Which cars are compatible with CarKey on iPhone and Apple Watch? Here we review the updated list in early 2024
A few years ago, notably at WWDC 2020, those from Cupertino announced CarKey. This function is a smart key hosted in our Wallet on iPhone or Apple Watch. This will allow us to unlock, lock and start our car. In this article we will see which cars are compatible at the start of 2024 and the different modes of interaction between devices and the vehicle.
Get to know CarKey, the best way to have contact with our car through the iPhone
As long as the car is compatible, the feature causes a smart key to be generated in the Wallet app to control the car. Depending on your car manufacturer, you can interact and perform the following actions with Apple function.
Passive opening: To open, close or start the car, you need your iPhone or Apple Watch with you. When approaching, the car opens and vice versa, when moving away, it closes. Inside the car you can start easily. An iPhone 11 or later is required, as for the Apple Watch, a Series 6 or later is required.
By proximity– You must hold your iPhone or Apple Watch near the door handle or key reader. To open or close, you must hold your device close to the door. To start, you must place the iPhone on the key reader or bring the Apple Watch closer, then you must start the car.
Remote form: Here you need to open the Wallet app and click on the car key. The different functions will be revealed, lock, unlock or start. You also need an iPhone 11 or later, an Apple Watch Series 6 or later, and to be within Bluetooth range of the car.
Add Smart Key to Apple Watch after being on iPhone
There is support for express modein a few words, You will not need to unlock your device or use Face ID or Touch ID to use the smart key. You can also share your key via Messages, Mail, or AirDrop. Follow this Apple Support article for more details.
CarKey-enabled cars
Now that you know how to use the Apple Smart Key or CarKey, it’s time to see compatible cars.
BMW
- 2021 – 2023 Series 1
- 2021 – 2023 Series 2
- 2021 – 2023 Series 3
- 2021 – 2023 Series 4
- 2021 – 2023 Series 5
- 2021 – 2023 Series 6
- 2021 – 2023 8 Series
- 2021 – 2023X5
- 2021 – 2023 X6
- 2021 – 2023X7
- 2021 – 2023 X5M
- 2021 – 2023 X6M
- 2021-2023 Z4
- 2022-2023 i4
- 2022 – 2023 iX
- 2022-2023 iX1
- 2022-2023 iX3
- 2023 i3
- 2023 i7
- 2024 i5
BYD
Genesis
Hyundai
- Palisade 2023
- 2023 IONIQ 6
- 2024, its EV
Come on
- Telluride 2023
- 2023 Niro
- Seltos 2024
- 2024 EV9
Lotus
Mercedes-Benz
You can open your car with CarKey with an iPhone without a battery
Why is there little availability from manufacturers?
It depends on the manufacturers, as well as in terms of applications, it depends on the developers. According to the CarKey documentation on Apple’s dedicated page, “Manufacturers are adopting this framework in the applications they use to assist and control their vehicles”.
3 things are necessary to control the vehicle from a distance: function identifiers (for vehicle characteristics), action identifiers and execution status (the vehicle returns in response to the action). Every automotive application and manufacturer must be enrolled in the MFi program. For example, MINI announced its own Digital Key Plus integration, although it is not yet functional with Apple’s system.
We hope that at the upcoming WWDC 2024, advancements can be presented regarding availability to more manufacturers with CarKey.
