The feature was previously only available on BMW cars.
Apple’s digital car key feature has only been available on a few BMW models since its debut in 2020. Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman reported in January that the feature would be expanded to include select Hyundai brands such as Genesis “by the summer.” It appears that those plans are now on track to be completed ahead of schedule. Apple has updated its CarPlay website, according to MacRumors, to indicate that the 2022 Genesis GV60, 2022 G90, and 2022 Kia Niro now support the feature.
It’s unclear whether CarKey functionality is already widely available on those models or if Hyundai is just starting to roll it out. A Kia spokesperson told the outlet that the company would “have more information about Digital Key availability in the coming weeks.”
While car manufacturers have offered remote lock controls through smartphones for a while, CarKey is different in that it treats your iPhone and Apple Watch like a physical key. To use the feature, you simply bring your phone or wearable up to your car’s door handle to unlock it. Some vehicles also allow you to start them by placing your device near the ignition button. With more recent iPhones that come with Apple’s U1 chip, you don’t even need to remove your phone from your pocket to access your car.
