[alex2364]

It took 3 full paragraphs just to say "As a result, the mobile phone must no longer be held directly up to the door handle to unlock the car, but can conveniently be left in the pocket."

[Darth One]

I want my BMW digital key to interface with tinder and GPS so that it directs matches to my car and unlocks the backseat so they can just get in

[MPBK]

Sorry, Tesla got there first.

[2000Z3M]

I will never use this. I cannot have my phone at work and it stays in my car.

[racerbruce]

Luvin' my analog key in my 2007 Z4MR.

[TheirThere]

mini-super-computer will make fun work of cracking the key/value pair.

https://www.nvidia.com/en-us/autonom...son-xavier-nx/

[Teutonic]

Not everyone has a phone or some don't want it.
they steal your identity or your money now with a device, why not give them the car too?
A key is also smaller and requires no charging.
Also, what's wrong with a key anyway? We become that lazy?

[///M TOWN]

Originally Posted by MPBK

Sorry, Tesla got there first.

After charging several times along their way...

[IndotagSwizz]

Always funny when people fear monger with the "hacking" and the stealing of our cars as if back when it was a physical key it was soooo difficult to make a copy or find way around it

[Resjudicata]

I have a brand new BMW m850i with under 1k miles on it. it's supposed to have the digital key. but despite having an iPhone and Samsung; and 3 trips to the dealership, we have NEVER been able to work the digital key.

Fix the existing keys before you go making digital key 2.0.

[Colinv6]

Sky net is becoming self aware!!

[mattkim85]

Interesting to see all these negative remarks. I thought innovation was a good thing. Hundreds of thousands of tesla vehicles out there and they aren't having anyone "hack" their cars or are they? What am I missing?

[ASAP]

Bmw is aware that a lot of people still need a house key, right?

This is a convenience for people that never need any keys... i.e. use garage door opener in the car and phone for car access... otherwise you will still be carrying a set of keys for something else... now not pulling the phone out is an actual plus as the prior version was borderline going backwards.

[duky]

I'm confused as to why people on this thread seem to think it is an either-or thing. You get both physical keys and can use this if you want. Why does anyone feel like they are being forced to adopt this if they are so uncomfortable with it?

[MPBK]

Originally Posted by IndotagSwizz

Always funny when people fear monger with the "hacking" and the stealing of our cars as if back when it was a physical key it was soooo difficult to make a copy or find way around it

But we didn't have to pay $500 for a physical key, and they didn't use it as a selling point of a car.

[MPBK]

Originally Posted by duky

I'm confused as to why people on this thread seem to think it is an either-or thing. You get both physical keys and can use this if you want. Why does anyone feel like they are being forced to adopt this if they are so uncomfortable with it?

Tesla doesn't give you a physical key. Car comes with a credit card thingy and they will charge you plenty for you bringing your own phone.

[msej449]

The police evidence in the UK at least is that all this improved security against passive theft (i.e. when the car is locked and inactive) has led to an increase in violent assault and break-ins - to get their hands on the physical key fob.

Here, most car thefts in the SUV/luxury/performance car segment are 'to order' by professional gangs. And it's SUVs that are the top targets e.g. the BMW X5 is regularly the #1 stolen car in the UK. And that's by absolute numbers i.e. more X5's than any other model are stolen. Other favourites are Range Rover, Discovery and similar big SUVs.

What the gangs do is to collect orders from their contacts and then go 'shopping'. They'll generally limit themselves to certain models at any one time (so they also trade orders). They will survey an area and look firstly for cars on the list that are parked on driveways. Ones parked on the street are less favoured, unless they can identify the driver's home. {ANd BTW this makes me uneasy about Google Street Views - my performance car has shown up on the latest version, when briefly parked on my drive as opposed to in my garage.]

They favour getting hold of the fob physically if possible. Ideally, by quiet intrusion from the hall table etc., cloning and then returning the keys. If not that, they'll pose as utility or similar personnel and clone the keys while in your house. Or take the keys and clone them, then place them back on the drive to make it look like you dropped them or similar. They then return a while later in the early hours and take the car. This is why so many owners report "My car got stolen last night but I still have the keys - I don't understand!". Only as a last resort will 'professional' gangs break in forcibly, with you there, and take the keys and the car at the same time: far too much to go wrong.

Of course, an alternative is just to wait for you to approach/leave your car and then assault you for the fob/key and drive the car away. Professional gangs don't like this - again there's too much to go wrong. Unfortunately, some of the 'subcontractors' they use will resort to this if otherwise thwarted.

To an extent, this makes the physical vs electronic key discussion irrelevant: the trend is now towards simply getting their hands on the key/fob whatever. So I think the question is, ' In the light of the above, does the announcement represent a good or a bad thing?'

[duky]

I think a lot of folks are simply resistant to change vs. being truly afraid of something. I get it, we are all used to having keys and that makes us feel comfortable. But clearly cars are simply becoming computers with wheels whether we like it or not. Our computers don't have keys yet we store way more personal information on them than our cars. Yet we're so scared of car theft despite having insurance for a reason. Even ignoring insurance I'm sure these car companies are doing everything they can to be as secure as our computing devices. Personally I hope they take it farther and put FaceID on cars. I don't want to even need my phone!