For decades, drivers have been accustomed to accessing and driving cars with physical keys. However, in a break from tradition, and in keeping with a rapidly digitising world, Volvo Cars aims to become the world’s first car manufacturer to offer vehicles without keys, as from 2017. Instead, Volvo customers will be provided with an application (app) on their mobile phones, replacing the physical key with a digital one.
This Bluetooth-based digital key technology will allow Volvo customers to use and share their cars in a number of new ways.
The Volvo app enables the digi- tal key on the customer’s mobile phone to do everything a physical key cur- rently does, such as locking or unlocking the doors, or the boot, and starting the engine.
It also makes it possible for customers to receive more than one digital key on their mobile app, providing them with access to different Volvo cars in different locations, according to their changing mobility needs. This means people could potentially book and pay for a rental car anywhere in the world, with the digital car key delivered to their phone immediately.
On arrival, the customer locates the rental car by means of a set of coordinates, unlocks it and drives away, avoiding long queues at car rental kiosks or car sharing locations.
Volvo Cars’ digital key also means that sharing a car among a circle of people will become simpler and more convenient. Volvo owners will be able to send their digital key to other people, using their mobile phones, so they can use the car. This circle may include family members, friends or coworkers in a company.
“At Volvo, we are not interested in techno- logy for the sake of technology,” says Volvo Cars product strategy and vehicle line management VP Henrik Green.
“New technology has to make our custo- mers’ lives easier and save them time. Mobility needs are evolving and so are our customers’ expectations to access cars in an uncomplicated way.
“Our innovative digital key technology has the potential to completely change how a Volvo can be accessed and shared. Instead of sitting idle in a parking lot the entire day, cars could be used more often and efficiently by whomever the owner wishes.”
Volvo will pilot its new digital key technology in spring 2016, through its car sharing firm, Sunfleet, stationed at Gothenburg Airport, Sweden.
A limited number of commer- cially available cars will be equip- ped with the new digital key technology in 2017.
“There are obviously many permutations when it comes to how this shared key technology can be used,” notes Volvo Cars special products new-car director Martin Rosenqvist.
“We look forward to seeing how else this technology might be used in the future and we welcome any and all ideas.”
The Swedish premium carmaker in 2015 introduced the concept of customers having their online shopping delivered directly to their cars by providing a one-time digital key to a delivery company.
Physical keys will continue to be offered for people who require one.
Edited by: Martin Zhuwakinyu
Creamer Media Senior Deputy Editor
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