Mercedes Patent – Floating SUV (G-Class)

Mercedes-Benz has filed a patent for an amphibious SUV concept that could transform the G-Class into a true water-going vehicle. No boat hull, no propeller: instead, inflatable wheel-arch inserts, software-controlled per-wheel torque, and adaptive suspension dipping.

The filing, published as DE102024002781B3, lists Joerg Kneip as the inventor and the Mercedes-Benz Group AG as the applicant with the German Patent and Trade Mark Office (DPMA). Media outlets including CarBuzz, Motor1, and the USAToday have reported on the specifications. Crucially: this is a patent application with no announced production program. What Mercedes is revealing here is a technology showcase for the next generation of off-road vehicles — and a direct competitive strike against rivals already advertising similar amphibious features.

The Patent in Detail: How an SUV Can Swim

The genius of the patent: no rigid pontoon, no floating bodywork. Instead, Mercedes uses the existing wheel arches as buoyancy chambers. Removable inserts made of foam or inflatable material sit in each wheel arch. A central control unit can independently inflate or deflate each of the four inserts.

→ Buoyancy is not global but corner-by-corner controllable — so the vehicle dynamically adapts to uneven loads and changing currents.

Buoyancy and Propulsion: Wheels as Rudders

Once buoyancy engages, the wheels remain active. The patent describes tires that continue to turn and steer even without ground contact. The adaptive suspension dips the wheels so that they function like rudders in water. No propeller, no jet system: the engines that move the vehicle on land propel it through water as well.

The control unit can assign different forward or reverse torque to each wheel. This corrects for currents, uneven water drag, and an angled shore approach. The same technology manages the transition from water to land: the system directs power to specific corners so the SUV maintains its intended heading and minimizes sideways drift on the bank.

Storage & Space: Where the Inserts Live

The storage space for the deflated inserts sits where a spare tire would normally be located. The vehicle’s onboard air compressor — already familiar from modern SUVs — inflates the elements before a water crossing. The concept is modular and reversible: remove, store, drive on. No permanent conversion, no specialty vehicle. The effort reduces to essentials — a button press, a software mode called “Water Mode,” and the SUV switches from road to water.

The Electric G-Class as the Natural Candidate

The patent does not identify a specific production model, but the Electric G-Class — the G 580 with EQ Technology — provides the technical foundation for this function. Four individually controlled electric motors, adaptive air suspension, and a highly modular control network: only so can the per-wheel torque management be implemented with the precision this design demands. A conventional all-wheel-drive system with a center differential could not manage this.

→ The G 580’s already impressive 850-millimeter wading depth becomes obsolete through a floating concept — water depth ceases to be a constraint.

Patent Law Perspective

The application DE102024002781B3 was filed at the German Patent and Trade Mark Office and classified as “Swimming vehicle and method.” The grant of patent protection is still pending and must undergo the usual examination. The patent specification protects not only the hardware of the buoyancy inserts but also the method of software-controlled torque management, adaptive suspension control, and the water-to-land transition system.

Such a patent claim could present a hurdle for competitors in the amphibious off-road technology space. Companies developing similar systems — whether in Europe, the United States, or Asia — would need to design around this patent or pursue licensing. The strategic importance is clear: Mercedes wants to secure any potential technology lead in swimming off-road vehicles through patent protection.

Practical Relevance: Where This Technology Leads

Even though this is a patent rather than a production project, there are several interesting applications:

• Fire departments and emergency services: A vehicle that can cross floods and flooded terrain without requiring a transfer.
• Military applications: Amphibious reconnaissance vehicles with road capability — an already highly relevant field in which Mercedes is active as a supplier.
• Expedition and leisure market: Luxury off-road vehicles with amphibious capabilities could open a new segment — particularly for expedition teams needing to cross rivers and lakes.