CarKey Screenshots Reveal Digital Keys in Wallet App, BMW Likely to Support Feature at Launch

[FightTheFuture]

At this point, inventions are more gimmicks, sometimes worsen the user experience, and usually introduce a bunch of security issues.

Well the smartphone is the device that everyone can’t live without, so why not converge?

 

[jwwy]

Finally have a reason to drive my I8

and BMW just announced i8 production will be stopped.

 

[ghanwani]

Well the smartphone is the device that everyone can’t live without, so why not converge?

It's not really a complete solution -- it doesn't work for valet and when dropping the car off for service or loaning the car to a friend. If the phone breaks or dies, you lose multiple critical functions (can't make calls, can't drive the car). Why create additional attack vectors for getting the car hacked into?

 

[TheIntruder]

Idk about these screenshots, it’s not like Apple to misspell “trunk”. Spacing is all messed up too.

Yeah, I don't know what kind of fat fingers results in "t-r-u-c-k" when it should obviously be "b-o-o-t."

😜

 

[Anonymous Freak]

I want this to come to the Apple Watch. That would be amazing.

That would be greatly preferred. Allow you to leave your phone in the car when you go swimming/jogging/whatever.

 

[hagar]

I think we have reached the point of peak technology. At this point, inventions are more gimmicks, sometimes worsen the user experience, and usually introduce a bunch of security issues.

But what do I know. I'm a luddite and still carry my credit card with me.

I never understood why people would claim we‘re at peak technology. I met people 20 years ago claiming the same. I don’t know if it’s lack of understanding technology or lack of creativity, but we’re only at the beginning of the tech revolution in housing, medicine, agriculture, shopping, tourism, mobility, ...

 

[_karrol]

Idk about these screenshots, it’s not like Apple to misspell “trunk”. Spacing is all messed up too.

“Express mode” is a terrible name and the description just makes it even more confusing.

These are pretty obviously fake.

In addition to this, the picture doesn't show a production version of the i8, but a concept car preceding it. I highly doubt they would use a picture not showing the real car.

 

[Tech198]

I hate the digital life.. The "Whats more important with security" is no longer a valid reason
Convenience as it is.. It just sets the path to hackers.

 

[dilbert99]

eliminating the need to use a physical car key or key fob.

No, you still need to pull out a phone and face unlock, I would rather use a keyfob button.
How do you open the car with shopping bags in hand?

CarKey will allow users to approach their vehicle, hold their iPhone or Apple Watch near an NFC reader in the vehicle, authenticate with Face ID, and have the vehicle unlock automatically. Similar to Apple Pay at transit turnstiles, Express Mode would be an option, eliminating the need to authenticate with Face ID or a passcode.

How quaint...
I'll stick with my current method of walking up to my Model 3 and the car unlocking automatically when I touch the door handle.
And walking away and it locking automatically
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Must be Model 3 or X.

It was added to the 3 when they designed that. Model X and S had the fobs. At least you have a lot of features that the 3 does not have...

 

[SpringKid]

Truck access?

 

[chucker23n1]

I will be impatient with my first comment and rational with my second.

1. Why isn't this in all cars already?! Cmon Apple, BMW first? For real? How about you pick a company that starts with a more blue collar kind of demographic?

You're asking why a feature that hasn't been announced yet isn't immediately available everywhere?

Also, regarding BMW: pricing aside, it makes sense to first launch a feature for a small target audience, then grow it step by step. This allows that.

 

[Techwatcher]

Good on BMW. I know this can be extended to a lot of existing BMW vehicles but as a BMW owner I won't hold my breath. Won't be surprised if it's new vehicles only (which would be dumb).

 

[Princejb134]

wouldnt be surprised if bmw charges a monthly fee just to have this feature enabled

 

[Biofreak12]

Must be Model 3 or X.
Or maybe I just got screwed when I got my Model S.

As I mentioned, Lexus was doing that 10 yrs ago. I wonder why it didn't catch on?

Yeah I was talking about my model 3. I didn't know Lexus had it 10 years ago. Did they also used an app on the phone for that?

 

[TheRealTVGuy]

Yes, yes, 100 times yes!

I can already unlock my home using “Hey Siri” and purchase fuel using Apple Pay from my watch. Now if I can just get the state of Florida to accept a digital version of my driver’s license, I can leave both my wallet AND my phone at home! (If I so choose!)

Imagine, no longer having to load up your pockets before leaving the house!

 

[JDW]

Truck access?

You know the software must be riddled with bugs when they can't even spell the correct English word "trunk." Totally unacceptable and pathetic.

 

[Tony_YYZ]

What happens if you run out of battery? Or worse, what if you lose your phone or it is stolen?
Isn't this creating a security hole to fix a problem that really doesn't exist?

(Yes, I understand that it's possible to lose keys too, but typically we don't take out our keys 500 times per day. On my most recent vehicles, and I suspect this is true for all vehicles now, the key can stay in your pocket. Lexus used to have a credit-card shaped key that would fit into one of the card slots in a wallet, so it didn't even take up extra pocket space.)

The Tesla Model S has a key that uses proximity, but you can also open and control it with just app - all except driving it away. Other than the size of the key fob (for a tech company, it surprises me how big the thing is), that strikes me as the most reasonable compromise.

The Model S/X use Tesla's legacy key system. The Model 3/Y use a phone key system already. My phone uses Bluetooth ToF to detect proximity to the car and allow the doors to open and drive functions to engage. If for some reason my phone is dead or lost, I have a credit card sized NFC key in my wallet that I tap on the door to open and the cupholder area to drive. There is an optional proximity key fob for those models as well.

All Tesla models (sans original Roadster) allow you to unlock all doors and engage the drive systems from the mobile app.

 

[69Mustang]

In addition to this, the picture doesn't show a production version of the i8, but a concept car preceding it. I highly doubt they would use a picture not showing the real car.

Yeah, it's obviously a fake. Not only is it a concept car image, it's the image of the second oldest concept they made. The car in that image is from 2011. Pretty sure if it was real, BMW would use an image of one of their premium ICE cars or an image of something from their upcoming EV line (iX3 or i4). The typo is consistent with all the other errors.

 

[davfer86]

Finally. Using an actual key has been such a burden for 70 years

Can you share a key with me?

 

[CTHarrryH]

with my Subaru - I can lock,unlock start, stop with an app = before going outside or before I leave store of gym.
Even without that I just leave key in pocket and touch door to unlock or lock and as long as key is within car (in my pocket) I just push car button to start.
Getting phone out in winter or heavy rain etc. just doesn't seem worth the benefit vs. what I get today.
I'm sure BMW will either charge for feature or make it part of an expensive option package.

 

[bviktor]

BMW should fix Connected Drive and software upgrades first. I haven't received an update in six months, which is hard to believe, as it was a few months old model when I purchased it.

Currently the app says "last updated : 2 days ago". Nuff said. Remote stuff fails to execute 9 out of 10 times.

 

[ianrip]

It's not really a complete solution -- it doesn't work for valet and when dropping the car off for service or loaning the car to a friend. If the phone breaks or dies, you lose multiple critical functions (can't make calls, can't drive the car). Why create additional attack vectors for getting the car hacked into?

yes. dropping off for the valet could be an issue, good point, maybe a share feature for 4-8 hours ???, or an old fashioned Fob in the Glove box

 

[theapplehead]

What kind of car models/years is this likely to support?

 

[ianrip]

i t

What kind of car models/years is this likely to support?

I think any which have a NFC hardware installed

 

[Doc C]

Yeah I was talking about my model 3. I didn't know Lexus had it 10 years ago. Did they also used an app on the phone for that?

No - they had the credit-card-sized key. It even had an emergency physical key in it that could be used for opening the door and such.

My Lexus was a 2009 model year, so it would have been designed only a year or so after the first iPhone was released. I don't think apps were even on Jobs' radar at that point.
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The Model S/X use Tesla's legacy key system. The Model 3/Y use a phone key system already. My phone uses Bluetooth ToF to detect proximity to the car and allow the doors to open and drive functions to engage. If for some reason my phone is dead or lost, I have a credit card sized NFC key in my wallet that I tap on the door to open and the cupholder area to drive. There is an optional proximity key fob for those models as well.

All Tesla models (sans original Roadster) allow you to unlock all doors and engage the drive systems from the mobile app.

I didn't know that about the Models 3 & Y.
I wonder if the next redesign of the Model S & X will implement the phone key system. It seems a bit strange to have that feature available on some models but not others. At the very least, make the key fob a bit smaller.