Hyundai and BYD seem ready to join hands like BMW, Genesis and Kia to support iPhone-based CarKey unlocking.
MacRumors Apple has added support for Hyundai and BYD in its Apple Pay configuration file, meaning owners will soon be able to store or share a car key using their iPhone, the report said.
BMW, Genesis and Kia cars are listed in the already mentioned configuration file Macromers. Tesla offers its own phone-based unlocking system.
Vehicles that support Apple Wallet unlocking allow their owners to walk to the car with their phones in their pockets and, thanks to a recent update, pull the door handle like a regular ‘keyless’ Phoebe.
Earlier versions of the CarKey system forced owners to take their iPhones out of their pockets and tap the credit card style on the door handle.
Owners are also able to give friends or family members access to the car for a fixed period of time.
If the person you want to give access to has a compatible phone, they are able to unlock and operate the car without accessing a physical key.
The digital key can be shared with up to five people. Owners can set access restrictions, as well as maximum speed, power, and radio volume limits for each key – so if kids lend a car, you can control them.
-
Hyundai -
BYD
Even if it is turned off due to the flat battery, the phone’s reserve power supply allows users to use the digital key for another five hours.
CarKey’s XR and XS should work on new iPhone models as well as Apple Watch Series 5 and above.
It is understood that CarKey is the implementation of Apple’s Digital Key Release 2.0 standard car connectivity consortium, so it is likely that other car manufacturers will start offering virtual key-compatible vehicles in the near future.
The consortium’s carmakers include Fiat Chrysler, Ford, GM, Hyundai, Jaguar Land Rover, Mercedes-Benz, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Renault, Rivian, Subaru, Suzuki, Toyota, Volkswagen and Volvo.