Mercedes Ramps Up Apple CarPlay on 2016 Models

By the first production run of 2016, or the last one of 2015, many 2016 model vehicles from Daimler’s Mercedes-Benz brand will include the capability to use CarPlay from Apple Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL). The in-car device enables owners to make and receive phone calls; read and dictate text messages; navigate; stream music, podcasts and audiobooks; and use Siri voice-control across the entire platform.

As with so many other transitions from one system to another, the introduction of CarPlay won’t be seamless. In a notice to U.S. dealers, Mercedes-Benz USA noted:

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. CarPlay® will also require a compatible iPhone® to be plugged into a specific USB port on the vehicle.

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CarPlay will be sold as a $350 optional package on CLA, GLA and B-class 2016 models or included as part of a revised multimedia package at no increase to the 2015 price of around $2,700 (on 2015 C-class models).

For 2016 E-class coupes and cabriolets, the CLS, the GLE and the GLE Coupe, CarPlay will be included at no extra charge for a smartphone integration option that sells for between $3,650 and $4,080.

These are the only models that Mercedes-Benz has named so far, so we’ll have to wait and see if and when the CarPlay capability will be included on other models, and how much it will cost.

The notice to U.S. dealers was dated December 9.