iPhone Car Key Support Coming to Select Cadillac Vehicles

[MacRumors]

Apple appears to be gearing up to add car key support to select Cadillac vehicles, based on backend code found by MacRumors. Cadillac is now on an internal Apple list of vehicles that offer car key integration.

Apple has supported NFC-based digital keys in the Wallet app since 2022, and vehicle manufacturers have been adopting the feature since then. Digital keys allow users to lock, unlock, and start their vehicles with an iPhone or Apple Watch using NFC.

At WWDC 2025, Apple confirmed that 13 vehicle brands would "soon" add support for digital car keys, and Cadillac was on the list. Other brands included were Acura, Porsche, GMC, Chevrolet, Rivian, Smart, Lucid Motors, Tata Motors, Hongqi, WEY, Chery, and Voyah.

Apple has now added backend support for GM, Voyah, and Smart vehicles, but car manufacturers have yet to add support. For car key to come to Cadillac vehicles, GM will need to add the functionality.

GM has not yet provided details on which Cadillac models will support car key.

Some newer vehicles from BMW, Genesis, Kia, Audi, Hyundai, Lotus, Mercedes, Volvo, and more offer car keys support, with a list available on MacRumors.com.


Article Link: iPhone Car Key Support Coming to Select Cadillac Vehicles

 

[vantelimus]

It doesn't matter to me until they add Aston Martin. 🤡

More seriously, where is Aston Martin? It seems odd that a showcase CarPlay adopter isn't on the list.

 

[jz0309]

so GM, time to re-add CarPlay support, else no iPhone user will buy your cars ...

 

[AppleTO]

Hopefully they add Digital Key 3.0, which means UWB+BLE. My car has 2.0, which is NFC only, and I don’t really use it. Unless the phone can mimic a fob, it will take significantly longer to unlock and start the vehicle, so I prefer to just use the fob. Much faster.

 

[Ozid]

I've had a seemless experience using DK2.0 on my Ioniq 5. Works as if I have my fob on me, with a little extra lag that is forgettable. I haven't carried my keys on me in over a year unless I'm going to a car wash or the dealer

 

[DocMultimedia]

I do miss my Tesla since I never needed a key of any sort other than my iPhone. My Honda still needs me to bring a key. I leave it in my car.

 

[AppleMega]

No CarPlay? No deal.

 

[lovehateapple]

If the car key feature comes to apple watch, i might finally buy one, but I'd have to get a compatible car too.

 

[lovehateapple]

I've had a seemless experience using DK2.0 on my Ioniq 5. Works as if I have my fob on me, with a little extra lag that is forgettable. I haven't carried my keys on me in over a year unless I'm going to a car wash or the dealer

I guess you've never had a valet park your car? What would happen in that situation? You'd have to give the valet your phone?

 

[kurtfoster]

Can someone explain to me why this is better than actually having a physical fob (or key) with you? I just see it as a solution in search of a problem.

 

[Middiebear]

Just purchased a Kia with this feature and it’s a true game changer!

It makes life so much easier and convenient only needing to use your phone or Watch to lock, unlock, and start the car.

For Valet or family/friend situations, there’s an ability to provide temporary Digital Keys so that person can use their own device to manage the vehicle.

 

[vantelimus]

Can someone explain to me why this is better than actually having a physical fob (or key) with you? I just see it as a solution in search of a problem.

That's a good question. It isn't a solution. It is a convenience–just like most other features people spend money on these days.

 

[attohs]

I guess you've never had a valet park your car? What would happen in that situation? You'd have to give the valet your phone?

My truck came with a Valet Card for this situation

 

[H.E. Pennypacker]

What happens if your phone battery dies……🤔

 

[applefan8254]

If the car key feature comes to apple watch, i might finally buy one, but I'd have to get a compatible car too.

I believe Tesla supports apple watch as key

 

[SkippyThorson]

After working incredibly hard to salvage the brand from Mercedes neglecting it, Geely (same ones now behind Volvo) will very likely implement this in the forthcoming ForTwo replacement. The rental car, the fleet car, the urban city car, the little shareable runabout… This is a great alternative to the miserable Car2Go experience. Digital keys baked into your phone. Rented. Timed. Secured. I’m pumped to see where this goes beyond just your own car key.

 

[ArtOfWarfare]

I believe Tesla supports apple watch as key

For about a decade there was a third party Apple Watch app you used if you wanted your Watch to unlock your Tesla...

I think that's the only Apple Watch app I've ever paid for (I think it was $10)... I'm not sure if I ever used it.

Tesla added an official Apple Watch app a year or two ago. It requires a newer version of WatchOS than my Apple Watch supports... IDK, maybe I'll get a new Apple Watch some day... I'm still on the first one I ever got, I think it's a Series 2 or 3...

 

[CoMoMacUser]

Can someone explain to me why this is better than actually having a physical fob (or key) with you? I just see it as a solution in search of a problem.

Me, too. I own a Cadillac and don't see any benefit over the fob.

What am I overlooking, Cadillac and Apple?

 

[applefan8254]

For about a decade there was a third party Apple Watch app you used if you wanted your Watch to unlock your Tesla...

I think that's the only Apple Watch app I've ever paid for (I think it was $10)... I'm not sure if I ever used it.

Tesla added an official Apple Watch app a year or two ago. It requires a newer version of WatchOS than my Apple Watch supports... IDK, maybe I'll get a new Apple Watch some day... I'm still on the first one I ever got, I think it's a Series 2 or 3...

FYI, if you want to upgrade, Walmart has the series 10 for $250 now as a pre-black Friday sale.

 

[applefan8254]

What happens if your phone battery dies……🤔

I think it saves a small amount of energy for the apple car key to work for about 5 hours, although it'd be nice if they would up that to 10 or 15 hours to make it more reliable

 

[Windoes]

What happens if your phone battery dies……🤔

You recharge it

 

[danny842003]

What happens if your phone battery dies……🤔

The same as when my car key battery dies I imagine.

 

[Neart]

I guess you've never had a valet park your car? What would happen in that situation? You'd have to give the valet your phone?

Tesla has Valet mode so they can drive your car without a key. I usually keep a keycard locked in the glovebox and give that to valet’s, mechanic’s etc.

Can someone explain to me why this is better than actually having a physical fob (or key) with you? I just see it as a solution in search of a problem.

I always have my phone, so not having to bring a car key means I can leave my house with just my phone. It’s not a couple of hundred to replace a digital car key or even Tesla’s keycard(€25 for 2). I can share temporary keys with friends or family. The devices that are being used to boost key fob signals from inside houses to unlock cars in their driveways don’t work on cars like Tesla that just use NFC and Bluetooth/UWB so they’re harder to steal.

What happens if your phone battery dies……🤔

It still works for a number of hours after your phone dies. To use the NFC chip uses a tiny bit of power which is held in reserve. It’s the one reason I want Tesla to implement it. Tesla’s app works fantastically well as a key, but if my phone dies then it won’t work.

 

[Shaggymax]

GM prob require OnStar subscription which is laughable! 🤣

 

[dontwalkhand]

They can add this but can’t add CarPlay?