Hyundai to soon empower consumers with smartphone-based Digital Key

Globally-acclaimed Korean automobile giant, Hyundai Motor Group has developed a ‘Digital Key’, which allows users to unlock and start their Hyundai vehicle via their smartphone.

Replacing a traditional physical key, the new Digital Key can be downloaded via an app and used by up to four authorized people.

The Digital Key can be downloaded via a cell phone application and Near Field Communication (NFC) technology detects the presence of an authorized Digital Key-enabled cellphone in close proximity to the vehicle door. The NFC antenna for entry identification is located in the handles of the driver and front passenger's doors, whilst one for starting the engine is located within the wireless charging pad.

After unlocking the vehicle, the user can start the engine by placing the smartphone on the wireless charging pad in the center console and pressing an engine Start/Stop button on the dashboard.

The user's preferred vehicle settings are stored in the vehicle. When the key is recognized those settings are adjusted automatically – including the position of mirrors, seats and the steering wheel, as well as controls for the audio, video and navigation (AVN) systems and head-up display.

Hyundai has said that its Digital Key can be used to control selected vehicle systems remotely via their smartphone. Using Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) communication, users can lock and unlock the vehicle, activate the alarm and start the engine. In addition, once the vehicles with autonomous parking features are commercialized, such features are also expected to be remotely controlled.

The level of access to different vehicle functions can be tailored to each user, for a defined period. The vehicle owner can preset the duration of vehicle use or limit the use to only certain features when renting the vehicle. For instance, it can even be used to enable a courier to open the trunk to deliver a parcel.

Hyundai has revealed further that once car sharing becomes more widespread, the Digital Key will be further programmed to support hassle free vehicle rental where the owner and the driver won't have to meet but can transfer the Digital Key via the cell phone application.

As well as making it much easier for a Hyundai vehicle to be included in a car-sharing program, in the future, the Digital Key will be further enhanced to allow for features such as an alarm to be triggered when the vehicle exceeds a defined speed or travels outside a designated area. For cases such as using a valet service or visiting a repair shop, where handing over a digital key is not feasible, conventional smart key and card type key are also provided.

Hyundai Motor Group aims to gradually implement the technology in its new production cars, starting with next-generation Sonata which is to make its U.S. debut in the New York Motor Show.

According to Ho Yoo, Group Leader of Hyundai Motor Group's Electronics Development Group, the Digital Key will benefit a very wide range of future Hyundai customers, as well as enabling innovative new schemes for vehicle sharing. The company, Yoo says, is studying other ways to harness this type of connected-car technology to greatly enhance the driving and ownership experience.