In an internal announcement leaked by C450 AMG, Mercedes-Benz has confirmed that Apple’s CarPlay is coming to a number of 2016 model vehicles, as soon as 1 December 2015 or 8 January 2016 (via MacRumors).
Vehicle owners will operate Apple CarPlay using the central controller or touchpad (if equipped), and activate Siri for voice commands by pressing the voice control button on the steering wheel.
Apple CarPlay® will be a completely different interface than the customary Mercedes-Benz infotainment. The customer will not be able to use the Mercedes-Benz headunit functions at the same time as CarPlay®. For example, use of the Spotify app cannot be done simultaneously with COMAND Navigation.
It looks as though CarPlay will be available on select E, GLE, and CLS models; CLA, GLA, and B-Class vehicles produced 1 December 2015 or later can be equipped with a standalone package for $350.
Below is the list of Mercedes-Benz vehicles with CarPlay:
For those who may be unaware, CarPlay allows access for users to Phone, Messages, Maps, and music streaming such as Beats 1, Pandora, Spotify, and podcast, or audio book streaming.
Want to see more of our stories on Google?
P.S. Want to keep this site truly independent? Support us by buying us a beer, treating us to a coffee, or shopping through Amazon here. Links in this post are affiliate links, so we earn a tiny commission at no charge to you. Thanks for supporting independent Canadian media!
I guess I won’t be buying the S-class coupe anytime soon. I will stick to my 09 CL coupe for a bit longer.
generally speaking tech like this in MB is a generation behind Audi or BMW
I have noticed lately that BMW is the best then Audi and finally Mercedes when it comes to german premium cars. Even with that in mind, I cannot trade ride refinement of a Mercedes. It is sooooo goood. I can only hope that they will jump on the tech train.