Cadillac rival BMW has announced a new feature that will allow customers to use their iPhone as a digital car key.
The new feature, dubbed BMW Digital Key, allows iPhone users to tap their device against their BMW’s door handle to unlock the vehicle and start it by placing it in the designated smartphone tray. The technology will first arrive on the BMW 5 Series and will eventually deploy on the rest of the BMW lineup, including high-performance ‘M’ models, crossovers, sedans, coupes and the Z4 sports car.
Users will be able to set up the BMW Digital Key feature through the existing BMW app for the iPhone. They will also be able to add up to five friends through the app that will also be able to unlock the same vehicle with their phones. A limited access feature for young drivers that enables the user to restrict top speed, horsepower, maximum radio volume and more will be available, as well. The digital key and all related information will be stored on the phone itself and not in the cloud for maximum security.
This isn’t the first time BMW has introduced new Apple technology to the automotive industry. The automaker was the first to integrate the iPod into its vehicles and was also the first to offer wireless Apple CarPlay.
While General Motors has not indicated if it will ever offer support for the iPhone digital key feature, though Apple has said that it expects more manufacturers to climb aboard in the future.
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Comments
gm could just add this easily to the current app, no reason to go apples route when not everyone has a apple phone.
I’m sure android is going to “copy” this and make their own version
Haven’t Tesla’s had a similar system for the last couple of years?
Back in my day, when maven was around. I could use my iPhone to unlock the car. Why isn’t this already standard on all GM cars and light trucks?
You can unlock GM cars with the GM APP. Its been available for years.
What will the driver do if one of three things happens?
1. The iPhone is inside the vehicle
2. The iPhone has lost all charge or is broken
3. The iPhone is lost or stolen
Do they have a backup?
My car still uses a physical key and I can open it without a fob, or even if the car battery is dead. I can leave my key, phone, or fob inside the car and open it, too! Can you do any of this with your car?
1 – the iPhone being inside the car starts it.
2- after the iPhone dies it does into a power reserve mode that still allows the key to function for 5 hours after the phone dies
3 – you need to use FaceID or TouchID to use it so the person that stole your phone won’t have that information. You can always wipe the phone via FindMy
GM (Cadillac) already has an app for this. Used to be free but now they charge $10.00 a month t so you can start your remotely. Is it worth that to start your car from your bathroom, or if your car is in wayfarout, Texas and you are in Cold, Maine? Bunch of crap.
$10.00 a month… what a joke… once again GM delivers the value. And Cadillac is not a rival to BMW, thats just wrong…