An electronically locking differential assembly constructed in accordance to the present disclosure includes a differential casing, a first and second side gear, a lock actuation assembly and a lock detect mechanism. The first gear defines a first shaft opening configured to provide a first torque transmitting connection with a first output shaft received within the first output shaft opening. The second side gear defines a second output shaft opening configured to provide a second torque transmitting connection with a second output shaft received within the second output shaft opening. The lock actuation mechanism selectively moves between a locked state where the side gears are fixed for concurrent rotation and an unlocked state where the side gears rotate relative to each other. The lock detect mechanism detects whether the lock actuation mechanism is in the locked or unlocked state.