Seat unveils smartphone-based digital key and parking app at MWC 2016
Seat, in partnership with Samsung and SAP, introduced a digital key and integrated parking app at Mobile World Congress 2016, aiming to expand connected car features for its users.
Seat presented new connected car features at the 2016 Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, announcing an expanded partnership with Samsung and SAP to deliver a smarter digital key and integrated parking app for its vehicles. The move brings Seat in line with rivals such as Volvo, which had already revealed plans for a shareable digital key.
The new digital key system, shown as a future feature for Seat models, enables owners to authorise other users to access the car remotely, removing the need to physically hand over a key. This function is designed to work even if both parties are in different locations. The company said this would suit car sharing and multi-driver households, and further development could allow owners to set restrictions such as maximum speed or driving mode for additional users.
Seat first partnered with Samsung in 2015 to bring smartphone connectivity features to its cars, including remote locking, unlocking, and climate control. The 2016 announcement brings SAP into the collaboration, focusing on secure authorisation and payment services. The companies demonstrated the new technology as part of their joint showcase at MWC.
Digital key: from remote access to driver management
The digital key builds on existing smartphone-based controls, which already let users lock and unlock doors, start the air conditioning, and open or close windows. The next generation aims to let owners send access rights to another person’s phone, allowing that user to unlock and drive the car without a physical key. Seat said this could be done securely over the internet, and plans to add the ability to configure which features or driving modes are available to each user.
This approach mirrors developments elsewhere in the Volkswagen Group, with brands such as Audi and Skoda also exploring digital key technology. Volvo had previously announced a similar digital key system, underlining a wider industry push toward smartphone-based vehicle access.
Parking app integrates reservation and payment
Alongside the digital key, Seat, Samsung and SAP demonstrated a parking app that lets drivers reserve a space, navigate to the location, and pay for parking without leaving the car. The app uses fingerprint recognition for authentication and is designed to work with Samsung Pay, which was expected to launch in Europe following its rollout in South Korea and the US.
- Reserve a parking space from any location via smartphone.
- Navigate directly to the reserved spot.
- Automatic gate access on arrival.
- Payment processed through the app after leaving the car park.
The companies said the app would use SAP’s secure payment infrastructure, and that in future, similar services could be integrated into more Seat models. The aim is to simplify urban driving and reduce friction for drivers looking for parking in busy cities.
Next steps for Seat’s connected car technology
Seat did not confirm when the digital key and parking app would enter series production, but both were presented as part of the company’s strategy to expand digital services. The focus remains on improving convenience and security for owners, while preparing for wider adoption of car sharing and remote access features. As more manufacturers invest in connected car ecosystems, smartphone-based access and integrated services are set to become standard across new models.
