Does it lock by itself?

[GaRailroader]

I'm pretty sure lock-on-moving is a crash safety need. Locked doors are less likely to come open in a severe crash which reduces the risk of occupant injury. Walk-away-locking is a feature that users are split on so some manufacturers include it, some don't. For some it's a model-to-model decision. My 2023 Kia Sorento Hybrid had it, my 2025 Kia EV6 doesn't.

However, Slate appears to have no built-in medium-range RF capability. What Slate has shown is that the key fob has to actually be inserted into a receptacle in the dash. Unclear if there's a short range NFC-style RF interface for that, or if there are actual electrical contacts that let Slate see the fob. But in any case, it doesn't appear the truck can even see the key approach/leave so walk-away-locking is likely not possible.

The fob can be used to unlock the door with the press of a button on the fob. Wouldn’t this indicate the Slate has some ability to receive RF from fob?

 

[sodamo]

Well, for starters I wouldn’t try this in my neighborhood. I also wouldn’t tell anyone, especially my insurance company. 😲

Half the time I don’t lock mine in town unless leaving something in it.

 

[thespacecowboy]

I like the style where you can keep the fob in your pocket and different parts of the handle lock/unlock. I’ve found walk away locking to be finicky on every vehicle I’ve seen it on.

My girlfriend’s Subaru Outback has it so that when you grab the driver’s side handle it unlocks just the driver’s side, and when you grab the passenger side handle it unlocks the entire car. When you touch a little area at the front of the handle both sides lock the car. It’s easy to understand and lets you feel confident that the car is actually locked while still giving you manual control.

On the “key slotting into the dash” point, I know MINIs used to (maybe still do? Haven’t been in a MINI in years) have their massive round fob have to slot in to start the car.

 

[GrizzlysGhost]

Half the time I don’t lock mine in town unless leaving something in it.

Same, but I'll probably have to change that up with my Slate; would hate for someone to steal my BT speaker, or (God-forbid), my collection of Slatelets! 😂

 

[sodamo]

Same, but I'll probably have to change that up with my Slate; would hate for someone to steal my BT speaker, or (God-forbid), my collection of Slatelets! 😂

I suspect I might have only one in town for awhile

 

[IHeartSimple]

I think lock in motion is mandated, so if that's the case, our opinions carry no weight. Mama DC decided for us.

I'm disgusted to hear Slate is inflicting radio keys on us. One more thing to fail, one more thing that can probably be spoofed by thieves.

 

[RedJoker]

I had never heard of "walk away locking" before this thread. I have heard of the "keep the fob in your pocket" technology but have never owned one. Even our newest 2022 vehicle still has a metal key with Lock / Unlock buttons on it.

See? This truck is right up my alley! (And stay off my lawn....)

 

[sodamo]

I had never heard of "walk away locking" before this thread. I have heard of the "keep the fob in your pocket" technology but have never owned one. Even our newest 2022 vehicle still has a metal key with Lock / Unlock buttons on it.

See? This truck is right up my alley! (And stay off my lawn....)

So, if I walk away, hear the beep, walk back, door is unlocked, repeat, repeat, give up? I only have to touch handle to unlock. Shouldn’t play games with aging brain cells.

 

[Kopsis]

The fob can be used to unlock the door with the press of a button on the fob. Wouldn’t this indicate the Slate has some ability to receive RF from fob?

Yes, I should have specified "two-way RF". Fob locating needs a two-way high-frequency RF protocol plus a low-frequency RF signal transmitted from 4 - 6 antennas inside the vehicle. A good description of a typical system can be found here: https://ww1.microchip.com/downloads/en/DeviceDoc/Article_AC10_Turn-Key-Passive-Entry.pdf

The ol' fashioned "push button to unlock door" is just a simple 1-way fob-to-car message (usually with some kind of cryptographic rolling code).

 

[enigma9o7]

On my ford I recall I had to do some kinda turn key on off twice, press brake pedal certain number of times or something weird to disable automatic locking. I've never heard of a car you couldn't disable it on, so I expect if Slate has any automatic stuff we would be able to turn it off in the app. Same with settings like if we want a beeper when we leave the keys in the car or not, etc. (I'm another person that often leaves my keys in the car, and rarely ever lock it completely.)