Apple Preparing to Add Support for Digital Car Keys on Volvo, Polestar, and Audi Vehicles

[MacRumors]

Apple is preparing to begin supporting digital car keys in the Wallet app for certain Volvo, Polestar, and Audi vehicles, based on code changes discovered by MacRumors in Apple's Wallet app backend.

‌The car keys‌ function can allow an iPhone or Apple Watch with NFC capabilities to unlock, lock, or start a vehicle through the Wallet app by simply holding the device near a compatible vehicle's NFC reader. Car key functionality may vary by manufacturer and model.

Apple introduced ‌digital car key support‌ in 2022, and select car brands like BMW, BYD, Hyundai/Genesis/Kia, Lotus, Mercedes-Benz, and RAM have implemented support for the feature‌. Apple maintains a full list of vehicles that support ‌car keys‌ on its CarPlay model availability web page.

Article Link: Apple Preparing to Add Support for Digital Car Keys on Volvo, Polestar, and Audi Vehicles

 

[ShadowJamie]

Great feature. I hope it becomes a widespread standard like CarPlay.

 

[ikir]

Polestar 4 is my dream machine

 

[Martin Bland]

Apple is preparing to begin supporting digital car keys in the Wallet app for certain Volvo, Polestar, and Audi vehicles, based on code changes discovered by MacRumors in Apple's Wallet app backend.

​

What a tease. Which “certain” vehicles?

 

[patjem]

Let's hope it will be retro-fitted in my m/y 2024 XC40

 

[mapsdotapp]

All those billions spent on Apple Car research are really paying off

 

[cocky jeremy]

Time for a new Audi, I guess.

 

[Nimrad]

NFC? Is that correct? I was under the impression that todays car key functionality was using UWB, so you could keep your phone in your pocket.

 

[HouseLannister]

I am still trying to figure out how official Car Key support is different from the apps the car manufacturer's use. Was debating a 2025 Mini Cooper, which says I can use my phone to unlock and start my car, but no mention of it on Apple's site and it mentions a MINI app.

 

[mark-in-mk]

I have a Polestar 2, which has a digital key linked to their app. Based on how that performs I would NEVER EVER trust a digital car key for fear of being locked out of my car and stranded.

 

[pugxiwawa]

How about Tesla? Wait that was done 10+ years ago.

 

[LuissCM]

I'm a bit confused. I've been using digital car keys in Lexus and Tesla vehicles for some years now. These cars even recognized the driver - my spouse also has digital keys. However, these keys don't show up on my wallet app. I just open the vehicle driver's door. Is this Apple implementation a different approach that requires users to hold the phone against a vehicle NFC reader?

 

[LuissCM]

How about Tesla? Wait that was done 10+ years ago.

Yeah, I'm a bit confused about this post, are digital keys and Apple digital keys different things since I don't see those on the wallet app?

 

[rbbloom99]

It’s already working for my 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe

 

[ArtOfWarfare]

How about Tesla? Wait that was done 10+ years ago.

Unless I'm mistaken, this feature enables the phone to work as a key even when it's dead. It's writing to the NFC chip on the phone (or maybe just pairing the chip to the car) so that the car can passively read it even if the phone is dead.

So this would reduce the need for Tesla's keycards (of course, the keycard is still nice for valet.)

 

[sflagel]

How about Tesla? Wait that was done 10+ years ago.

Yawn. You cannot unlock a Tesla with the Apple Wallet. You can unlock it with the Tesla App but that’s not what this is.

 

[lazyrighteye]

Hmmm, maybe if it comes to Audi it will eventually come to VW?

 

[alexandr]

Let's hope it will be retro-fitted in my m/y 2024 XC40

Pretty sure it doesn't work that way.

 

[LuissCM]

Yawn. You cannot unlock a Tesla with the Apple Wallet. You can unlock it with the Tesla App but that’s not what this is.

The way these "dumb" digital keys work allow you to use/unlock your vehicle by just opening the driver door (sure, the manufacturer app needs to be running in the background). Apple's implementation requires you to get your phone out and hold it against the vehicle NFC reader? if so the only advantage I could see is if it works when your phone is dead 🤷‍♂️

 

[alexandr]

Hmmm, maybe if it comes to Audi it will eventually come to VW?

Because they are both a part of the same group? I mean, wouldn't Porsche get it first?

 

[Reason077]

I have a Polestar 2, which has a digital key linked to their app. Based on how that performs I would NEVER EVER trust a digital car key for fear of being locked out of my car and stranded.

Tesla’s implementation works extremely well. Absolutely flawless and makes old-fashioned car keys/fobs seem very annoying and silly.

 

[Reason077]

Unless I'm mistaken, this feature enables the phone to work as a key even when it's dead. It's writing to the NFC chip on the phone (or maybe just pairing the chip to the car) so that the car can passively read it even if the phone is dead.

It doesn’t work completely passively. Modern iPhones have an emergency power mode that keeps the NFC chip and other core functions powered by reserving a small amount of battery power for them. This also means that “find my iPhone” still works even with an empty battery.

 

[Reason077]

Yawn. You cannot unlock a Tesla with the Apple Wallet. You can unlock it with the Tesla App but that’s not what this is.

You don’t have to open the app unless you want to unlock it remotely (ie: when you are not near the vehicle).

You just walk up the car with your phone in your pocket and it unlocks automatically. You sit in the driver’s seat and it drives. No other interaction required.

 

[Timster83]

Tesla’s implementation works extremely well. Absolutely flawless and makes old-fashioned car keys/fobs seem very annoying and silly.

I’ve never had a car key fob fail me. Can’t say the same for a cell phone.

And when I go to the gym, I need my gym fob so the car key is a good place for that. I don’t even take my phone to the gym. 4G watch and earphones wins out.

 

[iGeneo]

I have been using this on my 2025 X5... absolutely love it. MyiPhone and Apple Watch work great. get within 10-15 feet of the vehicle and the doors lock, and lock when I walk away.

Zero interaction needed. It's really a beautiful thing

Add to that my August lock on my home entry door and it's a keyless world 😆