Nuked Apple announced this week that you’ll be able to wirelessly unlock and start your car. The feature is part of the newly revealed iOS 14. Apple says it’s working on an industry-wide standard that would use its new U1 Ultra Wideband chip instead of relying solely on NFC.
You wo n’t be asked to confirm your identity with face ID or a passcode by default. You can turn off the so-called’express mode’ for additional security. Apple says the feature will support the older iOS 13 as well.
When sharing a digital car key, you’ll be able to restrict certain features in your car, such as limiting acceleration, top speed, or stereo volume. Apple wo n’t know when you access your car or who you share your car keys with.
Apple says the digital car keys work with no network connection. The keys are also supposed to work’for up to 5 hours’. In theory, you’ll still be able to lock your car even in the depths of a parking garage.
A central place in iOS for car keys could also allow you to keep digital keys for multiple cars in one place. Other carmakers already offer digital keys that have similar functionality, but they’re separate apps.
Apple’s reliance on NFC for their digital car keys suggests the feature could be using the car connectivity consortium’s digital key release 2.0.
Ultra Wideband (UWB) tech has the promise to let you unlock your car much more seamlessly than Apple’s current implementation. The digital key release 3.0 specification will’leverage Bluetooth low energy and Ultra Wideband wireless connectivity to support passive, location-aware keyless access’.
Automakers will need to provide NFC tags, and you’ll need to tap them directly. But for now, automakers will have to tap the tags directly.
Apple’s SK Yong is a manager of wireless technologies and ecosystems. He is listed as a director on the consortium’s board’s board. Emily Schubert, an Apple senior manager of car experience engineering, appeared in Apple’s WWDC video.
