Toyota has invented a Bluetooth-enabled device called the Smart Key Box that allows users to unlock and start their car's engine simply by using their smartphone.
The device is a pilot and is intended more for the car-sharing market. Imagine a car owner who wants to lend his car for a fee.
He can install the Smart Key Box on his car's dashboard without the need to make any other modifications.
The renter sends a code via an app to gain access to the device. When the renter's smartphone is near the vehicle, the codes are validated via Bluetooth, a process similar to smart car keys.
The time and period that the user can access the Smart Key Box is set and managed by Toyota, which is based on the rental time of the vehicle.
Toyota plans to test this new technology next year, in a limited pilot in San Francisco, in partnership with a peer-to-peer car-sharing service called Getaround. And according to Rauters, last week, Getaround received a $10 million investment from a fund controlled by Toyota.
The fund mainly spends money on artificial intelligence and robotics, but the investment in Getaround is a sign that Toyota is interested in expanding into the car-sharing market.
As for the pilot test, only people who own the new Prius or any Lexus model can participate in it.
