Winter is around the corner, which means contending with issues like increasing battery failures, troublesome engine starts, and fitting snow chains in more extreme conditions. There’s another annoyance that comes with winter driving, particularly for those who live in areas that experience heavy snowfall. Opening a car door can often lead to snow falling on your seat, creating a mess and potentially damaging your upholstery. Automakers are constantly working on solutions to everyday inconveniences like this one, and Mercedes-Benz has just filed a patent for a seemingly simple nozzle system that can quickly remove snow from the roof or doors, before it has a chance to fall inside the car.
How The Snow-Removal System Works
Mercedes-Benz/ChatGPT
The German patent was discovered by Car Moses and published on October 29, 2026. It describes a roof element with nozzles, presumably built into the area close to where a roof rail would be positioned. Air is blown through these nozzles to remove snow sitting on the vehicle, particularly in areas above or around the door opening, where snow can accumulate and fall into the interior.
A compressed air supply delivers the blast of air needed to remove the snow, but the document does not detail the pressure, flow rate, compressor type, or whether the air is heated. Heated air could partially melt the snow, but that alone wouldn’t fully alleviate the issue. A more logical expectation is that the force of the air will be sufficient to physically propel the snow off the door/roof. A simple button could be pressed to allow the snow-removal system to do its job.
By preventing snow and liquid from entering the cabin, the invention would also have the secondary benefit of protecting electronic components and control units, which could lead to expensive repairs if damaged.
The invention would be of particular value in states where it’s legally required to clear snow from the roof, hood, trunk, windows, and windshield before driving, as in New Jersey. The Mercedes solution won’t clear snow from all these areas, but it should make at least part of the task easier.
What Mercedes Model Could Get The Tech?
Mercedes-Benz
Since any vehicle with this technology would need a compressed air supply, one likely candidate for the feature is the Mercedes-Benz E-Class All-Terrain. This luxury wagon comes with a standard air suspension, as do several other high-end Mercs. Additionally, the patent also includes a sketch of what is obviously a Mercedes wagon.
However, there’s no reason that Mercedes couldn’t install a dedicated air supply for the snow-removal nozzles, whether or not the vehicle in question has an air suspension. If the feature ever makes it to production, Mercedes may choose to bundle the option into a Winter Package. Currently, the E-Class All-Terrain can be equipped with a Winter Package for $450, which includes a heated steering wheel and heated windshield washers. The snow-removing nozzles would be a sensible addition, assuming the system can be fitted at a price that makes sense for the automaker and buyers.
What It Means
Mercedes-Benz
A patent application is no guarantee that a particular feature will make it to production. Automakers are constantly innovating behind the scenes and like to secure the rights to certain technologies, whether or not they end up being used. It’s obvious that people living in snowy states like Vermont, Alaska, and New York could benefit from the tech. Mercedes is also in a position to charge a premium for the feature, as German automakers are known to do. We’ll now have to wait and see if the innovation makes it into your next GLE SUV or S-Class sedan.
About the author
Karl Furlong
Senior Editor, Autoblog