A memo from Mercedes-Benz USA to its dealer network has revealed the car company’s plans for supporting CarPlay. The memo was leaked to C450 AMG and contains a mix of good news and bad.
The good news is that it will be available for quite a range of models, starting from those produced this month, and will be automatically included at no extra cost for many models equipped with the company’s COMAND Navigation system. The bad news is that it will be an extra cost option for CLA, GLA and B-Class models; the necessary COMAND packages on other models aren’t cheap; and – very disappointingly – it won’t play nicely with COMAND.
Details of the deals for the full range of supported models can be found below …
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.
The initial apps supported will include Spotify, At Bat, Audible, Pandora, Stitcher, Rdio, Overcast, CBS Radio and iHeartRadio. See our running list of CarPlay apps here.
For MY16 CLA, GLA and B-Class, you can choose between a standalone CarPlay package (known as the Code 868 Smartphone Integration Package) for $350, or get it as part of the Code 320 Multimedia Package.
For most MY16 E-Class Coupe & Cabriolet, CLS, GLE and GLE Coupe models, you’ll need to lay out the bucks for one of the Premium packages with COMAND.
To access CarPlay, you’ll need to plug your iPhone into a specially-marked USB socket in the car.
The latest car to get CarPlay support just a few days ago was the Volvo XC90.
Via MR
