These two car brands will receive support for Apple Car Key (and here’s how it works)

Two car brands are rumored to support Apple Car Key. These brands are what it’s all about and that’s how the feature works!

Apple Car Key

Would you rather leave your car key at home? Or do you sometimes forget your key when you go out? In that case we have good news, because two car brands will support Apple Car Key. For Toyota and General Motors cars, it will be possible to add a digital key to your iPhone. General Motors has now confirmed that it is working on support for Apple Car Key, Toyota has not yet given any official confirmation.

Yet it seems almost certain that Toyota cars will also soon work with Apple Car Key. Apple has updated the software for the digital car key, adding Toyota to the list of car brands that support Apple Car Key. With Toyota and General Motors, Apple Car Key is coming to many more cars. General Motors also includes brands such as Chevrolet, Buick and Cadillac. Toyota is particularly popular in Europe, which means that many European users will soon be able to activate a digital car key on their iPhone.

This is how the digital car key works

With Apple Car Key you add a digital copy of your car key to your iPhone. This happens in the Apple Wallet, where you can also add debit cards and other cards. You will soon also find the car keys for Toyota and General Motors cars at that location. This has different advantages, depending on the car manufacturer. Manufacturers have these options with the Apple Car Key:

• Passive access: the car is automatically locked and unlocked when you are nearby and you can start the car once you have gotten in;
• Proximity: the car will be unlocked and locked if you hold the iPhone near the door handle and you can start the car by holding your iPhone near the key reader;
• Distance: You can lock and unlock the car via your iPhone.

Car brands themselves determine to what extent your iPhone can operate the car. You can also activate these functions in the Apple Wallet on your Apple Watch. Do you do that? Then you can not only open and close the car with the NFC chip in your iPhone, but also the same chip in your Apple Watch. It depends on the car manufacturer whether you can also start the car with the Apple Car Key. It has not yet been announced which functions Toyota and General Motors will opt for.

Release of Apple Car Key

Do you have a car from one of these car brands? In that case, you will soon be able to add a digital version of your car key to the Apple Wallet. You can then access your car via your iPhone or Apple Watch. General Motors has not yet indicated when the Apple Car Key will be available to users, although a 2026 release seems logical. Toyota has not yet responded to the rumors, which means that the release is also unclear for the time being.

With Toyota and General Motors, the list of car brands with support for Apple Car Key is growing. The digital car key is already available for various brands, such as Ford and BMW. Are you curious whether your car works with Apple Car Key? Look at here which cars now support the digital car key. Do you want to stay informed about the Apple Car Key at Toyota and General Motors? Then sign up for our daily or weekly newsletter!