Hopefully can be an update. I also only carry my phone with a wallet on the back. Keys drive me crazy now.

 

I'll have to see if I can find it but I think read/saw somewhere that the Android system it uses will have phone as key capability. Might be an OTA.

 

I may have found what was tickling my memory. Here are articles mentioning Polestar (which uses Android Automotive OS like GM) having its own phone as key app. GM might need to have its own implementation.

Android Automotive OS review: Under the hood with Google’s car OS

AAOS nails the car platform fundamentals, but it needs more apps and features.

arstechnica.com

Polestar 2 gains phone-as-key feature via software update

Polestar 2 drivers can unlock the car simply by having their smartphone nearby

www.gearbrain.com

 

Ok, I may have actually found the answer. Was finally able to find the Owners Manual. Looks like Page 18 refers to the Digital Key, but looks like it will require maintaining an OnStar account. Which I am not sure how many months are included, but, I imagine this will be on the "Essential" plan that is more than $40/month for access without WiFi. Will definitely be interesting to see as this is table stakes. I could see paying $10/month for vehicle connectivity as other manufacturers like Rivian (beginning to charge for Premium Connectivity) and Tesla, especially since we will not have access to CarPlay or Android Auto.

I guess we will wait and see.

EDIT: Found the truck does come with 3 years of the Remote Access Plan (from my build sheet) which is $14.99/month normally, but that does not include in vehicle streaming for services which is included in the $24.99/month Connectivity plan. Hoping we will be able to add the connectivity plan for the extra $10/month. I don't mind paying for the connectivity plan, just not the remote access since the majority of other manufacturers include it in the purchase price (notice I do not say free).

for reference:
Owners Manual
Getting to know the Silverado EV
Essential Operating Information
Quick Start

 

Ok, I may have actually found the answer. Was finally able to find the Owners Manual. Looks like Page 18 refers to the Digital Key, but looks like it will require maintaining an OnStar account. Which I am not sure how many months are included, but, I imagine this will be on the "Essential" plan that is more than $40/month for access without WiFi. Will definitely be interesting to see as this is table stakes. I could see paying $10/month for vehicle connectivity as other manufacturers like Rivian (beginning to charge for Premium Connectivity) and Tesla, especially since we will not have access to CarPlay or Android Auto.

I guess we will wait and see.

EDIT: Found the truck does come with 3 years of the Remote Access Plan (from my build sheet) which is $14.99/month normally, but that does not include in vehicle streaming for services which is included in the $24.99/month Connectivity plan. Hoping we will be able to add the connectivity plan for the extra $10/month. I don't mind paying for the connectivity plan, just not the remote access since the majority of other manufacturers include it in the purchase price (notice I do not say free).

for reference:
Owners Manual
Getting to know the Silverado EV
Essential Operating Information
Quick Start

Good find. Not sure Digital Key is the same as what Polestar offers but it doesn't look like GM is offering a separate, free phone-as-a-key app. They want you to pay for the expensive subscription, which I most likely won't. I don't mind the key fob as I carry other keys on a key ring with it. The problem is, I already have another bulky key fob on the key ring.

iPhone users might be out of luck?

More on Google Built In/OnStar services in these links.

Site Maintenance

Site Maintenance

There is a Connected Vehicle plan not shown in the second link. Cheapest plan (other than the Remote Access Plan you mention). Says remote vehicle access but doesn't mention Digital Key. I love how they offer an annual payment but don't give you a discount.

Site Maintenance

 

Part of the nonsense polarization of things, when GM made their bed with Google, Google things will be a part of GM ownership. I don’t care for Google things.

 

Site Maintenance

GM's EVs are getting this early. You can find mention of it on the Window Sticker.

 

GM's EVs are getting this early. You can find mention of it on the Window Sticker.

My 2017 Bolt had that service free until recently, so for about six years. I didn't use it much, main thing that was useful was to check the SOC remotely, but it takes just long enough to connect and get that information I didn't bother with it much (it takes under a minute usually).

Losing the service just means that my clock got out of whack as it was set to update automatically. I just put in manual and corrected the time zone.

Otherwise give me a fob any day. Reliable, always works, gives instant remote functionality for locking doors and such without fiddling with the stupid phone. A phone or a card is just a nice backup for me.

 

The Honda Prologue and Acura ZDX have them enabled and GM will have it shortly.

You'll know it's active once GM starts providing people with the RFID Credit Card sized passive key in case your phone is ever dead.

 

so, I have been obsessed with looking into this further. It is difficult to determine if it will actually be included based on the Hummer EV and Lyriq forums. Both state it is in the user manual, but is still not available. I am concerned now as I have really gotten used to not carrying a key fob. First world problems, but really, Hyundai/Kia/Rivian/Ford/BMW/Tesla/others all have this capability.

How is GM still trying to implement this?

 

so, I have been obsessed with looking into this further. It is difficult to determine if it will actually be included based on the Hummer EV and Lyriq forums. Both state it is in the user manual, but is still not available. I am concerned now as I have really gotten used to not carrying a key fob. First world problems, but really, Hyundai/Kia/Rivian/Ford/BMW/Tesla/others all have this capability.

How is GM still trying to implement this?

They are using NFC for communication and why it currently will only support iPhones at the start and there are RFID pads on the door where you tap the card to unlock the door and start the vehicle if your phone/key is dead.

Hummer and DE/23 Lyriq do not have the RFID pads on the doors

 

I get how it works, but Android phones have NFC as well, so not sure why it will only be iPhones. Both Rivian and Tesla provide key cards with their vehicles for Valet, etc, but my Ford only provides a Key Fob and Phone.

I am not sure what them providing these cards has to do with them enabling the functionality that shows in the owners manual. These are 2 different subjects. I for one take accountability if my phone is dead, but NFC on most newer phones work even f the phone is dead.

I am just trying to figure out if Phone as a Key will be available when these trucks are delivered.

 

Wait I'm an a dunce... I don't know why I kept saying NFC this whole time... What I was actually trying to say was UWB. UWB (Ultra Wide Band communication) is right now only on flagship phones and all modern iphones have UWB capabilities.

 

Hold on it takes the remote connect app a minute to connect to the car? That’s like my wife’s Toyota app, really slow. My customer with a bolt couldn’t get his to connect and I didn’t think anything of it, but if it takes a minute to connect the remote app that is going to be rough. I regularly pop the phone out of my pocket and open the trunk as I’m walking towards the Tesla for example, Tesla connects almost instantly or 10 seconds at most. Check charge and sentry cams at will, no waiting.

I’m also confused about the phone key feature. The Tesla comes with RFID key cards that you touch to the door pillar and place behind the cup holders to drive. I’ve never used them, the phone key is proximity like a modern key fob, when you get to the car the door unlocks when you pull and you just start driving. Is this how the GM implementation works? Really nice for example my wife doesn’t have to grab separate keys to move or drive my car, she just hops in and it’s already adjusted the seat and mirrors for her. That part is important because when I come back the seat is adjusted for me, I can’t get in her car until I open the door and hit the seat memory waiting 20 seconds. I also have a first world issue with going back at all, especially the app connecting instantly.

 

Ford/Rivian/Tesla use BlueTooth for some of the connectivity which is why it works at a distance. I am not sure of GMs overall implementation. If GM is only using the NFC component of the phone, you would have to actually pull the phone out of your pocket to use it as a key. Highly concerning. I would like NFC in the event of the phone dying, but not otherwise.

Tesla is moving to Ultra WideBand connectivity with their newer cars. This is the tech used on AirTags, and seems to be currently unique to iPhones, but do not quote me on that. I believe it was activated for Tesla 2024.8 builds and beyond. I am stuck with 2024.3.25 on my Model S refresh, the model Y got 2024.20 last night, but the car is not capable of UWB.

 

Yeah I think the new one going to be better. There are a couple times a year I have to pull the phone out and open Tesla app because car didn’t see me or connect. The remote connect uses cell signal and works anywhere, Tesla is much faster then the Toyota which is almost useless it takes so long, I use it to check charge in the house but almost never for locks or precooling. With the Tesla I’m always clicking on the AC as I’m getting ready to go out the door or if I’m on a roof and someone needs tools from my trunk can open it remotely, works in seconds.

 

Definitely different experience on my F150, it is hit and miss overall. Many times it does not see the phone, or it will finally open the doors with the phone key, but then the truck will not start. I think it more has to do with the legacy tech in the F150 as it was not built from the ground up to have these features. My understanding is the ICE version of the truck does not have a phone as key, just remote functionality similar to Toyota.

 

Most major brand Android phones had NFC prior to iPhones, but all good.

But, what I would say, in the near term, people purchasing a $97k truck are most likely going to have a modern phone, but not sure GM is using NFC for this product overall as NFC requires a touch (or close to a touch). In the manual, they describe the Digital Key working similar to the key fob, so not thinking they are using NFC. they may use it as a secondary based function if the phone is dead.

 

Most major brand Android phones had NFC prior to iPhones, but all good.

But, what I would say, in the near term, people purchasing a $97k truck are most likely going to have a modern phone, but not sure GM is using NFC for this product overall as NFC requires a touch (or close to a touch). In the manual, they describe the Digital Key working similar to the key fob, so not thinking they are using NFC. they may use it as a secondary based function if the phone is dead.

may want to reread what I said. I misspoke when I said NFC, I was actually talking about UWB.

 

UWB is definitely very different than NFC, and would make more sense. Would give nearly instant access at bluetooth ranges. Looking forward to seeing if it will actually work.

 

Will it have driver profiles for settings depending on the phone used?

 

In the owners manual, there is a reference to up to 8 driver numbers associated with remote keys, but that looks to be directly referencing only seat/mirror/steering wheel memory. Based on the fact that there are not 8 recall buttons, it would assume this is easily tracked in software and could be associated with all settings.

Tesla is the only manufacturer that I have seen that allows the profile to manage more than just these types of settings. With the lack of carplay/AA, this is a really handy feature. We had this issue with our Rivian where it was only using one account for Spotify. Makes music and other services a bit of a hassle to manage with a shared account.

 

I've only had my 4wt for a couple weeks but I just leave the keys in the truck all the time. I use the app to lock and unlock it when I am somewhere. The problem as mentioned above is how long the app takes to talk to the truck, minimum of 30 seconds so I just do it as I am walking into a store or wherever. On my Mach E there is a door key code which is so much more handy because I also hate carrying keys around.

 

Leaving keys / fob in the car doesn't sound safe to me. Lots of car break-ins in the urban areas around me. Also, the remote app - MyChevy App - doesn't work when in a cell hole. There are a lot of suburban cell holes around my area including my house in a subdivision in town. Also, it won't work in the remote areas where we travel for camping and recreation.

I am really hoping we get phone-as-key as I like to just carry a phone, and a few cards most of the time.

 

You set up Trusted Device in your MyChevy app and link your vehicle profile.
Once it detects your phone it will switch to your vehicle profile.

 

do we know if this will allow for the profile to also control things like logged in Spotify account and other settings? Would be good to see the list of settings it manages.

 

I'm a little late to the party, but I have the RST in-hand. Whatever GM refers to as a "phone key" does not work anything like Tesla. You can configure what GM or Android call a "trusted device" and that device can power the car on, but any user profile with a trusted devices is required to be a PIN or password-protected user profile.

The end result is that the experience is busted at best, and not nearly as friendly as Tesla's implementation.

In order to get a "walk up to the truck, get in and get going" kind of vibe, you have to carry a key fob. Which seems silly in this day and age.

I am coming from Model X, and Tesla absolutely nailed the "phone key" thing.

There also seems to be some discrepancy between the older style "memory seat" user configurations associated with the fob and the in-built Android user profiles which control some of the car's functions. I say this only because I've had the mirrors and the seat move several times despite only having one fob on my person when approaching the vehicle. But then I press the "seat 1" button on the door and everything moves back to where I had it, even though I have verified that the fob I am carrying is associated with "seat 1."

Haven't gotten to the bottom of that one yet, but the total "phone key" experience is not good. Hopefully it's the kind of thing that can be made better with future software updates, and the vehicle already has all the hardware (bluetooth, UWB) that it needs for this stuff to work well.

 

Haven't gotten to the bottom of that one yet, but the total "phone key" experience is not good. Hopefully it's the kind of thing that can be made better with future software updates, and the vehicle already has all the hardware (bluetooth, UWB) that it needs for this stuff to work well.

GM is opening a technology office in Silicon Valley to create a team to better their software and tech. Fingers crossed!

 

Should be able to fix that with an update

 

I wish they would!

It's interesting to me though, because it isn't like GM hasn't had the chance to study the fobless experience with other vehicles. I appreciate that they offer the option to PIN-protect a user profile, but requiring it is downright silly, especially when paired with other vehicle behaviors.

For example, the truck turns off when the driver door is opened. It just turns off. So if I stop to check the mail, I have to climb back into the car and input my PIN again to continue traversing my driveway. It's so obnoxious I turned off the trusted device thing after one day.

GM should have done better on day one, in my opinion. They've been shown the way by many, especially Tesla.

Maybe I'm just salty because I have to carry a fob again, but I feel like I shouldn't have to. I want to walk up to the truck with my phone in my pocket, have it unlock and turn on and set itself to my driver profile (with a setting to prefer my phone over others as this is my primary vehicle,) and I want it to turn off and lock itself after I walk some distance away, not just when the driver door is opened.

 

I don’t expect that they will fix it, but they should be able to. Hopefully you bought the truck for range and not a Tesla software experience. It certainly would frustrate me having gotten used to Tesla.

 

The range was a big part of the purchase decision, as were the aesthetics. I know better than to expect GM to do great with software. Their software has been absolute shit for decades. The navigation system in my 2007 Tahoe looked and felt like it was created by a fifth grader in 1996.

I know that haven't historically been good at providing updates, but they absolutely must get better at it for their own sake. Going forward, this kind of stuff will be a deal breaker. And while it is far, far too soon for me to make the bold statement I'm about to make, this sort of crappy oversight is exactly why people like me will stop buying GM products.

I damn near didn't buy it because of CarPlay. It's still too soon for me to say whether I regret that or not. But that paired with this other stuff I'm already experiencing a few days into ownership does not bode well for future purchase decisions.

 

Well reasoned. I hope they are making the changes.

 

I only have my phone and small magnetic card/cash wallet on the phone. I won’t be going back to key fobs.

 

Using the phone app, does a Tesla unlock immediately when you approach it?

 

That’s correct. It works very well. I only carry their “credit card key” because I travel a lot, and need it for valet.

 

Yes and adjust all settings, climate, seat, mirrors, loads my Apple music with the song I left it, gps is already programmed with what I selected on my phone in the office. When my wife drives it with her phone all the settings change for her, including loading her radio presets and podcasts. All you have to do is shift to drive and go, click one more time and it will drive itself starting from my driveway to parking at destination.

 

I do love that kind of automation.