Mercedes-Benz showed a first step in this direction back in 2015 with the F 015 research vehicle. Among other features, this has a digital grille, which can be used as a communication medium. A year later the Vision Van, an electrically powered van with integral delivery drones for transporting parcels over the last mile, picked up on this motif. This is fitted with digital LED grilles at the front and rear, which the vehicle can use to warn traffic behind, for example, with messages such as “Vehicle stopping”. In 2018, the Vision URBANETIC, a mobility concept for on-demand, efficient and sustainable mobility, took this design further.
