VIDEO: W213 Mercedes-Benz E-Class – Digital Car Key using smartphone NFC technology demo

The new W213 Mercedes-Benz E-Class has the ability to use a smartphone with NFC technology as a key, so you don’t have to carry an extra key in your pocket.

NFC is short for Near Field Communication. It is a wireless communication system that allows two devices to talk within about two inches of each other. We had Mercedes-Benz’s digital key and anti-theft protection expert Edis Ceric demonstrate the system to us at the international press drive in Lisbon that we attended recently. Watch the video above to see it in action.

Mercedes-Benz developed the Digital Car Key feature using Samsung Android smartphones, but any Android smartphone with NFC should work. You will need an account with the Mercedes me service for it to work, as well as an NFC-capable smartphone. Your smartphone has to be registered with the Mercedes me service.

Locking and unlocking the car is as simple as placing your phone near the driver’s side door handle. You have to place your phone inside the Qi wireless charger to start the car as that is where the NFC receiver is located. Of course, if your phone supports Qi wireless charging, your phone will begin to charge as well.

The best part is a single phone can be used as a digital key for multiple cars, and a number of phones can be programmed to a single car, an ideal solution for large families or fleet operations.

While certain Apple iPhones have NFC technology built in, Apple has locked it down exclusively for use with Apple Pay for the moment, though there are rumours that developer access to NFC might be open sometime in the future. So no luck using this feature if you have an iPhone.

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Paul Tan

After dabbling for years in the IT industry, Paul Tan initially began this site as a general blog covering various topics of personal interest. With an increasing number of readers paying rapt attention to the motoring stories, one thing led to another and the rest, as they say, is history.

 

Comments

  • Hope MB owners don’t get their phones stolen when they travel far away from their homes where they keep the real car keys.

    Wake me up when a manufacturer designs a wearable that can function as an e-key.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 3 Thumb down 4
    • Same L0rrrr on Mar 20, 2016 at 4:29 am

      Mobile phone is a fast moving consumer goods already, with general lifespan of 1-3 years. Good luck the new owner need to change key every few years.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
    • NFC?? I read about this few years back.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
    • Myvifan on Mar 20, 2016 at 3:39 pm

      Old tech, i use keyless entry summore

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 0
      • For this you carry the key in your pocket. Here you carry nothing but your phone.

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
    • Is the same as someone steals your car key. Additionally you need to unlock the phone in order to have NFC (valid for all phones). So your personal security (fingerprint, code, shape, …) is added to the user to unlock the phone.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 0
  • Legolas on Mar 19, 2016 at 10:58 pm

    Apple’s missing out on all of this

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 7 Thumb down 1
  • What happens if the phone ran out of juice while you’re in the mall?

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 7 Thumb down 5
    • Pinengslr on Mar 20, 2016 at 8:30 am

      You dun know powerbank?

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 6 Thumb down 14
    • Now you have a problem. Tomorrow the NFC card inside runs without phone be unlocked and without battery.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • Gimme back my key on Mar 20, 2016 at 1:02 am

    What if I’m making a call and I need to open the door or start the car?
    What if my phone ran out of battery?
    Gimmicks these are. Key is key. Phone is phone. You don’t shave your mustache with your phone.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 21 Thumb down 9
    • David on Mar 20, 2016 at 5:15 am

      Actually no problem if your phone battery is empty: nfc chip can be detected even then. So basically you don’t need to carry both a key and your smartphone. Just great IMHO.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 7 Thumb down 0
      • Remember the couple who hack the touchNgo ? Imagine they just steal your merc with their phone with an android apps, hassle free and drive away like a boss !

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 2
    • Simba on Mar 20, 2016 at 9:46 am

      Ages ago phone was phone, computer was computer and camera was camera. Go back to your cave.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 4 Thumb down 0
    • To Mr Giime back my key on Mar 20, 2016 at 10:28 am

      One day when you can afford an e class, you will still accept and appreciate it. At your current stage, you can only think of all negative things.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 9 Thumb down 0
    • Its a good backup plan. If you can safeguard the key no need to worry the stupid “what-if”, no one asked not to use they key dumba$$.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • David on Mar 20, 2016 at 5:21 am

    Paul, thanks for this video. Very interesting. Mercedes mentions that this feature will be available as from June in Germany. What about cars that will be ordered and delivered before that date and in other countries than Germany (my case) : are they going to benefit from this service at some point in time ? Or will they miss a specific hardware component? Thanks!

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 5
  • Simba on Mar 20, 2016 at 9:45 am

    I don’t know why everyone is so worried about the phone being stolen. The same concern applies to the car key right? How is it different?

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 2
    • stasta on Mar 22, 2016 at 10:18 am

      the difference is if someone steals your phone, they still wont be able to steal your car because your phone is usually protected with fingerprint or pattern lock

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 0
  • Tamau itu macam on Mar 20, 2016 at 10:14 am

    Ppl seem to prefer to carry handphone than a car key.

    Why we have to rely so much on a phone these days??
    Next time, order roti canai via handphone even though you are already sitting at mamak stall? As for dahl top-up with handphone oso??

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 3
  • Gaviny on Mar 20, 2016 at 10:35 am

    In 2 weeks someone will demonstrate hacking and unlocking

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 1
  • Andrekua on Mar 20, 2016 at 11:33 am

    Interesting but I think I simply prefer current keyless entry.

    I think Mercedes should think about making the smartphone an extension of the key itself. Using the smartphone NFC to scan the NFC in the key allows owners to do advance things such as preset timer to wind down window when park under the hot sun for certain period of time.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 0
  • heybadigol (Member) on Mar 20, 2016 at 12:04 pm

    BlackBerry10 devices also have NFC, so that means BlackBerry and Android devices can lock/unlock and start/stop engine. Not sure about Windows phones. To be honest, I prefer a smart key for keyless entry and start. No need to find your smartphone and tap the handle, especially if you have to run towards the car in the rain. Just leave key in poket, and pull the handle and you’re done.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 0
  • marieta on Mar 20, 2016 at 12:59 pm

    So if your phone got stolen, you lose your car too?

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 0
    • omegle on Mar 20, 2016 at 8:24 pm

      If your car key got stolen, it’s the same thing…

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 7 Thumb down 0
    • stasta on Mar 22, 2016 at 10:18 am

      its not the same. the difference is if someone steals your phone, they still wont be able to steal your car because your phone is usually protected with fingerprint or pattern lock

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • seancorr (Member) on Mar 20, 2016 at 1:13 pm

    The phone is no longer just a tool to communicate. It’s your wallet, boarding pass, bank account, social life and now the key to your car. Yep one grab from the snatch thief on his bike and there goes your life and I know many people who lost heir phones or destroyed it by dropping it on the floor and toilet bowls or got wet in the rain. Can’t even get Uber to send you home after that!

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 4
  • Kevin on Mar 20, 2016 at 5:42 pm

    Why do you keep asking the obvious questions?

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • CarmenTung on Mar 20, 2016 at 6:27 pm

    Can use my old Nokia 3310 ah?

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 6
  • So how will my valets & driver go fetch my car? u mean I have to gip them my phone with my multi-million bank details in it?

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 5 Thumb down 1
    • stasta on Mar 22, 2016 at 10:20 am

      i would guess that your driver has to download the MB app to his own phone, then u help him to enter your private unlock password into the app.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
 

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