Unlocking Convenience: Car Access With A Digital Key

How does the digital car key work?

Once set up, users can securely store the Digital Key in the Wallet application of their smartphone or smartwatch – just like payment methods, ID cards or concert tickets. Using a combination of advanced ultra-wideband (UWB) and Bluetooth low energy (BLE) technology, the digital key facilitates interaction between the vehicle and the smart device. When the vehicle detects the presence of an authorised phone, users can lock and unlock their vehicle as well as open the trunk without carrying a physical key or even taking their phone out of their pockets. Once inside the car, drivers can also start their vehicle. Neither the smart device nor the vehicle need to be online to open, start or lock the car. Michel Bensel, Head of Interior, Infotainment & Digital Experience at CARIAD says: 

Key sharing with family and friends

There is more: Imagine the convenience of sharing your car key with family members or friends across town as easily as sending a text message. The second generation of the Digital Key that launches with Audi vehicles based on the E³ 1.2 electronics architecture enhances traditional remote control functions. It allowing owners to securely share their car keys over the air and providing a direct and easy-to-use interface to grant or revoke full access. This flexibility greatly simplifies vehicle access for multiple family members or friends.

Compatible with multiple smartphones and high-level of security

“The Digital Key uses UWB and BLE technology and a set of standardized communication protocols to ensure flexibility and security. In addition, it is platform-independent to easily scale it to multiple models and platforms in the Volkswagen Group”, says René Sturm, Product Manager Digital Key at CARIAD.

Teams at CARIAD developed their own platform-independent software for the Digital Key based on the industry standard defined by the Car Connectivity Consortium (CCC), an association of car manufacturers, OEMs and all relevant phone brands. This standardization ensures that meaningful interoperability factors are adhered to, by fulfilling information security requirements (CISA and BSI). This way the risk of unauthorized access is reduced significantly. In addition, it also guarantees compatibility with models from leading handset manufacturers.

Through close collaboration between the brands of the Volkswagen Group and CARIAD, the second generation of the Digital Key feature is already implemented in multiple Audi vehicles such as the Q6 e-tron, A6 e-tron, A5 and Q5. The digital key on the smartphone offers all the functionalities of the familiar convenience key and frees Audi drivers from having to carry additional hardware in addition to their smartphone. They can conveniently assign up to five digital keys to friends or family members.