Autel North America recently announced the company’s tablets have been certified to access Mercedes-Benz vehicles’ Security Gateway (SGW). 

Previously restricted actions, such as clearing codes, performing ADAS calibrations, cooling and adaptions and executing active tests will now be accessible on Mercedes-Benz vehicles, a social media announcement from the company says. 

The post says Autel is the first aftermarket tablet maker to be certified by the Auto Authentication Authority (AutoAuth) for access. AutoAuth says it provides independent certification for OEMS, tool vendors and service shops. 

According to its website, AutoAuth is an “independently owned and operated service” working in conjunction with Auto OEMs and independent Tool Vendors.

AutoAuth “gives technicians the ability to use their aftermarket diagnostic tools to perform secured functions on vehicles through the OBD port that would otherwise be locked by the Auto OEM.” Automobile manufacturers have enabled new vehicles with solutions to protect the vehicles’ networks from unauthorized access, to protect vehicle owners from potential cyber-attacks. AutoAuth says its certification is for independent Tool Vendors and “allows Independent Operators to continue to service Security Gateway enabled vehicles. AutoAuth provides the registration service and “unlock codes” to Independent Operator’s service tools to unlock vehicle Security Gateway to perform day to day service.”

Autel is also certified for SGW access on Nissan and Stellantis vehicles via AutoAuth and supports Volkswagen and Audi SGW access via an in-tablet purchase, the post says. 

For access, Autel users must register their shop and tablet with AutoAuth.

Access to OEM repair information has been a key topic during “right to repair” debates at the state and national level.

The Maryland Senate Finance Committee held a January briefing on “right to repair”, with commentary from both the Safelite Group and the Alliance for Automotive Innovation about access to OEM Secure Gateways. Safelite representatives addressed the annual cost of authentication and access fees for certain OEM diagnostic data, while the automakers addressed the acknowledgement that the information necessary to service and diagnose a vehicle is available, and has been for many years.

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Photo courtesy of Autel