Gurugram: Hyundai Motor India Limited (HMIL) has revealed a fascinating shift in customer behaviour: one in three Hyundai owners are choosing to ditch the traditional key fob in favour of the Digital Key – because apparently, losing your phone is easier than losing your car keys.
Key Stats (Pun Intended)
- 33% of customers with the feature have enrolled for Digital Key.
- 68% of users are on iOS devices, while 32% proudly wave the Android flag.
- 35% of them are sharing digital access with family and friends – finally proving that cars can be as shareable as Netflix passwords (though with fewer arguments).
A Feature That Clicks
Launched in September 2024 with the Hyundai ALCAZAR and extended to the CRETA Electric in January 2025, the Digital Key has quickly become the talk of India’s parking lots. Powered by NFC, it lets users lock, unlock, and even start their car by simply tapping their smartphone, smartwatch, or NFC card. No more patting down your pockets in panic – unless you’ve lost your phone, in which case, good luck.
Why Customers Love It
- Tap to Unlock: Phone or watch on door handle = magic.
- Tap to Start: Place device on wireless pad = vroom.
- Tap to Share: Give digital access to family or friends = instant popularity.
Hyundai also allows linking up to 7 devices at once, which means your entire family can fight over who drives without ever touching the physical key.
Voices from the Top
Unsoo Kim, Managing Director – HMIL, said:
“Hyundai pioneered connected car tech in India back in 2019. The response to the Digital Key confirms that our customers love tech that adds genuine value. Plus, it’s far cooler to unlock your car with a smartwatch than jingling keys like it’s still the ’90s.”
The Road Ahead
As Hyundai continues shaping the tech-driven mobility landscape, the Digital Key is set to become more widely available across models. Which means one day, the biggest parental threat may change from “I’ll take your car keys away” to “I’ll revoke your Digital Key access.”
