Volkswagen electric vehicle drivers will finally have access to Samsung Wallet with Digital Key, hands-free entry, and more. The service is initially rolling out to select VW ID vehicles in Europe.

The ability to use your smartphone as a key to start, lock, or unlock your vehicle is almost essential nowadays.

Nearly everybody carries around a phone, but physical keys are easy to forget. Volkswagen and Samsung Electronics are teaming up to finally allow Digital Key access for those with a compatible Samsung Galaxy smartphone.

Samsung Wallet is expanding Digital Key access to Volkswagen EVs, including the new ID. Polo, ID. Cross, ID.3 Neo, ID.4, ID.5, ID.7, and ID. Buzz.

“The Digital Key is an important step toward a seamless and connected vehicle experience for our customers,” said Dr Axel Henrich, VW Passenger Cars’ senior vice president of concepts & innovation.

The feature enables drivers to use their Galaxy smartphone to lock, unlock, and start their vehicle without a physical key.

Samsung’s Digital Key supports several access methods, including ultra-wideband (UWB) technology for hands-free entry, plus Near Field Communication (NFC) for tap-based unlocking and starting the engine.

Drivers can also open the trunk using Remote Key Entry. Users can allow others to use the Digital Key through the Samsung Wallet to allow for multiple drivers or short-term access, such as a valet.

The information is protected by “multiple layers of security” and backed by Samsung’s industry-leading security platform, Samsung Knox.

If a driver loses their smartphone with a Digital Key, they can use Samsung Find to manage or remove it remotely.

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