It Looks Like Smart Phones Are Going To Kill Off The Key Fob

With BMW apparently looking into replacing its key fobs with smart phone apps in the future, is the way we access cars about to radically change?
It Looks Like Smart Phones Are Going To Kill Off The Key Fob

At the same time as making key fobs bigger and more complicated than ever, BMW is thinking of ditching them altogether. At the Frankfurt Motor Show, BMW board member Ian Robertson told Reuters that the Bavarian firm is mulling over the future of the key fob, given how many of its customers own a smart phone that can be loaded with the BMW App.

The app can be used to unlock many of the company’s more recent models, so as Robertson puts it, “how many people really need it [a key fob]?” It’s something already happening elsewhere in the industry, with a mobile phone app being the only way of unlocking and starting up the new Tesla Model 3. Then there’s Jaguar Land Rover, which is currently looking at facial recognition technology as the future of car access.

As far as BMW goes, it seems to be a question of when, rather than if fobs are consigned to the history books. “We are looking at whether it is feasible, and whether we can do it. Whether we do it right now or at some point in the future, remains to be seen,” Robertson concludes.

Sponsored Posts

Comments

Mr.PurpleV12

Meh I dont like the idea of charging keys lol

09/15/2017 - 18:00 |
3 | 0
The Lone Xsara

Can’t wait to people getting their cars stolen by a 12 year old kid who read an internet forum.

09/15/2017 - 20:05 |
3 | 0
5:19.55

So you have no battery left on your 1200$ phone and you want to access your bimma. What do you do? You have 4 hours.

09/15/2017 - 20:33 |
3 | 0
Daksh Pat

in the future, thieves will hack into your car instead of breaking in, so he can quietly do his/her magic instead of bothering with the breaking windows and crowbar nonsense

09/15/2017 - 21:16 |
2 | 0
Anonymous

“my phone is dead, i need to go home now, oh wait…”

09/15/2017 - 21:34 |
2 | 0
Senator Chinchilla

I don’t even have a smart phone…. but then I also don’t have a BMW. Problem solved.

09/15/2017 - 23:15 |
2 | 0
Anonymous

What if your phone dies? Then you’ll be stranded.

09/16/2017 - 08:20 |
0 | 0
TheMindGarage

What’s the point? Surely getting out a key fob and pressing a button is easier than getting your phone out, unlocking it, finding the app and unlocking it through there? Before manufacturers mindlessly implement technology, they need to think about whether there’s actually any benefit.

09/16/2017 - 08:44 |
2 | 0
Anonymous

Imagine accesing your car with a phone. And now lets say that your phone slips out of your hand and breaks. How do you acces your car?

09/16/2017 - 10:07 |
0 | 0
RodriguezRacer456 (Aventador SV) (Lambo Squad)

So now if your phone is stolen you also have to report a carjacking?

09/16/2017 - 13:10 |
1 | 0