Tesla upgrades keyless entry system to use ultra-wideband technology to estimate vehicle parking location

According to foreign media reports, Tesla is improving its keyless entry system that it first launched in 2017. This ultra-wideband technology (UWB) allows users to locate the vehicle to prevent vehicle theft, allowing car owners to easily locate the vehicle and open the door with their mobile phones without carrying keys.

UWB technology is similar to Bluetooth or Wi-Fi technology, using radio waves to communicate between devices. According to documents submitted by Tesla to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), this technology can let users know how far away the vehicle is parked. The document reads: "The main purpose of UWB ranging equipment is to estimate the distance, which becomes the upper limit of the actual distance between the sender and the receiver."

Tesla Logo (Image source: Tesla)

In addition, UWB technology also has tracking functions to prevent vehicle theft, because Tesla's keyless entry system can make the vehicle easier to steal by confusing the signal. UWB also operates at a higher frequency, is more accurate, and requires less energy than Bluetooth or Wi-Fi.

According to foreign media reports, in September last year, Tesla submitted documents to the Federal Communications Commission that included six new products, at least two of which directly included UWB technology. A Tesla spokesperson did not immediately respond to the document, and the document has now been removed.

Tesla first ditched the car key in 2017 along with the old-style key on the Model 3 Tesla app, which lets owners use their phones as car keys.

Other car companies have followed suit, using Bluetooth technology to implement keyless entry systems. Some Lincoln models also use keyless entry systems, allowing users to open the door handle with just their phone. Several other companies are also considering adopting UWB technology. In January this year, BMW announced plans to upgrade its digital key to a more secure version that relies on UWB technology.