Key Takeaways
- If you don’t want to take out your iPhone, Mercedes-Benz offers a new app for the Apple Watch.
- Directions, vehicle status, and door control are all available.
- Currently, it is only available in Europe, but the US and other regions will follow.
With the release of a new app for the Apple Watch, luxury carmaker Mercedes-Benz has made it possible to use some digital functions without taking out a smartphone.
According to Mercedes, the Watch app can show the status of different system features and lock and unlock doors for automobiles that are compatible. This covers the condition of the windshield or even your parking brake. Whereas EVs show battery life and charging status, gas models can show the amount of fuel left in the tank.
The software focuses especially on walking back to your car. In places where maps are available, it can not only display where you parked but also provide you with walking directions. The program can nevertheless display a compass pointing in the correct direction with a range estimate even if and when maps are not available.
Currently, regional access is the primary constraint. As of right now, the Watch app is only accessible in Europe; it will soon be released in the US, China, and the larger Asia-Pacific area.
An connected Mercedes-Benz ME account and the Mercedes-Benz iPhone app, version 1.50.0 or later, are required. You’ll need at least an Apple Watch Series 4 because Apple Watches need to be running OS 9 or later.
The technology used by Mercedes is not new. Given the requirement to incorporate features like NFC and UWB (ultra-wideband) chips in cars, options like Apple Car Key and Android Digital Car Key are becoming more widely available, but they are still frequently restricted to more expensive trims. Mercedes is putting some iPhone app capabilities, like remote door control and status information, behind a paywall. In other situations, an automaker can demand a membership plan in order to access connected car features.
