Tesla to Launch Apple Watch App as Digital Car Key
Palo Alto, Tuesday, 22 October 2024.
Tesla is developing an official Apple Watch app that will function as a digital car key. The app will allow users to unlock and lock their vehicles directly from their smartwatches, enhancing convenience for Tesla owners.
Innovative Integration: A Step Toward Seamless Connectivity
Tesla’s forthcoming Apple Watch app is poised to revolutionize how owners interact with their vehicles. By transforming the Apple Watch into a digital key, Tesla aims to enhance the user experience, cutting the tether to the iPhone and allowing more freedom. As noted, the app was discovered through hidden code within Tesla’s iPhone app, suggesting a strategic move towards integrating wearable technology more deeply into everyday car usage[1].
Behind the Technology: How It Works
The core functionality of the Apple Watch app revolves around Bluetooth technology, enabling communication with the vehicle when in close proximity. The app will allow users to perform commands offline, such as locking and unlocking, as long as they are within Bluetooth range of the car, which provides a layer of convenience currently unavailable with third-party solutions[2]. This development aligns with Tesla’s ongoing commitment to integrating advanced tech into their vehicles, following the trailblazing steps of making the iPhone a digital key.
Benefits and Limitations
While the new app promises a leap forward in user convenience, it is not without limitations. For instance, older models like the Tesla Model S from 2012 to 2020 and Model X from 2015 to 2020 will not support this digital key feature due to hardware constraints[3]. However, for supported models, this innovation eliminates the need to carry a physical key or depend on an iPhone, offering a streamlined, modern solution for Tesla owners.
Elon Musk and Tesla’s Vision
Elon Musk, Tesla’s CEO, based in Palo Alto, California, has been vocal about integrating more tech-savvy solutions into Tesla’s ecosystem. This move to create an Apple Watch app is a testament to Tesla’s ongoing efforts to stay at the forefront of technological innovation in the automotive industry[4]. By leveraging the Apple Watch’s capabilities, Tesla not only meets a growing demand among tech enthusiasts but also sets a precedent for future integrations with wearable technology.