More car keys: Apple's Car Key is coming soon to these cars
With iOS 26 and watchOS 26, Apple aims to enable connectivity for a whole range of new vehicle models. The standard will also be improved.
Car Key in BMW: The previous process for storing keys.
(Image: BMW)
Apple is improving its support for digital car keys on the iPhone and Apple Watch. With iOS 26 and watchOS 26, which are expected to be released in September, a total of 13 new car brands will be supported for Car Key. These include Acura (Honda's luxury brand), Cadillac, Chery (China), Chevrolet, GMC, Hongqi (China), Lucid, Porsche, Rivian, Smart, Tata (India), Voyah (China), and WEY (China). Apple has not yet provided details on models and dates of support, so it is unclear whether this will be ready by the end of the year. With the new brands, a total of 33 manufacturers or brands will be able to use Car Key. The feature is included in Apple's Wallet map collection and uses Bluetooth and NFC technology.
Various technical options
Car Key has various modes of use, which differ depending on the manufacturer. The simplest is passive access: all you have to do is approach the vehicle with an iPhone or Apple Watch that has a Car Key stored on it, and it will unlock. When you walk away after your journey, it locks automatically. Some Car Key implementations also allow remote opening. If you want extra security, you can also activate a feature that only allows the car to be opened or closed when you approach the door handle with your iPhone or Apple Watch. The car can only be started after this process has been completed.
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Technically, the feature is supported on the iPhone XS (iPhone SE from the second generation onwards). For the Apple Watch, it must be a Series 5 or newer; SE and Ultra / Ultra 2 also work. This means that Apple is also giving older models access to Car Key. The first major expansions of support came last year. At that time, Audi, Volvo, and Polestar were to be added.
Digital Key 4.0 is on the way
In addition to expanding vehicle support, Apple is also working on the new Digital Key 4.0 standard. This is being developed by the Car Connectivity Consortium and promises a range of new possibilities.
These include cross-platform interoperability and greater compatibility with different versions of the standard. It remains to be seen whether switching times will also improve and retrofitting options will become available. Interestingly, the consortium met at Apple itself for a so-called plugfest, where the technology is tested in real-world scenarios.
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