According to Chinacartimes, the new BYD watch is a keyfob molded into a quartz watch. The car owner only needs to wear the watch in the proximity of the car to gain access to the car and to turn on the engine. The technology is proprietary to BYD. The company has already applied for 36 patents in China, of which 9 have been granted. It has applied for 21 patents abroad.

Message to Aston Martin: Monitor those patent applications. In 2008, Aston Martin and Swiss watchmaker Jaeger-LeCoultre teamed up for a watch that also unlocked the $260,000 Aston martin DBS. Four years ago, that watch wasn’t smart enough to also start the car (a key was needed for that), but progress can’t be stopped.

(Now what am I supposed to do with the valet parking guy? Give him my watch?)

(Come to think of it, I have long stopped wearing a watch.)