From a new Silicon Valley facility, Mercedes' R&D department is developing car-share services based on a vision of 21st-century suburbs. The company is also testing self-driving prototypes and electric models.

Acknowledging the burgeoning market for urban transit options, including rideshare and traditional public transit, "Mercedes contends that even forces as unsettling to incumbent businesses as the sharing economy won't supplant individual car ownership — especially in the burbs."
From a new facility in Silicon Valley, Mercedes' North American R&D department is working on how to cater to affluent, tech-savvy suburbanites. "In the company's vision, city dwellers might eventually rely more regularly on public transit or on-demand rides from companies like Uber, but they'd still also seek short-term car rentals from providers like Zipcar or Mercedes sister company Car2Go."
Benz is currently offering app-based services like Moovel, a subsidiary providing car-share, bikeshare, and rides on demand. The company is using Palo Alto as a testing ground for Boost by Benz, a ride service catering to parents with school-age children. On the self-driving front, "Mercedes-Benz now has a prototype self-driving S-500 sedan outfitted with eight radar systems and three cameras."
As for sustainability and electric options, Mercedes has yet to unveil any concrete plans. But the R&D team sees low-emissions goals and their other next-gen projects as intrinsically linked.
FULL STORY: Why Mercedes-Benz wants to suburbanize the sharing economy

Maui's Vacation Rental Debate Turns Ugly
Verbal attacks, misinformation campaigns and fistfights plague a high-stakes debate to convert thousands of vacation rentals into long-term housing.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

In Urban Planning, AI Prompting Could be the New Design Thinking
Creativity has long been key to great urban design. What if we see AI as our new creative partner?

King County Supportive Housing Program Offers Hope for Unhoused Residents
The county is taking a ‘Housing First’ approach that prioritizes getting people into housing, then offering wraparound supportive services.

Researchers Use AI to Get Clearer Picture of US Housing
Analysts are using artificial intelligence to supercharge their research by allowing them to comb through data faster. Though these AI tools can be error prone, they save time and housing researchers are optimistic about the future.

Making Shared Micromobility More Inclusive
Cities and shared mobility system operators can do more to include people with disabilities in planning and operations, per a new report.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
planning NEXT
Appalachian Highlands Housing Partners
Gallatin County Department of Planning & Community Development
Mpact (founded as Rail~Volution)
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
City of Portland
City of Laramie