Vehicle biometric system and method

A vehicle biometric system (20) includes an in-vehicle telematics unit (32) having a receiver configured to receive authentication data from a wireless communication device (28), a memory configured to store computer program instructions, and a processor configured to access and execute the computer program instructions. The authentication data can include voice data based on a vocal input received at the wireless communication device from a requesting user (24). The executed computer program instructions can cause the processor to analyze the received authentication data to make a determination as to whether the vocal input is that of an authorized user of the vehicle, and based on a positive determination that the vocal input is that of the authorized user, to initiate a vehicle function in response to the vocal input.