BMW demonstrates connectivity at Mobile World Congress

The next steps on the road to digital and intelligent connectivity between the driver and vehicle will be presented by BMW Group at the Mobile World Congress (MWC) in Barcelona from February 26 to March 1.

Its outdoor stand features a BMW i3 in action as part of a showcase demonstrating Level 5 autonomous driving is about to become reality.

A new technological approach to full connectivity between smartphones and vehicles will also be displayed. The eSIM will soon allow the vehicle to be incorporated into the user’s mobile phone contract, paving the way for a range of functions.

Another handy digital service will be introduced in 2018 to further facilitate seamless connectivity. The BMW digital key will allow a BMW to be unlocked using a smartphone. Up to five digital key copies can be shared with other users.

Customers can already use digital and personalised services from a wide variety of sources while planning their trip – including smartphones, Google Assistant, Apple Watches and Amazon Alexa – before they get into their BMW.

Once inside the vehicle, the seamless connectivity continues in the form of features such as access to email accounts (Microsoft 360), integration of Skype for Business and the ability to import a destination address from a smartphone straight into the car’s navigation system.

The next logical step will see smartphones turn into car keys.

The digital key allows the vehicle to be unlocked and locked again with just a smartphone. Once in the car, the engine can be started with the help of the wireless charging pad.
Digital services will form the basis for greater personalisation and flexibility in every respect, BMW says.

When it is first available from July, the digital key will be accessible from smartphones via BMW Connected, and will initially be available for all Samsung smartphones (with NFC capability).

Later, a software upgrade will enable the over-the-air transfer of new functions and digital services to the user’s vehicle.

The autonomous driving showcase in Barcelona has a BMW i3 (with nobody aboard) summoned via a smartphone app by a show visitor to pick them up. The vehicle can be sent to a selected pickup point, with the smartphone used for access authorisation once it arrives.

The prototype exterior display even greets the show visitor by name and makes it possible to unlock the car doors by touch control, an alternative to using the smartphone app.

A rear seat entertainment system with a prototype design initiates the journey. The destination is transferred to the vehicle beforehand via the smartphone app.

The journey can only begin once all occupants have fastened their seat belts. As no further intervention is required throughout the fully automated journey, show visitors can spend their time as they please or explore the entertainment system, which can also be used to initiate stops on the way.

Once the destination has been reached, the show visitor locks the car using the exterior display, and it then parks itself automatically.