So you are still carrying a car key. This thread is not relevant to you.You would use your physical key card to unlock the doors and start the vehicle. It’s the size of a credit card and I carry mine in my wallet with me.
So you are still carrying a car key. This thread is not relevant to you.You would use your physical key card to unlock the doors and start the vehicle. It’s the size of a credit card and I carry mine in my wallet with me.
Third party apps are alive and working when your phone is dead? That is news to me.Tesla uses UWB and works even when your phone dies - maybe in earlier days it was BT based, but not only anymore.
Gotcha. My wife and I both have X6’s and every time I go near the garage they both unlock. Heard about that update but I don’t think I ever saw it. At least I can’t find that feature anywhere.Yeah, I have comfort access unlock turned off because it would unlock and lock again constantly when I was in my garage. BMW added a home address exception to comfort access unlock in a March-ish update but it worked for a day then the next my 5er forgot where it was once.
I just have the comfort access locking feature on walk away enabled.
Because I choose to carry it, but it is certainly not required (much like what one of your earlier posts pointed out for iPhone Car Keys). I think its good practice to have a backup, just in case, but YMMV.So you are still carrying a car key. This thread is not relevant to you.
I believe it is in the 2025.03.xxx update. If you have iDrive 8.x then you should be getting it eventually for OTA update from your phone app.Gotcha. My wife and I both have X6’s and every time I go near the garage they both unlock. Heard about that update but I don’t think I ever saw it. At least I can’t find that feature anywhere.
Yes we have iDrive 8.5. I’ll keep checking. Hopefully I get it eventually lol. Thanks.I believe it is in the 2025.03.xxx update. If you have iDrive 8.x then you should be getting it eventually for OTA update from your phone app.
There are two approaches to this, and you see the same thing in the public transit world as well, (as a person who both has a Tesla and regularly uses public transitI can see not needing the app as an advantage, but it’s not that big of a deal. It’s not like I’m loaning my car to everyone walking down the street. If I’m loaning my car to someone that means I physically talk to them explain to them what they need to do then they can download the app. Maybe for a car rental agency this might be an advantage.
I don’t think Elon cares when I unlock my vehicle. I would have to be pretty narcissistic to think that. Also, the vehicle shares data so just because it was unlocked a different way doesn’t mean that data isn’t sent from the vehicle.
I generally prefer the option of not needing an app if I have a choice. If Tesla asked me today would I prefer the option to have the key in Apple wallet, I’d probably say yes. This being said it’s not critical enough for me to be something I would even be annoyed by.There are two approaches to this, and you see the same thing in the public transit world as well, (as a person who both has a Tesla and regularly uses public transit).
Some cars go with Apple Wallet support, such as the models listed, just like some transit agencies went with Apple Wallet support as well (LA Metro, Chicago Ventra, etc). With this method, the transit agency usually will depend on Apple/Google Maps for info etc. Same here with the car, you would use Apple Maps for EV charging locations, etc...(and the various CarPlay features as well). BMW, Audi, etc all use this method.
Some cars go with having their own app, for an "all inclusive experience", just like some transit agencies went ahead and made their own app (Valley Metro Phoenix, Dallas DART, Charlotte CATS.). You plan your trip using the respective agency's app, pay, etc all in one app. The Tesla approach is the same as this, you plan your trip using the Tesla app, climatize your car using the Tesla app, and of course unlock and drive with the same app.
Both methods work, it's just a different approach. I do not mind the app approach at all, as I keep the phone in my pocket and open up the door. It really isn't a big deal, if anything, my Wallet app looks cleaner without a bunch of extra cards in it.
Remove ‘2023 and newer i3’
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.
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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. Our list below is more up to date, but if we are missing any vehicles, let us know.
How It Works
There are three levels of this feature, as explained in an Apple support document. Availability varies by vehicle model.
Express Mode lets you use your Wallet app key without unlocking your iPhone, or authenticating with Face ID, Touch ID, or a passcode.
- Lock, unlock, and start your car with passive entry
- Lock, unlock, and start your car by proximity
- Lock and unlock your car remotely
You will need an iPhone XS or newer, or an Apple Watch Series 5 or newer. Passive entry requires an iPhone 11 or newer, or an Apple Watch Series 6 or newer.
Existing Vehicles
Audi
BMW
- 2025 and newer A5
- 2025 and newer Q5
- 2025 and newer SQ5
- 2025 and newer A6
- 2025 and newer S6
- 2025 and newer Q6
- 2025 and newer SQ6
MINI
- 2021 and newer 1 Series
- 2021 and newer 2 Series
- 2021 and newer 3 Series
- 2021 and newer 4 Series
- 2021 and newer 5 Series
- 2021 and newer 6 Series
- 2021 and newer 8 Series
- 2021 and newer X5
- 2021 and newer X6
- 2021 and newer X7
- 2021 and newer X5 M
- 2021 and newer X6 M
- 2021 and newer Z4
- 2022 and newer i4
- 2022 and newer iX
- 2022 and newer iX1
- 2022 and newer iX3
- 2023 and newer i3
- 2023 and newer i7
- 2024 and newer i5
Hyundai
- Aceman (produced from May 2024)
- Cooper (3-door) C / S (produced from March 2024)
- Cooper (3-door) E / SE (produced from November 2023)
- Cooper (5-door) (produced from July 2024)
- Countryman (produced from November 2023)
Kia
- 2023 and newer Palisade
- 2024 and newer Elantra
- 2024 and newer Kona
- 2024 and newer Santa Fe
- 2024 and newer Sonata
- 2025 and newer Tucson
- 2025 and newer Santa Cruz
- 2025 and newer IONIQ 5
- 2023 and newer IONIQ 6
- 2026 and newer IONIQ 9
Genesis
- 2023 and newer Telluride
- 2023 and newer Niro
- 2023 and newer Seltos
- 2024 and newer EV3
- 2024 and newer EV6
- 2024 and newer EV9
- 2024 and newer Sorento
- 2025 and newer Carnival
- 2025 and newer K5
Mercedes-Benz
- 2023 and newer GV60
- 2023 and newer G90
- 2024 and newer G70
- 2024 and newer GV70
- 2024 and newer GV90
Polestar
- 2024 and newer E‑Class
- 2025 and newer EQE
- 2025 and newer EQS
RAM
- All models of the Polestar 3
- All models of the Polestar 4
Volvo
- 2025 and newer RAM 1500
Lotus
- 2024 and newer EX30
- 2024 and newer EX90
A few other automakers have started offering iPhone car keys, like BYD, NIO, and Lynk & Co.
- 2024 and newer Eletre
- 2024 and newer Emeya
Availability may vary by country.
Future Vehicles
During its WWDC 2025 keynote last month, Apple said that the following 13 automakers would "soon" offer vehicle models with iPhone car keys:
For Rivian, this will include the second-generation R1S and R1T and newer, according to a press release from more than a year ago.
- Acura
- Chevrolet
- Cadillac
- GMC
- Porsche
- Rivian
- Smart
- Lucid Motors
- Tata Motors
- Hongqi
- WEY
- Chery
- Voyah
Article Link: Here's Which Vehicles Offer iPhone Car Keys
That’s terrible. I was looking at moving from BMW to Audi and BMW’s implementation is flawless.Audi Q6 etron owner here. I wouldn't get too excited about Audi's implementation. I successfully set-up the key in Apple wallet and it worked well for 2 days. Then I got locked out of the car due to a well-documented glitch where the car seems to get confused between digital and physical key. The only remedy is to delete the digital key. Lots of people reporting the same issue. It's unreliable enough that you need the physical key with you at all times, which sort of defeats the point.
Additionally, neither key-sharing or walk-away lock are available with the Q6. There's reportedly a software update in the works, but unlikely to be before the fall and will require a dealership visit. Audi don't support OTA updates yet![]()
the i3 being mentioned is most likely the electric 3 series being manufactured in and sold for the Chinese market, not the i3 that you're talking about.Remove ‘2023 and newer i3’
The BMW i3 was discontinued in 2022 and no i3 supports this feature.
No, what he is saying is that if your phone dies, his credit card sized key (Tesla), that is in your wallet will still unlock and start the car.So you are still carrying a car key. This thread is not relevant to you.
I think you are missing how the Tesla phone key works. You don't do anything, just come near the car, and open the door or trunk. So what would having Apple Wallet Key be of benefit? The Tesla app does way more than unlock the car, it's used for all sorts of other things.I generally prefer the option of not needing an app if I have a choice. If Tesla asked me today would I prefer the option to have the key in Apple wallet, I’d probably say yes. This being said it’s not critical enough for me to be something I would even be annoyed by.
Also, even if the key was supported by Apple wallet, I would still need the app to control other functions of the car. Although the same could be said for most bank cards. You need an app to manage payments, etc. It would be nice if everything could be controlled in the Wallet app. Like how I can do everything with the Apple Card
I’m aware of how the Tesla key works on the iPhone. That’s why I said even though I would prefer to have an option to have an additional key in the Apple wallet it’s not that big of a deal.I think you are missing how the Tesla phone key works. You don't do anything, just come near the car, and open the door or trunk. So what would having Apple Wallet Key be of benefit? The Tesla app does way more than unlock the car, it's used for all sorts of other things.