Volvo may ditch card keys for EX30/EX90 after complaints
Volvo rethinks EX30 and EX90 keys: from cards to phone app
Volvo may ditch card keys for EX30/EX90 after complaints
Volvo considers dropping card-style keys on EX30 and EX90 after owner complaints, shifting to phone app access. Feedback may drive OTA updates to improve ease
2025-10-07T12:46:06+03:00
2025-10-07T12:46:06+03:00
2025-10-07T12:46:06+03:00
Volvo is considering dropping the credit card–style keys used in the EX30 and EX90 after a wave of owner complaints. The setup, first introduced in 2024, relied on a smartphone and a plastic card to unlock and start the car, but many users found it awkward and slow.According to Volvo Australia head Stephen Connor, the brand aims to make its mobile app the main way to access the vehicle, keeping the card as a fallback. He noted that the company is learning and adapting, and would revisit the approach if customer feedback remains negative. The goal sounds reasonable, though expectations for seamless phone access in a modern EV are understandably high.To start an EX30 or EX90, the card has to be tapped on the door handle and then placed on the wireless charging area—an extra step that frustrated many drivers, especially families. The Volvo app has also drawn criticism for glitches and freezes. In everyday use, that two-step card routine can undermine the promise of straightforward, keyless convenience.Volvo says it will take the feedback on board and, if necessary, roll out changes via over-the-air (OTA) updates, without requiring a service visit. The manufacturer acknowledges that not every generation of customers is ready to go fully digital with keys, yet that is the direction it is backing for the future. The path is clear; the real test will be how smoothly the experience evolves from here.
Volvo, Volvo EX30, Volvo EX90, card-style key, key card, digital key, phone app access, keyless entry, app glitches, OTA updates, EV, owner complaints, Volvo Australia, Stephen Connor
2025
Michael Powers
news
Volvo rethinks EX30 and EX90 keys: from cards to phone app
Volvo considers dropping card-style keys on EX30 and EX90 after owner complaints, shifting to phone app access. Feedback may drive OTA updates to improve ease
Michael Powers, Editor
Volvo is considering dropping the credit card–style keys used in the EX30 and EX90 after a wave of owner complaints. The setup, first introduced in 2024, relied on a smartphone and a plastic card to unlock and start the car, but many users found it awkward and slow.
According to Volvo Australia head Stephen Connor, the brand aims to make its mobile app the main way to access the vehicle, keeping the card as a fallback. He noted that the company is learning and adapting, and would revisit the approach if customer feedback remains negative. The goal sounds reasonable, though expectations for seamless phone access in a modern EV are understandably high.
To start an EX30 or EX90, the card has to be tapped on the door handle and then placed on the wireless charging area—an extra step that frustrated many drivers, especially families. The Volvo app has also drawn criticism for glitches and freezes. In everyday use, that two-step card routine can undermine the promise of straightforward, keyless convenience.
Volvo says it will take the feedback on board and, if necessary, roll out changes via over-the-air (OTA) updates, without requiring a service visit. The manufacturer acknowledges that not every generation of customers is ready to go fully digital with keys, yet that is the direction it is backing for the future. The path is clear; the real test will be how smoothly the experience evolves from here.
