Apple to expand digital car key feature to more brands
Apple wants you to ditch your car keys. The world's third-largest company announced it's expanding the Apple Wallet car key support to include even more automakers. That means more drivers will soon be able to lock, unlock, and even start their cars directly from their iPhones.
And some drivers will be able to ditch their clunky keys and fobs. Apple first launched digital car keys in 2020, but until now, the feature was limited to a handful of high-end vehicles from specific brands.
Acura, Chevy, Cadillac, and GMC are joining the lineup in the US, bringing the total number of global partner brands to 13, Apple said on Monday at its Worldwide Developers Conference, or WWDC.
Until now, the feature was only in cars produced by luxury automakers like Volvo, Genesis, Rivian, Audi, and BMW — and only in some of their products. Hyundai and Kia were the only budget-friendly options in the original rollout.
Apple didn't say exactly when the feature will be available in new cars, only saying the launch was coming 'soon.' A representative didn't immediately respond to DailyMail.com's request for comment.
It's a move that continues Apple's slow but deliberate push into the auto industry. Between 2014 and 2024, the company spent billions attempting to develop an Apple Car, codenamed 'Project Titan .' But after 10 years in the lab, Apple cancelled the project last year .
Instead, the tech giant has poured millions of dollars into developing its popular phone-mirroring system that projects apps and widgets onto car screens, called Apple CarPlay. The investment shows the tech giant is clearly interested in becoming the digital interface for the modern vehicle.
Apple also unveiled a new look and feel for soon-to-launch CarPlay updates. The company teased a redesigned version of the system with its controversial Liquid Glass aesthetic, interactive tiles, and new standby widgets that keep things like clocks and calendar events visible while the car idles.
Not every automaker is on board with Apple's vision for the dashboard. The CarPlay update has faced a surprising amount of resistance in the automotive sector. General Motors — which owns Chevy, Cadillac, and GMC — has already started phasing out Apple CarPlay in its new electric vehicles.
Instead of mirroring your iPhone, GM's EVs now run on Ultifi, its in-house software platform. The company has poured millions into developing the system as part of a broader strategy to control the user experience — and the valuable data that comes with it.
And GM isn't alone. Some of the biggest names in the EV world, including Tesla and Rivian , have never supported CarPlay. These automakers are betting that drivers will adapt to native systems that are more tightly integrated with the car itself.
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