The Mercedes me app has added private car sharing, allowing friends, family members and colleagues to use a vehicle for a fixed period of time.
A ride-share vehicle will have the Mercedes me communication module installed. To use the car, a driver unlocks the vehicle using the app. The car can then be started with the digital vehicle key, which is temporarily enabled by the app and only can be used during the sharing period.
When finished with the car, the driver keeps the key in the vehicle and locks it with the app.
Cars can be unlocked, locked, and started remotely using Near Field Communication (NFC) technology.
Vehicles are now available in Germany with a Digital Vehicle Key Sticker featuring a built-in NFC controller. These can be used with any smartphone, even if it is not NFC capable.
The key sticker also can be ordered on the Mercedes me portal. As not all smartphones have an NFC interface compliant with Mercedes-Benz’s security standards, the sticker alleviates this problem.
In Germany, more than 1.7 million people are registered with car sharing services, according to the German Car Sharing Association.
Globally, the car sharing industry is forecasted to be valued at $16.5 billion by 2024, according to Global Market Insights.