Apple Says These 13 Vehicle Brands Will Soon Offer iPhone Car Keys

[MacRumors]

In 2020, Apple added a digital car key feature to its Wallet app, allowing users to lock, unlock, and start a compatible vehicle with an iPhone or Apple Watch. The feature is currently offered by select automakers, including Audi, BMW, Hyundai, Kia, Genesis, Mercedes-Benz, Volvo, and a handful of others, and it is set to expand further.

During its WWDC 2025 keynote today, Apple said that 13 additional vehicle brands will "soon" offer iPhone car keys, including Acura, Chevrolet, Cadillac, GMC, Porsche, Rivian, Smart, Lucid Motors, Tata Motors, Hongqi, WEY, Chery, and Voyah.

Apple did not provide an exact timeframe or any other details.

Apple has a web page with a list of vehicle models that support iPhone car keys, but it has not been updated in a while, so it is missing some recent additions.

Article Link: Apple Says These 13 Vehicle Brands Will Soon Offer iPhone Car Keys

 

[Unity451]

Now if only vehicle brands gave the ability to add that feature to cars you already own.

 

[jz0309]

Well, if it magically gets enabled on my 24 Ioniq 5, I might use it

 

[chrono1081]

I adore this feature. My new car has it. It sounds so simple but is great not carrying car keys and fobs around and being able to text your key to others.

 

[Nermal]

I adore this feature. My new car has it. It sounds so simple but is great not carrying car keys and fobs around and being able to text your key to others.

My car has keyless opening where you just need to have the fob in your pocket... and I'm astounded by how enormous the fob is. Volumetrically it's a little over half the size of my phone (although twice as thick) despite having a fraction of the functionality.

 

[8CoreWhore]

I've been using the Tesla app on my phone for the last two years as a key and other functions. It's awesome. I just walk up to the car and open the door and get in. No need to fumble with keys. Every car should be like this. No more losing a key that cost $250 to replace. (the car comes with two credit card size NFC keys. If you need more it's $20 for two more.)

 

[dvanwinkle]

I don’t know if it’s Apple’s fault or the fault of the Kia EV9, but I prefer Tesla’s keyless solution. I assume it’s a Kia issue, but the Tesla implementation is always perfect, and it’s hard to get the Kia Car Key to unlock consistently. If it’s Apple, they need to hire some Tesla people to fix it.

 

[dvanwinkle]

I've been using the Tesla app on my phone for the last two years as a key and other functions. It's awesome. I just walk up to the car and open the door and get in. No need to fumble with keys. Every car should be like this. No more losing a key that cost $250 to replace. (the car comes with two credit card size NFC keys. If you need more it's $20 for two more.)

Tesla app doesn’t use Apple’s car key solution, but I agree.

 

[Rydawg96]

What makes me scratch my head is why Chevy, GMC and Cadillac were suddenly added considering they have been removing CarPlay from vehicles and also have been blocking dealerships from retrofitting them. Did they suddenly change tune?

 

[xpxp2002]

What makes me scratch my head is why Chevy, GMC and Cadillac were suddenly added considering they have been removing CarPlay from vehicles and also have been blocking dealerships from retrofitting them. Did they suddenly change tune?

That's the same question I have. Based on the interviews I've read with various GM officials, it sounded like there was a lot of animosity between Apple and GM, and it sounded like GM had no interest in working with Apple any longer.

I assumed CarPlay would remain abandonware in the legacy GM platforms that already had it, and it was clear that Ultium would not have it at all.

Now this makes me wonder what changed and whether this is the beginning of CarPlay support coming to GM EVs, or possibly even some option to use CarPlay Ultra coming in the distant future.

 

[kwilzz_]

Interesting that Porsche seems to be the only Volkswagen Auto group car getting this. Thanks VW 😔

 

[Westside guy]

That's the same question I have. Based on the interviews I've read with various GM officials, it sounded like there was a lot of animosity between Apple and GM, and it sounded like GM had no interest in working with Apple any longer.

I assumed CarPlay would remain abandonware in the legacy GM platforms that already had it, and it was clear that Ultium would not have it at all.

Now this makes me wonder what changed and whether this is the beginning of CarPlay support coming to GM EVs, or possibly even some option to use CarPlay Ultra coming in the distant future.

I'm only one person, but - no CarPlay / Android Auto means my next car purchase won't be from the company. Apple and Google know a lot more about how to make good digital interfaces for humans than any of these car companies do.

 

[Colin2012]

The Toyota iPhone app already does this.

 

[BuffaloJim]

That's the same question I have. Based on the interviews I've read with various GM officials, it sounded like there was a lot of animosity between Apple and GM, and it sounded like GM had no interest in working with Apple any longer.

I assumed CarPlay would remain abandonware in the legacy GM platforms that already had it, and it was clear that Ultium would not have it at all.

Now this makes me wonder what changed and whether this is the beginning of CarPlay support coming to GM EVs, or possibly even some option to use CarPlay Ultra coming in the distant future.

Interestingly, CarPlay should be very easy to add to Ultium vehicles. The Acura ZDX has it while the Chevy and Cadillac vehicles it’s based on do not.

 

[lovehateapple]

Now if only vehicle brands gave the ability to add that feature to cars you already own.

That would be nice, but it also sounds like it could be expensive.

 

[baconcat_8964]

Interesting that Porsche seems to be the only Volkswagen Auto group car getting this. Thanks VW 😔

My local VW dealership offers an "official bluetooth key". It needs to disassemble a car key, put it inside a box and wired to ODB system, then I can use phone app to unlock my car 😂 I don't know what's in their mind. Thanks VW.

 

[HVDynamo]

Cool, but I think I'll stick to using my key fob.

 

[ELman]

Strange GM is adopting this feature but getting rid of CarPlay.

 

[GioGiusi]

Time to ditch VW, if they can’t be bothered to keep up then I can’t be bothered to buy them.

 

[icwhatudidthere]

That's the same question I have. Based on the interviews I've read with various GM officials, it sounded like there was a lot of animosity between Apple and GM, and it sounded like GM had no interest in working with Apple any longer.

I assumed CarPlay would remain abandonware in the legacy GM platforms that already had it, and it was clear that Ultium would not have it at all.

Now this makes me wonder what changed and whether this is the beginning of CarPlay support coming to GM EVs, or possibly even some option to use CarPlay Ultra coming in the distant future.

They only removed CarPlay from their EVs. ICE GMs still have it and there were no plans to remove it.

 

[Nozuka]

Interesting that Porsche seems to be the only Volkswagen Auto group car getting this. Thanks VW 😔

Audi already has it and is mentioned in the article.

 

[jcwhalley]

Is this going to be another CarPlay……

 

[svish]

Good to see more cars supporting it. Hopefully it will expand to even more vehicles in the near future.

 

[Robert.Walter]

Hey Ford WYD? Dorme vous?

 

[thejadedmonkey]

Chevy removed using the phone as a key in their app update for the Bolt. It wasn't an official standard, but it previously existed. I wonder if they plan on bringing it back via CarKeys, or if it's just gone forever.