Volvo’s digital key can be sent to your phone

In what is sure to be a bold and pioneering move, Volvo is planning on launching keyless mobility in 2017.

Yes, that’s right. No more keys to start your vehicle. Instead, the physical key we’ve become accustomed to over decades of driving will be replaced by a digital key on your smartphone. Requiring Bluetooth connectivity, this new and innovative application will allow drivers to use and share Volvo vehicles with greater ease.

Here’s how it works: Volvo’s digital key will be able to do everything a normal key does. That includes locking or unlocking doors, opening or closing the boot, or even set the temperature on an early winter morning right before you leave for work.

Customers can have more than one digital key on this smartphone-based app, allowing them access to different Volvo vehicles in different locations.

What this also means is that you will be able to book and pay for a rental car and the digital key will be sent to your phone in a matter of moments. And locating the vehicle at the airport would be as simple as using GPS.

If anyone else in your circle of friends, or a family member, have the Volvo app on their smartphone, you will be able to send them the vehicle’s digital key. And if you’re worried about the whereabouts of your vehicle, just track your vehicle via the app at any given moment.

“At Volvo we are not interested in technology for the sake of technology,” says Henrik Green, Vice President Product Strategy & Vehicle Line Management at Volvo Cars. “New technology has to make our customers’ lives easier and save them time. Mobility needs are evolving and so are our customers’ expectations to access cars in an uncomplicated way.”

In families where missing car keys are an everyday occurrence, this new digital key may just be heaven sent. On the other hand, the level of security on this digital key would have to be out of this world. And knowing Volvo they’d probably make sure it is.

For the more conservative driver Volvo will continue to offer a traditional key.