With the increasingly digital world we live in, it’s no surprise that vehicle manufacturers are working on making physical car keys obsolete, and among the pioneers is BMW Group, which plans to demonstrate its solution this week in Munich, Germany.
Specifically, BMW has partnered with the Car Connectivity Consortium (CCC) to help it develop the innovative technology in its cars, which it plans to test and demonstrate during the 12th Plugfest at the automaker’s headquarters, the companies said in a press release on March 17.
As BMW Group pointed out, connected vehicles will make up 95% of all new cars sold by 2030, and the entire automotive ecosystem, covering carmakers, technology providers, device manufacturers, and Tier 1 suppliers, is focusing on creating seamless, interoperable, and secure digital key technology.
At the upcoming Plugfest, the companies will spotlight the CCC Digital Key interoperability testing, devoting particular attention to validating Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) sniffing test cases, OEM test cases, ultra-wideband (EWB) test cases, and other, newly introduced test scenarios.
During the tests, participants will collaborate to establish the foundation for expanding the CCC Digital Key testing scope in future iterations, including preparations for the CCC Digital Key specification version 4, as well as improve the reliability and security of the tech through rigorous cross-industry tests.
Digital key testing areas
In particular, testing will cover several key areas, including car and device makers testing CCC Digital Key implementations, evaluating the versions 3 and 4 interoperability, Bluetooth test equipment vendors validating Bluetooth LE sniffing tools, UWB test equipment makers showcasing how they can support CCC members, and end-to-end interoperability labs conducting tests on published CCC Digital Key test cases.
Commenting on the development, Alysia Johnson, President of CCC, explained that:
“The work happening at this Plugfest is crucial to the continued evolution of CCC Digital Key. (…) As vehicles become more connected, ensuring seamless and secure interoperability between automakers, device manufacturers, and technology providers is more important than ever. These hands-on testing sessions allow our members to collaborate in real-time, solve technical challenges, and accelerate the adoption of the trusted global standard of digital keys.”
Aside from BMW, participating companies at the event include Google, Samsung, CARIAD, Mercedes-Benz, Rivian, Volvo Car Group, Huf Hülsbeck & Fürst GmbH & Co. KG, Jaguar Land Rover (JLR), Technica Engineering GmbH, Comprion GmbH, Ellisys, Motorola Mobility LLC, Continental Automotive Technologies GmbH, and other participants.
Can I get a BMW digital key?
If you own a supported BMW model, you can get a BMW Digital Key, allowing you to unlock and start your car with just your smartphone or smartwatch. Can you have more than one digital key for BMW? Sure – you can share your digital key with your family and/or friends – up to five people.
Is the BMW digital key free?
Sort of – BMW’s digital key is free for the first year of usage. After the first year, if you want to keep the feature, it will cost you $88 annually, according to BMW and MINI retrofit solutions provider BimmerTech.
Which BMW models have digital keys?
As it happens, the compatible models that have digital key Apple and Android support include BMW X1 (2023), BMW X5 (2024), BMW X6 (2024), BMW X7 (2023), BMW XM (2023), BMW 2 Series Coupe (2023), BMW 3 Series (2023), and BMW 4 Series (2024), BMW 7 Series (2023), BMW iX (2022), BMW i4 (2022), BMW i5 (2024), BMW i7 (2023), as well as their newer iterations.
Meanwhile, BMW is rolling out new features in its vehicles to enhance the safety and wellness of car owners, combining the use of artificial intelligence (AI) and various sensors to analyze users’ health and ensure they get healthcare in time.
The carmaker’s other recent innovations include the new sixth-generation (Gen6) eDrive technology in its fully electric Neue Klasse vehicles, which allows the cars to charge 30% faster and increase their range by 30%, courtesy of the super-strong 800V battery concept.
What do you think?
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