Select Audi owners will soon be able to use their Galaxy smartphones to lock, unlock and start their vehicles, without needing a physical key.
Samsung Wallet now supports Digital Key for Audi to enable these capabilities, Samsung Electronics said in a Friday press release.
The Digital Key functionality for select Audi vehicles will launch this November in Europe and then expand globally, according to the release.
“We’re excited to bring Audi drivers the incredible convenience of Samsung Digital Key, powered by advanced UWB technology and easily accessible through Samsung Wallet,” said Woncheol Chai, EVP and Head of the Digital Wallet Team, Mobile eXperience Business at Samsung Electronics.
Digital Key, users can lock and unlock their vehicles and open the trunk using Remote Keyless Entry (RKE) and then start their vehicles without a physical key.
They can also share the Digital Key over the air or with an interface that lets them grant or disable access as needed, the release detailed.
The release further explained that if users lose their device that contains the Digital Key, they can use the Samsung Find service to remotely lock or delete the key, further safeguarding their vehicles.
With biometric or PIN-based user authentication requirements, Samsung Wallet protects the vehicle, ensuring privacy and security with every interaction.
“This collaboration with Audi is helping to advance our vision of effortless, tech-enabled experiences within the Galaxy ecosystem,” Chai said.
Digital Keys are securely embedded within the device, meeting rigorous EAL6+4 security standards to protect against unauthorized access.
Using ultra-wideband (UWB) technologies, a standardized communication protocol set by the Car Connectivity Consortium (CCC), Digital Keys ensure precise functionality and significantly reduce the risk of unauthorized vehicle access.
Samsung Wallet is a versatile platform that allows Galaxy users to organize Digital Keys, payment methods, identification cards and more in one secure application.
Launched in June 2022, Samsung Wallet features a seamless interface protected by defense-grade security from Samsung Knox.
It integrates with the Galaxy ecosystem, providing powerful connectivity and fortified security for users in their everyday lives.
Samsung Wallet is currently being used to enable mobile IDs in a growing number of states.
Samsung and biometrics firm IDEMIA said in July that the digital wallet began allowing Iowa residents to store their mobile ID and use it to confirm their identity using their mobile phone at TSA checkpoints at the Des Moines and Eastern Iowa airports, along with 25 other participating airports in the country and other participating businesses.
The two companies also rolled out this capability to residents of Arizona.
In December last year, Samsung and Mastercard partnered on a program called Wallet Express in the United Kingdom that provides banks and card issuers with an efficient way to expand their digital wallet offerings.
The program allows issuers to offer their customers Samsung Wallet, which allows for various payment methods, including the use of Galaxy wearable devices.
Availability and Accessibility
1. Audi vehicles supporting the Digital Key include: Audi A6 e-tron series, Q6 e-tron series and Audi A5 series. More vehicles are promised to follow.
2. Samsung Wallet Digital Key support is available on select devices, including: Galaxy S20 Ultra/S20+/S20, S21 Ultra/S21+/S21/S21 FE, S22 Ultra/S22+/S22, S23 Ultra/S23+/S23/S23 FE, S24 Ultra/S24+/S24/S24 FE, Note20 Ultra/Note20, Z Fold2, Z Fold3, Z Fold4, Z Fold5, Z Fold6, Z Flip 5G, Z Flip3, Z Flip4, Z Flip5, Z Flip6.
3. Eligible Galaxy smartphones operating on Android 13 and above, qualify to run this digital key.
