Apple Wallet Car Keys feature to expand to THESE new car brands

Car Keys feature is eavailable to select cars from brands, such as Polestar, Volvo, and Audi

Tech Desk - Oct 15, 2024

An undated image of Apple Wallets Car Keys feature. — Apple/Canva — An undated image of Apple Wallet's Car Keys feature. — Apple/Canva

Apple is expanding its digital Car Keys feature in the Wallet app to additional automobile brands, according to a report.

Announced at the Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) in 2020, the company expanded the Car Keys feature in 2022 to select car brands, including BMW, BYD, Hyundai, Genesis, Kia, Lotus, Mercedes-Benz, and RAM.

Apple Wallet's Car Keys feature

The Car Keys feature in the Apple Wallet allows iPhone and Apple Watch with Near Field Communication (NFC) capabilities to unlock, lock, or start a car by holding the device near a compatible vehicle's NFC reader.

It also includes support for Express Mode which allows users to use their car keys without unlocking the device or authenticating with Face ID, or a passcode.

Additionally, the Wallet app also supports sharing car keys using apps, such as Messages, Mail, and AirDrop.

Car Keys feature’s availability

As reported by MacRumors, the Car Keys feature will be available to select car brands including Polestar, Volvo, and Audi with the release of iOS 18.1, later this month.

While Apple maintains a full list of vehicles through its CarPlay model availability web page, details are scarce on which specific models of the additional brands will be included.