The technology can be leveraged in case of new age car-sharing and to customize car settings according to user requirement.

Hyundai, the leading automaker, has recently launched a ‘Digital Key’ for cars, that can potentially make physical car keys a thing of the past. The new technology uses Near Field Communication to connect a mobile phone to the car so that the vehicle and the phone can communicate when in close proximity.

Once the phone unlocks the car, the vehicle is started by the driver by placing the phone on the center console charging pad and pressing an engine Start button on the dashboard. Up to 4 authorized people can have their preferred driving settings saved on the app and use it while driving the car. The car, on being mated with different phones automatically adjusts such settings as seats, mirrors and steering wheel positions as per the requirements of individual users.

The Hyundai Digital Key, by leveraging the Bluetooth Low Energy communication can be used to lock and unlock the vehicle, start the engine and activate the alarm remotely. Such features can be used to enable a courier to deliver a parcel to the boot of the car while enabling car sharing which is becoming more common around the world.

The Digital Key is aimed at making peer-to-peer vehicle rental easier with the owner being able to transfer the Digital Key via the smartphone app to the renter without having to meet physically. The key also comes with such features as sending an alert if the person renting the car drives outside an agreed area or exceeds the speed limit.

Ho Yoo, group leader, Electronics Development Group, Hyundai Motor Group has been reported to say that the a very wide range of future Hyundai customers will be benefitted by the Digital Key while various innovative new schemes for vehicle sharing can be realized with the feature. He added that Hyundai is studying other ways to harness the capabilities of connected-car technology that can be used to enhance ownership and driving experience.

Hyundai will be gradually implementing the technology in the new production cars.