Apple digital car key feature for iPhone and Apple Watch is expanding to Mercedes-Benz.
To date, only a handful of brands like BMW, BYD, Genesis, Hyundai and Kia introduced support for the feature on select models, allowing you to add a digital car key to the Wallet app on your iPhone and Apple Watch, then lock, unlock, and start your car without the need for a physical key.
just a month ago Lotus appeared in Apple’s configuration files as another of the upcoming tags to support this feature.
Mercedes-Benz announced last month that the new E-Class sedan will support the feature, what you call the Digital Vehicle Key, as part of your KEYLESS-GO Comfort package. The E-Class digital key can be shared with up to 16 people, the main user being able to assign certain rights to specific users, such as only allowing access to the vehicle or even driving it.
Today, Apple’s servers have been updated to support Mercedes-Benz vehicles.
Last month @Mercedes Benz announced upcoming support for Apple’s Car Key feature. Today it went live on the backend!
(MBAG = Mercedes-Benz AG)
h/t @nicolas09F9 pic.twitter.com/EaruxHcBFy
— Aaron (@aaronp613) May 23, 2023
Depending on the technology adopted by each manufacturer, it may be necessary to keep the device close to the car door handle or reader, while other vehicles support passive entry, where the digital key will work as long as you are using the above device. Some vehicles also support remote locking and unlocking using the digital key.