Rivian has confirmed that the second generation of R1 vehicles will include ultra-wideband technology or UWB. Rivian owners can use car keys in Apple Wallet on iPhone and Apple Watch, or with select Google Pixel devices, to unlock and start up their vehicles seamlessly and even share keys digitally with family and friends.
UWB will not be coming to Gen 1 vehicles due to hardware limitations.
What is Ultra-Wideband Technology?
Ultra Wideband is a short-range, wireless communication protocol that uses radio waves like Bluetooth or Wi-Fi. However, it drastically improves similar radio technologies’ application possibilities and security levels. The technology is not new and is used mostly for advanced medical devices and other professional uses. But thanks to its recent addition to regular everyday devices like mobile phones and, not least, cars, it will now become more broadly available for end users. Uses vary, but car owners will primarily benefit from UWB’s highly accurate and precise localization capabilities.
