Mobile key question

[Leafnut]

So the mobile key is spotty and some have it worse than others. Regardless, it's a known problem to access entry to our cars. It's unacceptable for a car of this quality to have entry problems.
My questions are: is Lucid actively trying to fix it? Is this a hardware issue that is unsolvable via updates.and will require retrofit parts? Has Lucid made any statements regarding a potential fix for earlier models?
While I love the car, I'm always amazed that when I walk through my garage to do something other than drive my Air, the car unlocks without fail. However, the amount of times it doesn't work as I've stood at my driver's door trying to open it is downright sadistic. How does Lucid know my intentions?

 

[knewman]

From what I've read, it's a hardware/patent licensing issue. Highly unlikely that Lucid will do any sort of retrofitting to existing cars.

I'm hopeful for the future since it would seem they've adopted a more traditional system in the Gravity. Maybe they'll change out the system in a future MY.

 

[borski]

My questions are: is Lucid actively trying to fix it?

We don’t know.

Is this a hardware issue that is unsolvable via updates.and will require retrofit parts?

We don’t know.

Has Lucid made any statements regarding a potential fix for earlier models?

No.

 

[Science]

Many of us here have been asking for a statement for months, if not years. A statement is needed because people trying to be helpful post all kinds of "fixes" that don't work (turn of wi-fi, wrap the fob in aluminum foil, walk to the back, jiggle then try again). Helping to rid us of time-wasting anecdotes would seem only reasonable.

 

[Bobby]

Many of us here have been asking for a statement for months, if not years. A statement is needed because people trying to be helpful post all kinds of "fixes" that don't work (turn of wi-fi, wrap the fob in aluminum foil, walk to the back, jiggle then try again). Helping to rid us of time-wasting anecdotes would seem only reasonable.

They have done so.

 

[Science]

They have done so.

That's good and thank you. Can you help us find the statement from Lucid?

 

[Bobby]

That's good and thank you. Can you help us find the statement from Lucid?

I stood right next to Peter Rawlinson when he himself discussed this situation publicly. As I've said here before, he divulged that they were locked into a vendor deal for this key and unlocking system and they were also disappointed with the performance. Unfortunately, they do not currently have a way out of it. Now, I'm no lawyer, and I didn't vet the information or even past judgment on it. I'm just passing along what I personally heard him say.

I have also personally spoken with several Lucid executives who are also very aware of this situation and want to change it. But, it is currently not changeable.

 

[HC_79]

I stood right next to Peter Rawlinson when he himself discussed this situation publicly. As I've said here before, he divulged that they were locked into a vendor deal for this key and unlocking system and they were also disappointed with the performance. Unfortunately, they do not currently have a way out of it. Now, I'm no lawyer, and I didn't vet the information or even past judgment on it. I'm just passing along what I personally heard him say.

I have also personally spoken with several Lucid executives who are also very aware of this situation and want to change it. But, it is currently not changeable.

If the contract is tied to the life of the model then maybe the Lucid Aero can be launched. Looks very similar to the Air in almost every way but in this model the key just magically works for some reason

 

[Science]

I stood right next to Peter Rawlinson when he himself discussed this situation publicly. As I've said here before, he divulged that they were locked into a vendor deal for this key and unlocking system and they were also disappointed with the performance. Unfortunately, they do not currently have a way out of it. Now, I'm no lawyer, and I didn't vet the information or even past judgment on it. I'm just passing along what I personally heard him say.

I have also personally spoken with several Lucid executives who are also very aware of this situation and want to change it. But, it is currently not changeable.

Understood and thank you very much.

While we live with this, can we still expect a statement that helps us by stating, for example, wrapping the fob in aluminum foil or any other faraday cage, turning off wi-fi, trying to open rear doors first, will not make unlocking the doors more user-friendly.

I've been a major griper over this issue and now that I finally understand that it's a contract problem, I, for one, am gong to drop it. But, a statement about the useless work-arounds would still be welcome.

 

[DeaneG]

..I've been a major griper over this issue and now that I finally understand that it's a contract problem, I, for one, am gong to drop it. But, a statement about the useless work-arounds would still be welcome.

Only a small percentage of Lucid owners would ever be aware of such a statement, and it would have a short lifetime. Also, Lucid can't issue continually statements about every new hare-brained "workaround".

This forum, as a proxy for Lucid owners in general, has a new batch of "this is unacceptable" owner complaints every two weeks or so. Often a statement is demanded from Lucid management (here in the forum again, usually not from Lucid). Then each new user figures out a mode that works for them, and move on.

 

[Steve181]

The contract and and seeming gag oder must come from the key manufacturer Pektron. I wrote to them once, but got no answer. A group effort might help.

 

[L-Dude]

After reading waaay too many posts about this, I am under the impression that the best path is to use either the FOB or the mobile key, but not both. Is this generally correct (but not 100% applicable)?

 

[DeaneG]

After reading waaay too many posts about this, I am under the impression that the best path is to use either the FOB or the mobile key, but not both. Is this generally correct (but not 100% applicable)?

Right! My own path has been to use one for a few months, then the other, to see which works out better for my use case.
My verdict: the fob is more reliable (for me), but the mobile key is more convenient. FWIW I used mobile key on my Model 3 but don't remember it much.
With the fob, I can leave passive lock and unlock turned on.
With the mobile key, I have to turn off passive unlock or the car will be constantly jittery when I'm working in the garage.

 

[Bobby]

Right! My own path has been to use one for a few months, then the other, to see which works out better for my use case.
My verdict: the fob is more reliable (for me), but the mobile key is more convenient. FWIW I used mobile key on my Model 3 but don't remember it much.
With the fob, I can leave passive lock and unlock turned on.
With the mobile key, I have to turn off passive unlock or the car will be constantly jittery when I'm working in the garage.

For me, it's Mobile Key all the time and I bring the fob if I'm going to use a valet. I wish that they had some sort of geofencing to turn off passive unlocking in the garage (like other cars).

 

[Science]

Wait a minute! It seems like we are close to putting this matter to bed because of the (appreciated) information about the contract with the fob manufacturer.

But we still have issues with mobile key (using the phone as key)? Or is that a different problem related to blocking passive unlock after multiple unintentional proximity (garage) unlocks?

 

[DeaneG]

...But we still have issues with mobile key (using the phone as key)? Or is that a different problem related to blocking passive unlock after multiple unintentional proximity (garage) unlocks?

It's likely a combination of both. When my mobile key doesn't work, pressing in on the door handle does nothing. I have to open the Lucid app and unlock the car through the app (or use the key card in my wallet). And I have proximity unlock disabled when I'm using the mobile key.

 

[Science]

It's likely a combination of both. When my mobile key doesn't work, pressing in on the door handle does nothing. I have to open the Lucid app and unlock the car through the app (or use the key card in my wallet). And I have proximity unlock disabled when I'm using the mobile key.

Thanks. I appreciate very much that other users of this forum are just trying to help. But if anyone is in contact with Lucid, it may be a good idea to let them know that this is not just a contract problem as their CEO seems to have stated.

If Lucid thinks this is just a contract problem with the fob, it could mean that they have stopped trouble-shooting this issue. I was ready to put it to bed if it was a contract problem.

Some have suggested that it may be a patent infringement problem and I guess I can understand Lucid if they didn't want to say anything public about patent infringement.

 

[borski]

Thanks. I appreciate very much that other users of this forum are just trying to help. But if anyone is in contact with Lucid, it may be a good idea to let them know that this is not just a contract problem as their CEO seems to have stated.

If Lucid thinks this is just a contract problem with the fob, it could mean that they have stopped trouble-shooting this issue. I was ready to put it to bed if it was a contract problem.

Some have suggested that it may be a patent infringement problem and I guess I can understand Lucid if they didn't want to say anything public about patent infringement.

I promise you Lucid is well aware of the fob issue and has not stopped considering ways to fix it, within their means.

 

[Science]

I promise you Lucid is well aware of the fob issue and has not stopped considering ways to fix it, within their means.

But the information we are getting from owners is that it's not just a fob issue. People are having problems (unlocking delays) when they use their phones as a key (mobile key).

 

[Bobby]

But the information we are getting from owners is that it's not just a fob issue. People are having problems (unlocking delays) when they use their phones as a key (mobile key).

It’s because Bluetooth was never good as a protocol to unlock a car. Bluetooth is used by both the fob and mobile key. Rivian owners are experiencing the same problem with their Bluetooth system. This is why auto manufacturers, including Lucid with the Gravity, are going to UWB and/or NFC.