Wired
BMW announced today that it plans to launch Digital Key Plus in the future, which is an enhanced version of Apple’s car key function that incorporates Ultra Wideband (Ultra Wideband) technology, allowing drivers to unlock and start the vehicle without taking out the iPhone from their pocket or bag. BMW said that this feature will first be launched on its new iX electric vehicle, and is expected to be available in Europe at the end of 2021 and in North America in early 2022.
Apple introduced support for digital car keys in iOS 13.6 and later versions last year. BMW is the first and so far only car manufacturer to launch this feature, starting with the 2021 5 Series, and then in July 2020. More BMW models produced after 1st will be launched. BMW’s current digital car key function is based on NFC technology and requires the driver to hold the iPhone close to the cab door to unlock the vehicle.
Ultra-wideband is a short-distance, high-bandwidth wireless communication protocol with precise spatial awareness, which means that the iPhone only needs to be near the vehicle to unlock and start the vehicle. BMW said that the accuracy of Ultra Wideband also ensures that relay attacks—that is, situations where wireless signals are jammed or intercepted cannot happen.
Apple began to introduce Ultra Wideband support on some devices in 2019, equipped with the U1 chip in the iPhone 11 model, and then launched the iPhone 12 model last year. Apple Watch Series 6 models are also equipped with a U1 chip. As Apple’s car key function is available on watchOS 6.2.8 and later models, BMW’s Digital Key Plus function may be extended to Apple Watch.
As announced last year, BMW’s press release confirmed that Apple and BMW have been working closely with the Car Connectivity Alliance to establish an ultra-wideband digital key 3.0 specification to provide a global standard for the automotive industry.
In related news, Business Korea claimed today that Hyundai Motor plans to adopt Apple’s digital car key function later this year, but the report did not specify whether Hyundai Motor plans to launch NFC or ultra-wideband version functions. Credit cards are similar to boarding passes, and digital car keys are stored in the Wallet app on iPhone and Apple Watch.
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