Mercedes-Benz and European Fire Services Begin MB4Rescue Training

Mercedes-Benz and vfdb introduce MB4Rescue training for modern rescue work on new vehicle models. Learn how the joint programme helps improve emergency response.

Mercedes-Benz and European fire services have taken a decisive step in improving rescue operations, holding the first joint training session under the “MB4Rescue” initiative at the company’s Technology Center for Vehicle Safety in Sindelfingen. Developed in cooperation with the German Association for the Promotion of Fire Protection (vfdb), the programme is designed to help emergency responders train with the types of modern vehicles they increasingly encounter in real accidents.

The need for such training has been evident for years. Most fire service exercises still rely on undeformed cars that are 10 to 15 years old, even though today’s vehicles — especially electric and hybrid models — present entirely new challenges. High-voltage batteries, reinforced body structures, new materials and advanced driver-assistance systems all change how rescue teams must approach extrication. This was clearly recognised by the participants, who included instructors from fire services in Germany, Austria, Switzerland and the Netherlands, as well as fire brigade teams from nearly all German Mercedes-Benz plants.

The one-day event, organised by vfdb Akademie in collaboration with Mercedes-Benz safety experts, featured practical training on ten current Mercedes-Benz models, including CLA, CLE, EQE and EQS vehicles. Emergency personnel worked on real crash-tested bodies, examined the behaviour of high-voltage systems, and used digital rescue sheets to analyse different accident situations. These sessions were complemented by technical presentations on vehicle safety, offering insights into the company’s “Real-Life Safety” philosophy and its holistic approach to accident prevention and impact mitigation.

Although MB4Rescue is currently a pilot project, vfdb plans to develop it into a broader European knowledge-sharing platform under the umbrella of the “technical rescue experience network”. While neither investments nor detailed performance metrics have been disclosed, the initiative is aligned with Mercedes-Benz’s long-term strategic goal: Vision Zero — the aim to eliminate traffic deaths by 2050. With around 1.3 million people dying in road accidents worldwide each year, the expansion of such training programmes appears both timely and necessary.