The traditional car key is increasingly being replaced by digital solutions. With the digital key, drivers can conveniently unlock, start, and personalize their vehicle using a smartphone or smartwatch – without the need for a physical key. At the same time, new opportunities are opening for car sharing, fleet management, and digital mobility services.

Secure technologies for digital vehicle access

The digital key is based on modern wireless technologies such as Bluetooth® Low Energy (BLE), Near Field Communication (NFC), and Ultra-Wideband (UWB). The intelligent interaction of these technologies enables convenient yet secure digital vehicle access. Depending on the application, they perform different tasks and complement each other perfectly:

  • BLE enables energy-efficient communication between the vehicle and a mobile device and recognizes authorized users as soon as they approach the vehicle.
  • UWB provides additional protection against relay attacks through high-precision distance measurement accurate to the centimeter and significantly increases security when unlocking the vehicle.
  • NFC also ensures vehicle access even when a smartphone’s battery is dead, while offering broad device compatibility.

Efficient access management for fleets and mobility providers

Digital keys can be securely shared with family members, friends, or employees. Access rights can be time-limited, individually configured, or revoked at any time. For fleet operators, mobility providers, and car-sharing services in particular, this flexibility opens new possibilities for efficient vehicle management – without the need to physically hand over keys.

Our Portfolio

  • Functional and software specifications
  • Software development
  • System integration
  • Requirements and defect management
  • Test management, from black-box testing to vehicle testing
  • Integration into existing vehicle architectures, production platforms, and fleets

“To ensure these applications meet the highest standards of convenience and security, IAV develops comprehensive digital key solutions,” explains Mathias Krause, Team Lead at IAV. “The digital key is far more than just a replacement for the traditional car key. It forms a central foundation for software-defined vehicles and the digital mobility services of the future.”

With comprehensive development and integration expertise, IAV supports vehicle manufacturers in bringing secure, scalable, and user-friendly access solutions to series production quickly and efficiently.

Close collaboration among interdisciplinary teams results in integrated solutions that fit seamlessly into existing vehicle platforms and meet the highest standards for quality, safety, and user-friendliness.