Member-only story
The Keys to Your Next Car are Already in Your Pocket
For over a century, drivers accessed their vehicles with metal keys. But like so many things, smartphones are rendering yet another everyday object obsolete. Digital keys stored on mobile devices are poised to largely replace their physical counterparts within the next decade.
It’s easy to understand the appeal. Digital keys offer unprecedented convenience, allowing drivers to unlock or access their vehicle without fumbling around in their pocket or purse for the right key. They also enable features like effortless key sharing and custom access permissions.
But with new technology comes new challenges. Creating a truly universal digital key standard requires overcoming technical complexities, navigating commercial interests, and earning consumer trust. Success rests on cooperation between industry players that don’t always see eye-to-eye.
The Verge recently spoke with Daniel Knobloch, Vice President and Board Member of the Car Connectivity Consortium (CCC), for his unique perspective. The CCC is leading the charge to create global standards that ensure interoperability between vehicles and mobile devices. Before joining the CCC, Knobloch spent over seven years as a wireless systems architect at BMW.
