Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer BYD has introduced a new feature that allows select Samsung Galaxy smartwatches to function as digital car keys. This is the first official integration of its kind in China and shows BYD’s growing focus on seamless, connected vehicle access, even through non-local devices.
NFC-Based Keyless Entry
The system uses NFC (Near Field Communication), the same technology that powers tap-to-pay systems. A compatible Galaxy Watch can unlock a BYD vehicle by simply tapping it on a designated area of the car door. According to BYD, the process takes approximately one second.
Supported Devices
The digital key feature is available for Samsung’s latest smartwatch models, including the Galaxy Watch 7, Watch 8, Watch 8 Classic, and the Galaxy Watch Ultra. It is not compatible with older devices or watches that lack NFC hardware.
How to Set It Up
To activate the feature, users must own a compatible BYD electric vehicle and a supported Samsung smartwatch running the latest Wear OS. Two apps are required: the Samsung Smart Card App (version 5.1.38 or newer) and the BYD Auto App (version 9.3.0 or above). Once installed, users can follow on-screen instructions to generate and activate their digital car key.
The system also allows secure digital key sharing. Users can send access to family members or trusted individuals via the app, providing an additional layer of flexibility.
