In the coming months, more and more drivers may be able to open their cars using iPhone or Apple Watch , as Hyundai and Genesis are expected to support Apple's CarKey feature by the summer.
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CarKey, originally introduced in June 2020, is a feature that allows cars (and other vehicles) to be locked, unlocked, and started with a digital key stored in the Wallet app on an iPhone or Apple Watch. So far, it's only officially supported by BMW, but it looks like more cars will be able to support it by 2022.
According to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, the CarKey feature will begin rolling out in the near future to select models from Hyundai and its spinoff, Genesis.
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However, this isn't the first time rumors have circulated about Apple's CarKey feature expansion. Four months ago, code was found in an iOS 15 configuration file that listed Genesis as a "partner" for supported car access terminals.
For now, neither Hyundai nor Genesis have publicly confirmed that CarKey support is coming anytime soon. The Genesis spinoff, on the other hand, uses a digital key that supports Android devices for select models.
For iOS 15, CarKey has been upgraded with support for Bluetooth Low Energy and Ultra Wideband, potentially allowing it to be used without removing the iPhone from your bag or pocket.
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It remains to be seen whether any Hyundai models will actually support CarKey within the year. It is worth mentioning here that a year ago it was said that there were talks between Apple and Hyundai about the so-called Apple Car. After Hyundai confirmed that some meetings had taken place, Apple withdrew, although apparently the discussions were not completely abandoned.
Source: AppleInsider
