Apple has quietly updated the backend systems powering its Wallet app. The change signals that three additional automakers will soon let drivers ditch their physical fobs for an iPhone or Apple Watch.
The discovery, first spotted by developer and MacRumors contributor Aaron Perris on X, points to Lincoln, Lucid Motors and China’s Freelander. None of the three have announced timelines. No specific models are confirmed. Yet the pattern is familiar. Backend additions have reliably preceded actual rollouts for brands from Toyota to Porsche.
Car Key, first introduced at WWDC 2020, stores a digital version of a vehicle key inside the Wallet app. Hold the phone or watch near the door handle. The car unlocks. Tap the brake with the device inside and it starts. Support varies. Some models add remote climate control or shareable keys with expiration dates. Others stick to basic lock, unlock and start functions. All rely on a mix of NFC, Bluetooth and, where available, ultra-wideband for precise location.
Today more than 50 models from BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Hyundai, Kia, Genesis, Toyota and Rivian already work with the feature, according to 9to5Mac. The list has grown steadily. Rivian brought support to its second-generation R1T and R1S trucks in late 2025. Toyota followed quietly with the 2026 RAV4 months later. Porsche activated it on the 2026 Macan EV without fanfare.
Lincoln’s addition makes sense. As Ford’s luxury division, it already appears in Apple’s broader automotive partnerships. Lucid, the California-based electric luxury maker, was first flagged for Car Key support during Apple’s 2025 developer conference alongside 12 other brands. Its inclusion now moves the company one step closer to delivery. Freelander, a Land Rover-derived nameplate revived in China under Chery ownership, represents the latest sign of interest from that country’s fast-growing auto sector.
But. This isn’t instant availability. Past backend updates for GWM’s Tank brand and Haval in July 2026 took time to reach customers. Apple has not commented on exact launch windows or vehicle pairings for the new trio. Industry watchers expect staggered introductions, often beginning with higher-end trims before spreading downward.
The technology rests on standards set by the Car Connectivity Consortium. Its Digital Key 3.0 specification combines multiple radio technologies to deliver both convenience and security. Vehicles must pass certification for both Apple and Google implementations. That shared foundation explains why many automakers pursue both platforms simultaneously.
Owners already using Car Key describe small but meaningful shifts in daily routine. No more fumbling for keys in the rain. No worry about a dead phone battery in some implementations thanks to low-power modes. Family members receive temporary digital copies that expire after a set period. Lost phones can be remotely wiped of vehicle access while the car remains protected.
Still, physical keys persist. Many drivers keep a traditional fob in a drawer for backup. Automakers continue to bundle remote services that require subscriptions after an initial trial. Kia offers ten years free on some models. Porsche and others tie connectivity to paid plans. These commercial realities slow full replacement of metal keys.
Meanwhile General Motors reversed course on infotainment this week. After earlier dropping standard CarPlay from some electric vehicles, the company revealed a new split-screen system for the 2027 Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra that brings Apple’s interface back alongside native controls, Bloomberg reported Tuesday. The move highlights continued entanglement between tech giants and traditional carmakers even as digital keys advance.
Lucid’s participation carries extra weight. The company positions its Air and Gravity models as technology-forward alternatives to German luxury EVs. Adding reliable phone-as-key functionality aligns with that message. Lincoln, preparing its own electric lineup, can use the feature to differentiate against rivals still relying heavily on fobs. Freelander’s move reflects broader Chinese industry momentum. Several domestic brands have already integrated Car Key or are testing it.
Apple maintains an official list of compatible vehicles on its CarPlay availability page. The roster continues to expand. Analysts tracking the sector note that each new partner increases the installed base and makes the feature more attractive to future buyers. Security remains a focus. The system uses device-specific encryption. Sharing a key does not expose the entire vehicle’s digital systems.
Industry progress has been deliberate. BMW pioneered the feature in 2020. Mercedes, Hyundai and others followed at different paces. Recent additions from Toyota — the world’s largest automaker — and American-focused brands like Rivian and now Lincoln suggest wider mainstream acceptance. Yet gaps remain. Tesla has shown no public interest in the Apple or Google standards, instead favoring its own app and rumored work on competing Chinese protocols.
Developers monitoring Apple’s code see these backend changes as early but reliable signals. Similar updates preceded Volkswagen’s expected integration and General Motors’ confirmation last year that Cadillac, Chevrolet and GMC would join. The process gives suppliers and software teams time to align before public launch.
Drivers who have made the switch often say they won’t go back. The phone stays in a pocket. The watch stays on the wrist. The car responds. For an industry that once sold status through heavy key fobs with embedded batteries, the shift feels understated yet permanent. Apple’s latest backend move adds three more pieces to that puzzle. The full picture will emerge model by model in the months ahead.
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