Apple is gearing up to expand its digital car key support to include popular car brands such as Volvo, Polestar, and Audi. This new feature allows iPhone and Apple Watch users to lock, unlock, and start their vehicles simply by using the Wallet app, leveraging NFC technology. The update, discovered through changes in Apple’s Wallet app backend by MacRumors, shows Apple’s ongoing commitment to enhancing its digital key offerings.
How Digital Car Keys Work
With digital car keys, users can hold their iPhone or Apple Watch near a compatible vehicle’s NFC reader to activate features like unlocking doors or starting the engine. Apple introduced this in 2022, bringing added convenience and security to car owners, allowing them to go keyless while keeping everything within their Apple ecosystem.
Supported Brands and Models
Apple’s digital car keys feature is already supported by several car brands like BMW, Hyundai, Genesis, Kia, Mercedes-Benz, and RAM. With the addition of Volvo, Polestar, and Audi, Apple continues to widen its ecosystem, making it easier for users to integrate their iPhones and Apple Watches with their vehicles.
For a full list of compatible vehicles, Apple maintains a guide on their CarPlay model availability webpage.
