Volvo is offering cars this 2017 that require no more keys. For those who always forget their keys, Volvo thought of a way those cars can still be driven without them. All that you need is an application to be integrated to your smartphone containing a digital car key.
In the absence of a physical key, Volvo will introduce a smartphone application that consists of a digital car key. Even without a physical car key, you can still open the doors, trunk or even start the engine. The app functions like you have multiple keys for multiple cars, CNET reports.
"Our innovative digital key technology has the potential to completely change how a Volvo can be accessed and shared," said Henrik Green, Volvo's vice president of product strategy. "Instead of sitting idle in a parking lot the entire day, cars could be used more often and efficiently by whomever the owner wishes."
The smartphone application is a Bluetooth-enabled Volvo app digital key that allows customers use it like how they use the physical car key. Because of the possibility of receiving more than one digital key, customers will be able to use various Volvo cars from various places. The digital car key will also makes it possible to share the same car with no difficulty since owners can send their digital key to other people like the family or close acquaintances through their mobile phones.
The said technology is anticipated to assist people book and pay for a rental car wherever they are, and have the digital car key sent to their phone as soon as possible. In this way, a rental car can be located through GPS; can be unlocked and driven, bypassing many processes. Physical keys will still be offered for people who want them, according to International Business Times.
The car maker mentions that the commercial cars that will be installed with the keyless technology will be limited and will be introduced by 2017. Considerably it's a good idea but not that clever according to Volvo's VP product's strategy and vehicle line management, says Motoring Research.
Henrik Green points out that, "At Volvo, we are not interested in technology for the sake of technology. New technology has to make our customers' lives easier and save them time. Mobility needs are evolving and so are our customers' expectation to access cars in an uncomplicated way."
Volvo will showcase the technology at Sweden Gothenburg airport later this year through its car-sharing company Sunfleet. The keyless-car technology will be displayed in Barcelona at the Ericsson booth at the Mobile World Congress 2016.
Join the Conversation