Apple will purportedly expand the iPhone’s support for digital car keys in the Wallet app to more brands. The new additions will include select Volvo, Polestar, and Audi vehicles.
Currently, the feature only works with BMW, BYD, Hyundai, RAM and Mercedes-Benz vehicles.
Audi and Volvo vehicles could soon support iPhone car key
Apple announced digital car keys at WWDC 2020. In the years since then, the company has slowly expanded the feature to work with vehicles from more brands. In 2022, select Kia and Genesis cars gained support for car keys. Despite Apple’s best efforts, though, car key adoption has been relatively modest among vehicle manufacturers.
MacRumors found code indicating that Apple will expand iPhone’s digital car key support to more brands. This includes vehicles from Audi, Polestar, and Volvo. iOS 18.1 should drop later this month, and support for cars from these brands in the Wallet app could go live with it.
Turn your iPhone into a digital car key
As the name suggests, you can store a digital version of your car’s key in the iPhone’s Wallet app. This allows you to lock/unlock and even start the car using your iPhone. When you add a new car key to your iPhone’s Wallet app, it is automatically synced to the paired Apple Watch as well.
The execution will vary depending on your car. On vehicles with passive entry, as long as you have your iPhone in your pocket or the Apple Watch on your wrist, it will automatically unlock itself. In some cars, you must hold your iPhone or Apple Watch near the car’s door handle or key reader. Some vehicles also allow you to remotely start or lock/unlock the car through the Wallet app.
You can share digital car keys with friends and family via AirDrop, Messages, or the Mail app.
Rajesh has been closely following and writing about the latest happenings in the world of mobile for nearly a decade now. While he prefers Android, he does not deny the superiority of Apple’s products and ecosystem.
