Digital Key Considerations

The intermingling of technology and automobiles continues, with digital key offerings from most vehicle makers. Digital keys utilize smartphone technology to expand vehicle access and owner convenience. How does this affect repairs? Let’s take a look.

Digital keys can be combined with app-based connected services or offered separately. Many vehicle makers have started reducing the number of physical keys/key fobs provided at the initial sale and are replacing them with digital keys.

These digital keys can be accessed with a smartphone, smartwatch, or specialized credit card. These devices generally use near-field communication (NFC) or Bluetooth for connection, which makes proximity to the vehicle important.

This is the same technology used in smart key fobs, but by utilizing a smart device, a vehicle maker can include additional functions beyond those of the smart key fob.

In this series, we will help you locate resources and highlight any repair considerations pertaining to digital keys.

To learn more about the certification, testing, and the technology behind NFC and digital keys, check out the following websites:

  • NFC Forum
    • Per the website: “The NFC Forum is the governing body of the standard and a compliance program that ensures the reliability and interoperability of connections.”
  • Car Connectivity Consortium
    • Per the website: “Our mission is to standardize the connected ecosystem around vehicles and devices with solutions that combine convenience, security, and privacy protections.”

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