- Honda uses existing vehicle sensors to automatically detect potholes and road damage
- Pilot testing in Ohio showed high accuracy and major potential cost savings
- Mercedes-Benz uses predictive suspension to soften pothole impacts in the S Class
- One approach fixes roads faster, the other makes broken roads easier to live with
Potholes are the great equaliser of modern motoring. It does not matter whether you are driving a city runabout, a premium saloon or a fully loaded SUV. A poorly maintained road can undo the comfort, safety and refinement of even the most advanced vehicle.
Now, two major carmakers are approaching the problem from very different angles, both using technology already hiding in plain sight.
Honda is looking beyond the car itself, using onboard sensors to help governments fix roads faster and cheaper. Mercedes-Benz, meanwhile, is focused squarely on the driving experience, teaching its flagship S Class how to brace itself before a wheel ever hits broken tarmac.
Together, they paint a picture of a future where potholes are either repaired sooner or barely felt at all.
Honda turns everyday driving into road intelligence
Honda’s approach is practical, data driven and aimed at solving the root of the problem. Working alongside DriveOhio, the smart mobility arm of the Ohio Department of Transportation, and researchers at the University of Cincinnati, the company recently completed a pilot study exploring automated road condition monitoring.
The idea is simple but powerful. Modern vehicles already carry cameras, LiDAR and advanced driver assistance sensors designed to keep drivers safe. Honda wanted to see whether that same hardware could double as a rolling road inspection fleet.
Test vehicles equipped with vision and LiDAR systems were sent out across roughly 3,000 miles of roads in central and southeastern Ohio. As they drove, the cars scanned for a wide range of issues. These included potholes, faded road markings, damaged guardrails, obstructed signs and general infrastructure wear.
All of this information was processed using edge based AI models, then sent to a Honda cloud platform where it could be analysed and shared. The data was ultimately integrated into a digital asset management system used by road authorities, allowing maintenance teams to prioritise repairs and deploy resources more efficiently.
The results were impressive. Honda reported detection accuracy of 99 percent for damaged or obstructed signs, 93 percent for guardrails and an average of 89 percent for potholes. That level of reliability suggests the system could realistically replace a significant portion of manual inspections.
The financial implications are just as striking. According to Honda and DriveOhio, using automated vehicle-generated data could save Ohio’s Department of Transportation more than 4.5 million dollars per year. Those savings come from reduced inspection costs, better maintenance planning and avoiding expensive repairs caused by long term neglect.
In other words, cars could quietly fix the roads simply by driving on them.
Mercedes-Benz focuses on comfort over concrete fixes
Mercedes-Benz is tackling potholes from a very different direction. Rather than feeding data back to road authorities, the German brand is using sensor intelligence to protect its passengers from rough surfaces in real time.
As part of the latest update to the S Class, all models now come with Airmatic air suspension as standard, with an optional E Active Body Control system sitting at the top of the tech tree. Working together, these systems constantly monitor the road surface ahead.
Using cameras and sensors, the car can identify speed bumps and potholes before the wheels reach them. The suspension then pre adjusts itself to absorb the impact more effectively. It is a subtle process, but one designed to maintain the S Class reputation for near effortless ride comfort.
What makes the system more interesting is its ability to share information. Detected road hazards are uploaded to the Mercedes Intelligent Cloud and passed on to other Mercedes vehicles via Car to X communication. That means the next S Class driving the same stretch of road can prepare for a pothole even before its own sensors spot it.
This does not fix the road, and it does little for drivers outside the Mercedes ecosystem. But for those inside it, the result is a noticeably smoother and calmer journey.
Two paths toward the same smoother future
Honda and Mercedes Benz are both responding to the same problem, but their goals reflect their brand priorities. Honda is thinking like an engineer and a civic partner, using scale and data to help public infrastructure catch up with reality. Mercedes Benz is doing what luxury brands do best, insulating its customers from the world outside.
The most compelling future likely sits somewhere between the two. Roads that are repaired faster because cars are constantly reporting their condition, and vehicles that are smart enough to protect occupants when repairs inevitably lag behind.
Potholes may never disappear completely, but their grip on drivers is starting to loosen.
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