5 Functions the Chery Smartwatch Key Can Do That the Apple Watch Can't

Smartwatches are now, officially, a thing. Once dismissed as a mere fashion thing, more and more people are buying them so much so that the Apple Watch has practically outsold the entire Swiss watch industry.

It was only a matter of time for carmakers to get into the act, combining the usual smartwatch functions with those that can control their respective vehicles. And the first one to come up with such a tech in the Philippine market? Chery. That’s right, Chery.

Chery considers this a game-changer—and it’s a surprise because it’s not something you find in a car’s design, or cabin, or powertrain. Instead, it is an alternative to carrying a bulky car key that you keep in your pocket the whole day.

Much like how modern smartwatches can sync wirelessly with your smartphone, the Chery Smartwatch Key does the same with the brand’s top-of-the-line model, the Tiggo 8. With that, it offers five functions which an Apple Watch can’t give you:

1. It locks and unlocks the car
2. It enables remote engine start/stop
3. It opens and closes the car windows
4. It remotely turns the climate control on
5. It remotely opens the power tailgate

Aside from these vehicle functions, the Chery Smartwatch functions like a typical smartwatch with functionalities that include an activity/fitness tracker with heartrate monitor, sleep tracking, and incoming call reminders.

Oh, and unlike other car keys, the Chery Smartwatch Key is waterproof up to 3 ATM (30 meters). The rubber strap and robust thermoplastic urethane (TPU) construction means it can be used for activities such as swimming or surfing.

The Chery Smartwatch Key is a standard feature on the Cherry Tiggo 8 7-seater crossover which retails starting at P 1.280-million for the Luxury variant. Prices top out at P 1.340-million for the Luxury EX variant. Both are powered by a turbocharged 1.5-liter 4-cylinder engine with 145 horsepower and 210 Nm of torque.