Volvo, a Swedish car manufacturer, will be the first to automaker to offer cars without keys. The app is basically a “digital key”, which allows smartphones act as a remote key fob that lets the driver open the door, get in and start the car with the help of proximity sensors that detects when the phone is near the car.
“We are not interested in technology for the sake of technology,” said Henrick Green, vice-president of product strategy and vehicle line management at Volvo. “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.”
As part of Volvo’s push into the shared economy, Volvo hopes to present an easier solution for anyone booking a rental car or owners with a digital, Bluetooth-enabled key. This would allow friends or family to be able to use the car when it would otherwise just be parked.
