2019 Hyundai Santa Fe Boasts Fingerprint Technology

Fingerprint recognition technology has been in mobile phones ever since Apple introduced it in its devices back in 2013. This 2019, the tech is making the big leap into commercial cars, via Hyundai Santa Fe’s upcoming model.

South Korea’s biggest automaker announced this week that the 2019 Santa Fe will have the world’s first smart fingerprint technology that will allow the car’s owners to unlock and start the car. As such, the vehicle will have two separate sensors--one on the door handle, and one on the start button.

As one would imagine, the tech works the same way as those in tablets, laptops and smartphones equipped with a fingerprint sensor.

In addition to the unlocking and ignition feature, Hyundai’s fingerprint technology can also be used to personalize the driving environment for up to five drivers, wherein each driver can enjoy pre-programmed preferences once they get in the car, such as the driver seat’s position, angles of the side mirror, and entertainment system settings.

Hyundai plans to develop the technology even further.

In a statement, Albert Biermann, Hyundai Motor's president and head of research & development, said:“In the future, Hyundai Motor plans to further expand the application of the technology to allow the adjustment of temperature, steering wheel position, and many other features which will be tailored to driver’s preferences.”

According to Hyundai, it is near-impossible to use a fake fingerprint to access the car, and the odds of misrecognizing a print are 1 in 50,000.

The tech will first make its debut in China when the vehicle launches there on the first quarter of 2019.