Rivian Activates Apple Car Key Support in Second-Generation Vehicles [Update: Coming Soon]

[MacRumors]

EV manufacturer Rivian appears to finally be rolling out support for Apple's digital car keys available through the Wallet app on iPhone and Apple Watch. Rivian announced support for the feature in debuting its second-generation R1S and R1T over a year ago, but the company had not activated it until today, as spotted in an Apple configuration file by MacRumors contributor Aaron Perris.

While we can't confirm whether it's up and running for all users just yet, Apple has pushed support live on its end, so owners of supported Rivian vehicles should hopefully be seeing it soon.

Apple's car key feature allows an iPhone or Apple Watch with NFC capabilities to unlock a vehicle through the Wallet app. A digital version of a car key is stored in Wallet, and unlocking can be done simply by holding an Apple Watch or ‌iPhone‌ near a compatible vehicle's NFC reader. And with Ultra Wideband technology, compatible vehicles can even recognize a digital car key with your phone still in your pocket.

Rivian has supported its own digital key feature through the Rivian app, but Apple Wallet support will offer more seamless integration for iPhone users, presumably including features like key sharing and Express Mode to allow the key to function for several hours even after your device has run out of battery and shut down.

Rivian still has not shown any interest in adding support for CarPlay in its vehicles, with CEO RJ Scaringe saying last year that handing over functions to CarPlay would be at odds with Rivian's desire to offer a seamlessly integrated experience in its vehicles.

While CarPlay still doesn't appear to be in the cards for Rivian vehicles, today's rollout of Apple car keys joins integrated Apple Music with Spatial Audio support as Apple features adopted by the brand.

Update August 29 4:35 a.m.: Rivian tells MacRumors that while the feature has been pushed live on Apple's side, it hasn't yet launched on Rivian's side. It is, however, coming soon.

Article Link: Rivian Activates Apple Car Key Support in Second-Generation Vehicles [Update: Coming Soon]

 

[germanbeer007]

I actually got into an R1S before and it had one of the worst interiors I've ever seen in a car. No amount of Apple integration (Car Key/CarPlay) is going to get me to buy a Rivian.

 

[sigurros]

Who cares about this feature? Rivian needs to add CarPlay support like yesterday. They are turning away potential customers. If you ca't ask Siri to send messages or play podcasts or your favorite music with their system, what's the point? And then there's WAZE. People want to have that on the screen at ALL TIMES!!!!

 

[WinstonSmyth]

Who cares about this feature? Rivian needs to add CarPlay support like yesterday. They are turning away potential customers. If you ca't ask Siri to send messages or play podcasts or your favorite music with their system, what's the point? And then there's WAZE. People want to have that on the screen at ALL TIMES!!!!

No CarPlay in my Tesla, and I don't miss it one bit. If it were available, which wouldn't make sense, I would never use it.

 

[Daniel L]

Who cares about this feature? Rivian needs to add CarPlay support like yesterday. They are turning away potential customers. If you ca't ask Siri to send messages or play podcasts or your favorite music with their system, what's the point? And then there's WAZE. People want to have that on the screen at ALL TIMES!!!!

No CarPlay in my Tesla, and I don't miss it one bit. If it were available, which wouldn't make sense, I would never use it.

Have two Teslas (2022 and 2024) and just got a 2025 Porsche.

I have to use CarPlay in the Porsche and it sucks compared to Tesla’s system. 3 touches to do a simple task that takes one touch on the Tesla.

I haven’t tried the Rivian’s system yet but if it’s anything like Tesla’s I’d rather have that instead.

 

[skiguy45]

My phone is the center of my digital life. It's with me almost constantly.

My car needs to bend over backwards to work seamlessly with my phone. This is what car manufacturers who shun CarPlay don't get. It's not about your maps being better than Apple's. It's about accessing everything on my phone while I drive.

Sorry Rivian, Tesla, and GM ... Cars are commodity. I'll find one that makes my life easier, not harder.

And actually it's not that they don't get it ... it's about charging customers for services. And I 100% won't do that either.

 

[isomorphic]

How hard is this to understand? No CarPlay, no buy.

 

[segfaultdotorg]

Does this require an Apple iKey Pro subscription? Is it free on Android? 🤔

 

[macduke]

Lack of CarPlay support is the reason I’m not currently driving a Rivian. They don’t want my money. Just make it an option!

 

[BabyBoii]

Having both a tesla and rivian, rivian has a better software/interface. I feel like carplay is great if you have a 5" screen. For these full screen vehicles, a much bigger interface is needed. Would be cool if it had some carplay ultra features, but can see why they don't use it.

Tesla has better self driving
Rivian has better interior and UX
Pick your poison

Side note:
Scout could be the coolest EV brand if they could launch with carplay ultra and if their vehicles look as good as the prototypes.

 

[zach-coleman]

I am extremely interested in how this will compare to Tesla’s implementation. I wish Tesla adopted the official Apple method, but I can barely complain about their results at the moment. The UWB one (2024+ M3, 2026+ MY) is probably the most consistent wireless communication feature I’ve ever used.

 

[ZZ9pluralZalpha]

Yeah, Tesla's "homebrew" phone-as-key system doesn't really leave much to be desired. On older models the app needed to be restarted once in a while, but the UWB generation has flawlessly met even the more precise timing demands for auto-presenting doors. The Watch app seems to require manual commands and is an order of magnitude slower at execution, but I'm fine with that given that it's mostly an emergencies-only backup and I don't want Apple Watches to undergo the same irreversible size bloat that iPhones have suffered.

 

[ForkHandles]

Early days but Apple’s car key system seems to work very reliably on my new Polestar.

The only problem is that I keep forgetting to take my door key with me when I go for a drive. Doh!

Oh, and Google is the default map and voice system so CarPlay doesn’t come front and centre.

 

[Jeff321]

CarPlay is a requirement in my next vehicle. If you don’t have that I’m not even considering your brand.

 

[tribeaumes]

I actually got into an R1S before and it had one of the worst interiors I've ever seen in a car. No amount of Apple integration (Car Key/CarPlay) is going to get me to buy a Rivian.

Sorry but Rivian has one of the most luxurious interiors on the market for an EV. CarPlay would be nice but not a dealbreaker for me. The Rivian interface is pretty awesome.

 

[Melmanoh]

I was able to get car play in my Tesla and it’s the best of both worlds . I couldn’t give up car play coming from my Jeep . Don’t mind the song my niece was the do for the trip.

 

[DocMultimedia]

No CarPlay in my Tesla, and I don't miss it one bit. If it were available, which wouldn't make sense, I would never use it.

I ditched my Tesla. Simply couldn't deal with the GUI that I really didn't like at all.

 

[Neart]

Early days but Apple’s car key system seems to work very reliably on my new Polestar.

The only problem is that I keep forgetting to take my door key with me when I go for a drive. Doh!

Oh, and Google is the default map and voice system so CarPlay doesn’t come front and centre.

This is the reason I replaced my front door lock with a smart lock 😂
I’ve a Tesla, the wife has an XPeng and we both use the phone as key(Tesla’s implementation is much better than XPeng, but I wish we had the Apple Key in case my phone died and I wanted to use NFC), so we both forgot a key once and I went and got an Igloohome Lock the following day.

 

[ForkHandles]

This is the reason I replaced my front door lock with a smart lock 😂
I’ve a Tesla, the wife has an XPeng and we both use the phone as key(Tesla’s implementation is much better than XPeng, but I wish we had the Apple Key in case my phone died and I wanted to use NFC), so we both forgot a key once and I went and got an Igloohome Lock the following day.

Oh my god, the need for tech just never stops does it! 🤣

 

[zoozx]

Rivian. so over priced

 

[B4U]

It is about giving the consumers a damn choice.
Those automakers who shuns AA/CP are simply trying to maximize their profit and lining their pockets.
If they think their product is so superior, why are they locking out the competition?

 

[JerryIII]

These cars look very "surprised"!

 

[utsava]

Side note:
Scout could be the coolest EV brand if they could launch with carplay ultra and if their vehicles look as good as the prototypes.

Considering Scouts underlying electrical architecture and software is essentially Rivian, I doubt Scout/VW will go out of their way to support CarPlay. It's a shame really, but Rivian and Tesla (and others) are playing the long game of control. Don't let them try to shift the narrative. Not having CarPlay isn't about an "integrated user experience", it's about control. Control at the expense of user choice and integration with a user's daily digital life outside the car.

 

[jaytv111]

Considering Scouts underlying electrical architecture and software is essentially Rivian, I doubt Scout/VW will go out of their way to support CarPlay. It's a shame really, but Rivian and Tesla (and others) are playing the long game of control. Don't let them try to shift the narrative. Not having CarPlay isn't about an "integrated user experience", it's about control. Control at the expense of user choice and integration with a user's daily digital life outside the car.

It appears that Scout will have Carplay: https://www.scoutevforum.com/forum/...-scout-nav-infotainment-says-scout-rep.11280/

The prototype even had it: https://www.scoutevforum.com/forum/attachments/applecarplay-scout-ev-jpg.37985/

But it's weird, they won't say it on their website: https://support.scoutmotors.com/en/articles/10034838-will-scout-vehicles-support-apple-carplay

Also, Rivian has Google's Android Automotive OS (AAOS), but without Google's GAS (Google Automotive Services) (basically Google's official apps, including Google Maps, Assistant, and Play Store), some AAOS cars support Carplay/Android Auto (Volvo, Polestar, even GM does on gasoline cars), and some don't (Rivian and GM EVs, mostly). I think Rivian will provide a UI but VW Group can add in Carplay (and apparently did add in Carplay in the prototypes anyway).

 

[LightProtector]

I LOVE CarPlay, but I have a Tesla and that system is honestly perfectly fine. You don't really miss CarPlay apart from being able to choose your maps application.