Digital Key: Smart Access for Connected Vehicles

The traditional car key is increasingly being replaced by digital solutions. With the digital key, drivers can conveniently unlock, start, and personalize their vehicle using a smartphone or smartwatch - without the need for a physical key. At the same time, new opportunities are opening for car sharing, fleet management, and digital mobility services.

Secure technologies for digital vehicle access

The digital key is based on modern wireless technologies such as Bluetooth® Low Energy (BLE), Near Field Communication (NFC), and Ultra-Wideband (UWB). The intelligent interaction of these technologies enables convenient yet secure digital vehicle access. Depending on the application, they perform different tasks and complement each other perfectly:

• BLE enables energy-efficient communication between the vehicle and a mobile device and recognizes authorized users as soon as they approach the vehicle.
• UWB provides additional protection against relay attacks through high-precision distance measurement accurate to the centimeter and significantly increases security when unlocking the vehicle.
• NFC also ensures vehicle access even when a smartphone's battery is dead, while offering broad device compatibility.

Efficient access management for fleets and mobility providers

Digital keys can be securely shared with family members, friends, or employees. Access rights can be time-limited, individually configured, or revoked at any time. For fleet operators, mobility providers, and car-sharing services in particular, this flexibility opens new possibilities for efficient vehicle management - without the need to physically hand over keys.