Apple Renews “Car Key” App That Acts as a Car Key
Apple’s Car Key application, which functions as a car key, gains support in many cars. Here are the details!
Apple’s Car Key feature was first announced in July 2020 as a way to unlock your car using the Wallet app on your iPhone, but the feature’s availability was limited and has recently been expanded beyond certain BMW cars.
Now, in a sign that the company is ramping up Car Key adoption, Apple this week launched a new “Car Keys Tests” app on the App Store.
According to 9to5Mac’s sources, the new Car Key Tests app has been added to the App Store today. The app is distributed under Apple’s developer account but is not currently listed. This means you can only access the app through a direct link, not through an App Store search or Apple’s account page.
Apple Car Key App Expands to New Cars
The app is designed for automakers to test integration with Apple’s Car Key feature. Apple says the app allows these companies to “test and verify” requirements for the Car Key adoption certification process through the Made-For-iPhone program. Apple gives the following explanations for the new Car Keys Tests app:
“For use by MFi Licensees only. Use the Car Keys Tests app to test and verify connectivity, performance, and other key requirements for the certification process of vehicles you develop using Apple digital car key technology. For more information on Car Keys certification, visit mfi.apple.com“
Apparently, this means that Apple wants to accelerate Car Key adoption and expand the feature to new cars and other manufacturers. This feature is currently limited to certain BMW, Hyundai and Kia cars.
Car Key has the potential to be one of the most popular features for the Wallet app. It works via NFC and can be used not only to unlock your car, but also to start the car, share car keys with other people and more.