How does one open a car? Definitely with keys, but what if the world is changing to a point where our mobile phones are the main instrument of gain access to your vehicles? It surely seems that way because car makers are looking into making some big changes.

More vehicles are being launched with several technology and safety features, so it is natural to believe that some aspects of how we use our cars will change as time go by. One change could be the use of digital keys, and Volvo is championing this change come 2017.

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The car manufacturer says it plans to launch a new fleet of cars come 2017 with digital keys only. The plan is to release these cars with a Volvo mobile app that has the ability to do everything a regular car key can do, among other things. We understand the digital car key will rely on Bluetooth to work, and will live on the user's smartphone.

The app can be used to lock, unlock, start, and even drive the car. At the moment, there are several unanswered questions about security, but that's fine since Volvo says folks can option-in to have physical keys instead.

What's interesting about this feature is the fact that users can copy and share the digital key with other smartphone owners. They will then have the ability to drive the same car. This is a big deal, more so for Volvo since the company car-sharing business known as Sunfleet.

According to Business Insider, Volvo is making plans to kick-start a trail at Gothenburg Airport in Sweden this spring. If everything goes according to plan, don't be surprised to see other car manufacturers making moves to offer the same type of service.

Having digital car keys a bad idea?

While having a car tricked out with advanced technology is sounds great, we should bear in mind that this is not the movies. Starting a car with physical keys seem more reliable than using a smartphone. The battery of a smartphone can die, but this won't happen with a key. Then again, a key can break, it can go missing, many things can happen.

What we would prefer, is for cars to come with a physical key and a digital key and not just one of eather. No one wants to be in a position with a dead smartphone battery and locked out of their car, that's not good at all.

We urge all drivers who want to venture down this path to also ask for a physical key.