Chinese smartphone makers Oppo and Vivo have announced a partnership with NIO, the electric vehicle (EV) maker, to adapt their smartphones into car keys for NIO’s vehicles. NIO owners can now use their Oppo or Vivo smartphones as senseless car keys by completing the necessary settings.
Oppo users can add digital car keys to their phone’s wallet app, which will unlock the doors automatically when the phone is close to the car. Once the driver enters the car, they can activate the driving mode directly. After leaving the car with their phone, the vehicle will automatically lock, eliminating the need for a physical car key.
The supported Oppo models include the Find N2 series, Find X5 series, Reno9 series, and OnePlus Ace series, while the NIO models include ET5, ET7, ES7, and EC7. The feature is in development for more Oppo smartphones and NIO models.
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Similarly, Vivo users can add their digital car keys to their phone’s wallet app, and the doors will unlock automatically when the phone is close to the car. Vivo’s adapted models include the Vivo X series, Vivo S series, iQOO flagship series, iQOO Neo series, iQOO Z series, and NEX series devices, while the NIO models currently supported are the same as the ones for Oppo.
While NIO is partnering with smartphone giants to turn their devices into car keys, the EV maker is also developing its own smartphones. NIO founder, chairman, and CEO William Li confirmed last year that the company would venture into phone making, with the aim of meeting the needs of users who want a phone that connects better with cars. Li stated that the NIO phone is not designed to compete with established smartphone brands, but to achieve the goal of half of NIO car owners buying NIO phones.
