Google I/O 2021: Android 12’s Digital Car Key function coming for compatible vehicles

Among a range of announcements made during the Google I/O keynote on Day 1, one important tidbit for the automotive universe was the reveal of Google’s Digital Car Key, a feature akin to what Apple rolled out last year. To be a feature of Android 12, Digital Car Key essentially turns a user’s smartphone into a virtual car key, and will allow them to lock, unlock and even start their car, utilising near-field communication and ultra-wideband technologies. BMW started rolling out NFC across most of its models abroad in 2020, and backwards compatibility could be one of the reasons for Google’s Digital Car Key function to also utilise NFC, which isn’t as hassle-free a solution as the one provided by UWB. Google has also confirmed users will also be able to securely share the digital car key with family members and friends, for when they need to borrow the car.