A team of Mercedes-Benz engineers have arrived in Australia to begin safety technology testing.

Mercedes-Benz has sent a team of engineers to Australia, along with an E-Class fitted-out with “unique test equipment” to study Australian roads and how the current safety technology on-board Mercs works Down Under.

In a statement, Mercedes-Benz Australia said: “Mercedes-Benz Australia will begin testing various technologies relating to current and upcoming Active Safety and Advanced Driver Assistance Systems in conjunction with the Mercedes-Benz Research and Development team based in Sindelfingen, Germany (led by Jochen Haab)”.

The vehicle being used by the research team has been “fitted with additional equipment designed to collect various information such as data regarding local roads, signage, satellite navigation and traffic behaviours”.

Team leader, Jochen Haab said: “Australia is an important market but also a market we can learn more about by gathering data from our current systems to help develop our technology for future Mercedes-Benz vehicles.

“This opportunity allows us to further test in a new right-hand-drive market with good roads, signage, and varying conditions within close proximity of urban areas. For example, you can be in a congested traffic situation in the city, and then 30 minutes later be in a rural-type environment with varying conditions.

In conjunction with our colleagues in Australia we will work towards a close collaboration, regardless of the distance between Germany and Australia.”

Mercedes-Benz Australia Pacific CEO and Managing Director Horst von Sanden said: “Not only is this an exciting time for our local team to be involved in the development of future Mercedes-Benz technologies but in the long term, this also increases the speed of implementing new safety systems into Australia.”