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Phone as a Key/Digital Key

19K views 95 replies 19 participants last post by  gt2690b  
#1 ·
I have confirmation my truck is built, just waiting on shipping. I have been driving an F150 Lightning for 2 years now, I have a Tesla Model Y and S, and had a Rivian R1S (RIP Feb 2024).

As I watched the Media Drives, I was increasingly excited to hear about the no push button to start the vehicle, just get in, press the brake, select a gear and go. Awesome, welcome to the party. Sounds awesome, until I was reading the quick-start guides for the Silverado EV. It definitely looks like the key fob is required. I really just assumed the truck would have a phone as a key or Digital Key, but I cannot find any reference to that. Will be VERY disappointing to have to carry a key with me when all I have needed is my phone for the last 3+ years.

Anyone seeing anything different? I am hoping I am just missing it.
 
#52 ·
The door handles on the Y have to be physically deployed by the driver unlike the Model S and Lucid. As I recall now, my dad’s Model S has the same delay. Tesla and Lucid use the same type of Bluetooth protocol. What I like the most about the Lucid is the driving dynamics, interior materials and design, the general esthetics, range and charging speed. It also engages park automatically and locks but that doesn’t factor much in my choice of vehicles. Some BMW cars have been engaging park if you tried to drive with the seatbelt unbuckled or hood open for about 15 years.
 
#53 ·
I was talking about the phone key, which I take for granted since it works unless my phone is dead!! The best part of the Model Y in general is it cost 45k a year and a half ago when I bought it, I’ve since put 24k miles on it almost entirely solar charged at 4 miles per kWh. Saved me a bundle, and somehow I can still fit a stack of solar panels in the back with all my tools underneath.
 
#62 · (Edited)
Phone as a Key isn't enabled yet and it uses UWB. As for how the App communicates with the vehicle. It communicates via Wifi/Cellular connection.
App>Wifi-Cell>GM Server>Vehicle Wifi-cell>Vehicle and reverse

App responsiveness on Ultium vehicles is sluggish and GM is aware and working on improvements. They already introduced some for Lyriq.

There are dozens of new features in the App waiting to be enabled by a flip of a switch on the GM Mothership side but not yet.
 
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#63 ·
Phone as a Key isn't enabled yet and it uses UWB.
That's really interesting. This makes perfect sense given UWB is the perfect balance between Bluetooth and NFC, but in practice, this is only limited to premium phones. I suppose the assumption is that majority of people either have Apple iPhones or Samsung Galaxy S series. There's others, but most midrange and budget phones are going to be excluded.
 
#74 ·
Set or change a screen lock
  1. On your car display, open your profile settings.
  2. Tap Screen lock.
  3. Choose None, PIN, or Pattern.
  4. Follow the on-screen instructions to set or change your screen lock.
 
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#75 ·
Here is test message to bring up the phone as key subject back to life and see if GM listened to their customers and improve feature and similar to Tesla, and lots of other EV manufacturers out there. FYI, VW ID.x are not selling in China as their software still sucks… GM are you listening?
folks please add your comments and what improvements has been made by gm as we go to 2025.
 
#77 ·
Hopefully soon next year. First world problem, but I've been pretty irate now that the weather isn't nice about finding myself trying to open a locked door without my key or the option of a keypad on the door. Not going to lie, had a few curses under my breath, lol. BTW, I know there's the phone app. However, by the time I recognize the door is locked. Pull out the phone, unlock it, pull up the app, hold the unlock key, wait for the signal to reach the truck; I'd be in the truck in half the time with the keypad.

At least offer the keypad. I asked if the current keypad accessory that works with the ICE version would work here at my dealer service department, and I was told it wouldn't. I used that keypad multiple times a day when I had the Ford.
 
#78 ·
phone as a key is so convenient, walk away lock/shut down, an app that is actually responsive and useful would also be nice. Another idotic quirk is when you hit the button to leave vehicle on, and close the door, you cant just hit the door handle button to lock the vehicle, you have to get the key out and hit the fob lock button. Truck should be smart enough to know if i request it to stay on, to lock it upon exit, or at the very least, let me lock it via the handle button.
 
#84 ·
did you look through all the passive key settings in the vehicle.

But yeah I don't think they want you to lock the keys in the vehicle if the motor/engine is on. Only when you remove the keys or lock from the inside do the doors lock.
 
#91 ·
I just got bit by this topic. On occasion I take a chance of locking my items, including the phone, in the truck using my Apple watch while I work out. I leave it on the steering column so it has clear view of my watch when I try to open. I did it again today, only this time it didn't open and glitched out like it does half the time. The watch stuck in a mode where it shows you like it's sending the signal to unlock, but nothing happens.

Anyway; baby screaming and my wife rolled her eyes at me and again reiterated how much she hates new technology; I had to call OnStar and unlock. I tried restarting my watch and everything, very annoying.

On the positive side, I'd just drawn up the email for Mary Barra (thanks @flyinglow) and needed to review the draft. Needless to say, I sent that puppy out as soon as I got home. Asked about PAAK, side view camera while trailering, and lamented the lack of repair parts available along with lack of ETA on future availability. We'll see what they say.
 
#94 ·
Drove a dump truck some while working my way through college and learned to depend on the side rearview mirrors. It's a habit continues to this day. I reverse into our carport using the mirrors each time I park at home and haven't really noticed a problem with field of view in the side mirrors on my SEV. I have become somewhat dependent on the blind spot indicator lights in the side mirrors when on the highway.