Apple Could Soon Bring Digital Car Keys To Other Vehicles
Two years ago, Apple first introduced its CarKey feature to the world—a digital key that allows drivers to unlock their cars just using their iPhones or Apple Watches.
Since its inception, however, the tool has only been available for owners of newer BMWs, though that could soon change.
Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, a famed Apple insider who has recently brought forth claims of the company’s anti-metaverse stance, said in the latest edition of his Power On newsletter that the firm could expand CarKey to other automakers.
He posited that the next brand to make use of the feature is Hyundai and its luxury line Genesis. As per Mashable, Gurman backed up his claims with recent findings in the iOS 15 code, the expansion is predicted to be rolled out by mid-2022.
According to Engadget, while the exact models of compatible vehicles are not yet known, some Hyundai cars, such as the Ioniq 5, are already equipped with capabilities for a digital key.
Drivers would simply have to bring their devices near a car’s door handle to unlock the vehicle, and can even configure the car to start once it’s placed in a specified area.
By expanding the service to other automakers, Apple could be paving the way for more brands to hop on board, instead of having the feature be exclusive to a select few.
