News

Car starting experience primed for a big change

Volvo is driving a new customer experience and, yes, there is an app for that.

February 19, 2016

The car driving experience is primed to be a bit different very soon, especially for those buying new Volvos.

Car maker Volvo is triggering a new customer experience in developing a smartphone app that will replace the car key and initiating a pilot later this year.

The goal is to make the key-less car a reality for the commercial market by next year, according to a VentureBeat report.

Using their smartphones drivers and car owners will tap an app that will lock and unlock door and start the engine.

"At Volvo we are not interested in technology for the sake of technology," Henrik Green, VP of product strategy and vehicle line management, told VentureBeat. "New technology has to make our customers' lives easier and save them time. Mobility needs are evolving and so are our customers' expectation to access cars in an uncomplicated way. Our innovative digital key technology has the potential to completely change how a Volvo can be accessed and shared."

As VentureBeat notes, Volvo isn't the first to the key-less app technology as Tesla has debuted a similar system in progress and Hyundai is also reportedly working on a similar key-less technology.