Summary
- Most cars with Apple Wallet keys are made by BMW, but other compatible brands include Hyundai, Kia, Ram, BYD, and Volvo.
- You’ll want to doublecheck compatibility for any particular model and trim, especially since only some models support features like passive entry.
- At WWDC 2025, Apple announced that brands like Acura, Chevy, Cadillac, GMC, Lucid, Porsche and Rivian will be adding support in the near future.
This marks my age, but I remember that as a kid, it was legitimately novel when cars started getting remotes to unlock them instead of manual keys. It felt like a luxury. In fact, by some fluke, I never got a remote-unlock car of my own until my 30s. It wasn’t a huge selling point for me, I suppose, even in a used car.
Fast-forward to today, and I’d automatically prefer a vehicle I can unlock with my iPhone or Apple Watch. That’s most definitely a luxury, but it also has some practical value — say if I forget my real keys, or my hands are full enough that it would be easier to use my wrist. You do have to hunt down vehicles with Apple Wallet support, unfortunately, and not all of them support the same functionality. I’ll explain a bit more about how things work before I get into the proper list, which is ever-changing — if a new vehicle has been announced, you may need to check directly with a manufacturer to verify support. Even Apple’s official data seems to lag slightly.
Related
5 driving tips I use for getting the most range out of an EV
Many of the principles of driving a gas car apply to gaining miles on your EV.
How do Apple car keys work?
The varying levels of functionality
BMW
All Apple car keys let you use an iPhone or Apple Watch to unlock a car. Some will also let you start it, and control other features, but that’s up to what an automaker allows. By default, keys also take advantage of Express Mode, bypassing the need to unlock your iPhone first using Face ID, Touch ID, or a passcode. Be careful about letting your iPhone out of your sight, in other words.
Keys are initially added to the Wallet app on your iPhone, but should automatically sync to a paired Apple Watch if you have one. Follow an automaker’s app, email, or SMS instructions when it comes to creating a key. After that, if a key isn’t automatically synced to your Apple Watch, just open the Watch app, go to Wallet & Apple Pay, and tap the Add button next to the key. You can remove a key from your devices at any time — just remember that if you do that, get a new iPhone, or reset your current iPhone, you’ll need to go through the whole setup process again.
Share keys with others by selecting them in the Wallet app and tapping the Share button. As needed you can adjust permissions, and require an activation code if a car doesn’t demand its own Vehicle Code. Note that to complete the sharing process, some cars may require a key fob or a device that already has an Apple car key. Don’t assume you can send a key to your partner or child remotely.
Apple’s tech relies on a mix of wireless standards: NFC, UWB ( ultra-wideband), and Bluetooth. These enable three different forms of access:
- Passive entry: Supported only when a car offers UWB as well, this helps unlock, start, and/or lock a car simply through proximity detection. Apple’s system is smart enough to recognize context — it’ll lock when you walk away, for example.
- Proximity: More commonly, you can bring your Apple device next to an NFC reader to toggle a lock and/or the ignition. In the case of the ignition, you’ll have to hit your car’s start button at the same time.
- Remote: Within Bluetooth range, you can use an iPhone to lock/unlock a car and control various other features. Some vehicles may let you start them remotely, which is a boon in cold weather as long as your car isn’t on the opposite side of a parking lot.
Related
Everything you need to know about PEVs, or personal electric vehicles
You can use PEVs to explore, run errands, or speed up your commute.
Which cars support wireless keys in Apple Wallet?
Many options, but conspicuous gaps
BMW
There’s good news and bad news here. The good news is that the list of compatible vehicles is growing. The bad news is that many brands aren’t onboard yet, even if they support CarPlay, and Apple’s database doesn’t identify which keys support remote or passive entry features. That’s something you’ll have to verify directly with an automaker on a model-by-model or even trim-by-trim basis. Some companies withhold their better tech features for more expensive trims.
Here’s the official list as of late July 2025, with confirmed model years. As a rule, you can usually assume that support will continue into new model years, but doublecheck that before signing anything at a dealership.
BMW
BMW
- 1 Series (2021 to 2024)
- 2 Series (2021 to 2024)
- 3 Series (2021 to 2024)
- 4 Series (2021 to 2024)
- 5 Series (2021 to 2024)
- 6 Series (2021 to 2024)
- 8 Series (2021 to 2024)
- X5/X5 M (2021 to 2024)
- X6/X6 M (2021 to 2024)
- X7 (2021 to 2024)
- Z4 (2021 to 2024)
- i4 (2022 to 2024)
- iX (2022 to 2024)
- iX1 (2022 to 2024)
- iX3 (2022 to 2024)
- i3 (2023)
- i5 (2024)
- i7 (2023 to 2024)
BYD
BYD
Genesis
Genesis
- GV60 (2023 to 2024)
- G90 (2023 to 2024)
- G70 (2024)
Hyundai
Hyundai
- Palisade (2023 to 2024)
- Ioniq 6 (2023 to 2024)
Kia
- Telluride (2023 to 2024)
- Niro (2023 to 2024)
- Seltos (2024)
- EV9 (2024)
Lotus
Lotus
- Eletre (2024)
- Emeya (2024)
Mercedes-Benz
Mercedes-Benz
Ram
Dodge
Why don’t more cars support Apple Wallet?
More brands are coming soon
Rivian
There’s no one-size-fits-all explanation, but there are barriers to adopting Apple’s car key technology. For one, it won’t work unless a vehicle has NFC readers installed, and UWB radios are needed to enable passive entry. Either adds to the cost of designing and manufacturing a vehicle, and some automakers might not consider it worth it for the amount of buyers it attracts. Typically, CarPlay is more important to the average shopper.
Beyond that, there’s a cost to developing and supporting digital car keys. While Apple doesn’t charge a licensing fee as far I can tell, automakers still need to code compatibility into their software, test it, then offer support to customers. And if a company backs Apple devices, it’s likely to support Android keys as well.
The tech does seem to be gaining traction, nevertheless. At its 2025 Worldwide Developer Conference, Apple announced that more brands will be coming soon — in fact, Volvo should already be onboard. Here are the others:
- Acura
- Chevrolet
- Cadillac
- GMC
- Porsche
- Rivian
- Smart
- Lucid
- Tata
- Hongqi
- WEY
- Chery
- Voyah
Related
You might be waiting a while for a 600-mile EV
EVs are poised to eclipse the range of gas vehicles, but the most you can do right now is save your pennies.
