Samsung has launched a digital car key function in Brazil. The service is launched in cooperation with BMW and is compatible with some models.
Using a digital car key in Samsung Wallet, BMW owners in Brazil can unlock their vehicles with their smartphones. Samsung explained that the digital car key is stored in an embedded secure element (eSE) designed to protect the user’s most sensitive data and encryption keys. This is also part of the Knox platform that secures Samsung Wallet.
The functionality works via NFC and UWB (Ultra Wideband), the latter method offering additional benefits such as being able to unlock the car at short distances without taking out the phone, by tapping the vehicle’s NFC reader.
Another advantage of using digital car key functionality over UWB is greater accuracy, preventing potential digital attacks through radio signal interception and jamming attempts.
Samsung is launching the digital car key feature on some Galaxy phones running Android 13. The list includes the Galaxy S20 series (Note: Officially excluding S20 FE), Galaxy S21 series (including S21 FE), and Galaxy S22 and S23 series phones.
In addition, this feature is available for Samsung Galaxy Note 20 and Note 20 Ultra, as well as some folding screen phones, from Galaxy Z Flip 5G / Z Fold 2 to Z Flip 4, Z Fold 4.
As for supported BMW models, Samsung’s digital car key is compatible with BMW 320i, 330e, 420i, 530e, X1, X3, X4, X5, X6, M3, X6M, i4, iX3, and iX.
