Posted in Mobile World Live on May 27, 2025
The days of vehicle key fobs are numbered as smartphone-based digital keys become more prominent, but the change requires careful management and development of common global standards to ensure interoperability and drive safety, an expert with the Car Connectivity Consortium (CCC) told Mobile World Live.
Technical director Bahar Sadeghi explained digital keys are a particular boon for operators of fleets of vehicles, alongside domestic benefits in multi-car households.
For fleet management, Sadeghi explained digital keys benefit everyone involved.
Managers gain a centralised overview of who is driving what, where and when, while drivers benefit from seamless access to vehicles without requiring a specific set of keys or fobs.
Sadeghi said the user experience aligns with the expectations set by other connected technologies.
“In fleet use cases, key provisioning and management typically occur through a secure mobile app or digital system, while the digital key itself may reside in the device’s digital wallet or secure element.”
What is a digital key?
Let’s just go back a gear and do some explaining.
In an article published in 2024 by US automotive research company Kelley Blue Book, it explained a digital key enables drivers to unlock and start their car using information stored in smartphone wallets.
Kelley Blue Book indicated “dozens” of car models now offer the function, a fact borne out by a quick search of major brands, most of which offer details on how to pair Apple or Android wallets to their vehicles.
Earlier in the year, connected vehicle services specialist Wireless Car reported a need for vehicle manufacturers to create a standard for digital keys to avoid pitfalls associated with proprietary approaches.
This is where the CCC comes in: Sadeghi said it developed a system offering “consistent performance across a wide range of mobile devices and vehicle models, enabling different drivers with different phones to securely access and operate fleet vehicles”.
The system is geared so drivers do not have to take their smartphone out of their pocket to unlock and start vehicles, a function “particularly valuable for delivery drivers, technicians or anyone operating in fast-paced environments”.
“For fleet managers, centralised control of keys and remote updates simplifies oversight, reduces administrative burdens and enables real-time adjustments.”
Sadeghi acknowledged connectivity issues could be a hindrance, pointing to a lack of coverage or even interference in real-world conditions.
The CCC overcomes the connectivity conundrum by including Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE), NFC and ultra-wideband protocols, but it also set up “cache time-based credentials” and predefined access rules to tackle connectivity gaps.
Read the full interview in Mobile World Live here.
