Samsung and Volkswagen just made traditional car keys obsolete
Car keys are so old school! Now, thanks to a new partnership between Samsung and Volkswagen, Galaxy owners can lock, unlock, and start their car using their phone.
Car keys are so old school! Now, thanks to a new partnership between Samsung and Volkswagen, Galaxy owners can lock, unlock, and start their car using a Digital Key stored in the Samsung Wallet app.
Samsung Digital Key can now start your Volkswagen
You can now use Digital Key in Samsung Wallet to unlock your car. Provided it's one of the latest ID models. | Image by Samsung
You can now lock, unlock, open the trunk, and start the engine of your Volkswagen directly from your Galaxy phone, but there are a couple of caveats. The feature is limited to select electric models and currently rolling out to 37 countries in Europe.
The Digital Key is an important step toward a seamless and connected vehicle experience for our customers. Our collaboration with Samsung has been highly constructive and built on a shared commitment to innovation, security, and ease of use. We are pleased to bring this solution to Volkswagen customers and look forward to building on this strong foundation to deliver even more convenient digital experiences in the future.
- Dr. Axel Heinrich, Senior Vice President System Architecture, Concepts & Innovation, Volkswagen Passenger Cars.
The feature uses NFC and UWB technology, and every Samsung phone equipped with it can turn into a smart key for your vehicle. Phones with UWB (Ultra-Wideband — a short-range wireless radio technology) such as the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra and more recent high-end models can unlock your Volkswagen without the need to pull out the phone from your pocket.
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Phones that don't have UWB use NFC and require a gentle tap with the phone on the door handle to open the car.
You can also share the Digital Key with your family and friends to allow them temporary access to your car if you decide to party and need a pickup by a designated driver, for instance.
Would you use your phone to unlock your car?
Supported Volkswagen models
One of the supported models, an homage to the classic Volkswagen van. | Image by Wikipedia
The list of supported Volkswagen models is not very long (you can find it below). We are talking exclusively about models from Volkswagen's ID electric range. These models must be fresh from the factory — produced after April 27, 2026, and running ID software 6.0.1 or newer.
Supported Models:
ID.Buzz
ID.Cross
ID.Polo
ID.3neo
ID.4
ID.5
ID.7
There are a bunch of useful safety features on board as well. If someone steals your Galaxy Phone, you can use Samsung Find to lock the phone or wipe the Digital Key. Samsung says that all digital keys are stored on the device and they're protected by Knox.
The system has passed a rigorous EAL6+ certification standard and complies with the UWB Car Connectivity Consortium (CCC) standard, meaning someone hacking your phone and stealing your car is highly unlikely.
Useful feature or a gimmick?
Some might find this feature a gimmick, but having a digital key on your phone can be a godsend. I can't remember how many times I would forget my car keys just to walk back to my apartment to get them.
So, if you're a proud owner of a new Volkswagen ID, you rock a Galaxy phone, and you live in Europe, your life has just become much easier. I know, these are a lot of "IFs."
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Mariyan, a tech enthusiast with a background in Nuclear Physics and Journalism, brings a unique perspective to PhoneArena. His childhood curiosity for gadgets evolved into a professional passion for technology, leading him to the role of Editor-in-Chief at PCWorld Bulgaria before joining PhoneArena. Mariyan's interests range from mainstream Android and iPhone debates to fringe technologies like graphene batteries and nanotechnology. Off-duty, he enjoys playing his electric guitar, practicing Japanese, and revisiting his love for video games and Haruki Murakami's works.
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