Apple Expands Car Key Support to More Vehicle Models

Apple is set to enhance its digital car key functionality with the upcoming releases of iOS 26 and watchOS 26. These updates, expected to be available in September, will introduce compatibility with a total of 13 new automotive brands. The brands include luxury and mainstream manufacturers such as Acura, Cadillac, Chery, Chevrolet, GMC, Hongqi, Lucid, Porsche, Rivian, Smart, Tata, Voyah, and WEY.

While Apple has not disclosed specific model details or exact dates for the new support, it aims to increase the total number of brands utilizing the Car Key feature to 33. This feature is integrated into the Apple Wallet app and operates using Bluetooth and NFC technology.

The Car Key functionality offers various access modes that can differ by manufacturer. The simplest mode is the passive access, which allows the vehicle to unlock automatically when the user approaches with an iPhone or Apple Watch that has the digital key enabled. The vehicle will lock itself once the user moves away after the trip. Some implementations of Car Key also allow for remote unlocking capabilities. For users seeking enhanced security, options are available that enable the vehicle to unlock or lock only when the user approaches the door handle with their device.

The Car Key feature is supported on iPhone models starting from the iPhone XS (and iPhone SE from the second generation) and requires an Apple Watch Series 5 or newer, including the SE and Ultra models. This means that even older Apple devices can access the Car Key functionality. Last year, Apple expanded support for additional brands such as Audi, Volvo, and Polestar.

In addition to broadening vehicle compatibility, Apple is also developing a new standard known as Digital Key 4.0. This standard, which is being created by the Car Connectivity Consortium, promises to introduce a range of new features, including cross-platform interoperability and enhanced compatibility across different versions of the standard. It remains to be seen whether this will lead to improvements in latency and retrofit opportunities. Notably, the consortium hosted a testing event at Apple's facilities, showcasing real-world applications of the technology.