2019 Hyundai Santa Fe to get world’s first fingerprint technology

- 2019 Santa Fe to get the fingerprint technology in selective markets

- Unlocks the vehicle and also starts the vehicle based on fingerprint identification

- Offers customized driving experience and automatically adjusts seating position, side-view mirror angles and more as per driver preference

Hyundai Motors will soon introduce the world’s first smart fingerprint technology that allows drivers to unlock the vehicle as well as start it. The 2019 Hyundai Santa Fe will be the first product to get the new technology. However, the company plans to implement the technology in this SUV for select markets initially in the first quarter of 2019. 

To unlock the vehicle, the driver needs to place a finger on the sensor located on the door handle. The encrypted fingerprint information will be identified and delivered to the fingerprint controller inside the vehicle. The ignition also comes equipped with a fingerprint scanning sensor that allows the driver to start the vehicle with just a touch. 

The technology also claims to offer a customized driving environment as the system is reportedly capable of matching information of driver preference with the fingerprint data. Once the match is established, the vehicle automatically adjusts seating positions, connected car features, and side-view mirror angles according to the driver. 

To offer maximum security, Hyundai has reportedly introduced capacitance recognition, which detects differentials in the electricity level in various parts of the fingertip. The fingerprint technology also claims to efficiently prevent forgeries and faked fingerprints. The technology’s chance of misrecognizing other person’s fingerprint as the driver is only 1 in 50,000 making it five times more effective than conventional vehicle keys, including smart keys. Moreover, through real-time learning of fingerprints supported by ‘dynamic update’ system, the fingerprint system can continually improve its success rate.  

Speaking on the occasion, Albert Biermann, President and Head of Research and Development Division of the Hyundai Motor Company 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. This will ultimately offer quality driving experience to each and every Hyundai customer.”