Mercedes-Benz Research and Development North America to practical, data-driven solutions for urban mobility challenges.
Data protection is a paramount concern for Mercedes-Benz Research and Development North America, Xtelligent, and the City of Long Beach. All parties are dedicated to responsible data handling and usage. Mercedes-Benz Research and Development North America and Xtelligent will only share test vehicle data with appropriate notifications and consents, ensuring transparency and user privacy. Any data shared with third parties will be rigorously anonymized and aggregated, further safeguarding personal information. This collaborative project is a joint effort involving the City’s Technology and Innovation Department, Public Works Department, and Economic Development Department, showcasing a unified city approach to innovation.
“This partnership embodies the remarkable potential that arises when a forward-thinking city, a leading automotive OEM, and an innovative venture unite with a shared, meaningful objective,” remarked Michael Lim, cofounder of Xtelligent. “We are eager to deploy our combined resources to demonstrate how technology can tangibly improve the liveability, vitality, and sustainability of Long Beach, setting a benchmark for urban development.”
Upon the conclusion of this pilot project, the team will thoroughly evaluate the results and explore opportunities for scaling the successful initiatives. This commitment to iterative improvement and expansion underscores the long-term vision of the partnership.
About Mercedes-Benz Research & Development North America
Mercedes-Benz Research & Development North America is at the forefront of automotive innovation in North America. Their work encompasses envisioning, designing, engineering, rigorous testing, and certifying the most desirable vehicles for both the US market and globally. With six strategic locations, Mercedes-Benz Research and Development North America‘s expertise spans a wide spectrum, from pioneering EV battery research to refining hybrid powertrain calibration and certification. They are also leaders in telematics, autonomous driving software development, advanced exterior design, and user experience (UX) innovation. For Mercedes-Benz Research & Development North America, it’s not just about building cars; it’s about crafting cutting-edge software, integrating groundbreaking technology, and driving impactful innovation in the automotive sector and beyond.
Mercedes-Benz Urban Mobility Solutions: Enhancing City Life
The Urban Mobility Solutions division of Mercedes-Benz was established with a clear mission: to enhance the livability of cities. They achieve this by creating safe, sustainable, efficient, and accessible mobility products and services. By bringing Mercedes-Benz’s extensive mobility expertise directly into urban environments, they aim to create shared value for cities and their inhabitants. To proactively identify and address emerging urban challenges and trends, the Urban Mobility Solutions team collaborates closely with city officials, public transport agencies, cross-industry partners, and both internal and external experts. Their overarching goal is to develop a world-leading portfolio of urban mobility solutions. This includes best-fit urban vehicles, data-driven mobility products, and citizen-centric urban mobility systems designed to benefit both current and future generations, ensuring a more mobile and sustainable urban future.
