Apple's virtual CarKey launching with iOS 14, coming to iOS 13

During its virtual WWDC keynote, Apple showed off a new way to access your vehicle: CarKey. CarKey is a quick, virtual way to unlock and start your car with just your iPhone.

Starting with the new 2021 BMW 5 Series, users are able to tap their iPhone to the door handle to unlock the door. Once inside, you just place your phone on the Qi wireless charger and press the ignition button.

CarKey is coming to the BMW 2021 5 Series

Apple touts the security benefits of a virtual key due to its ability to be remotely deactivated via iCloud. Keys can also be shared seamlessly through the Messages.

Additional cars will be supporting CarKey in the future. CarKey will be coming not only to iOS 14, but iOS 13 as well. Timetables for roll-out are not yet clear.

CarPlay is receiving many other updates as part of iOS 14 as well. It has new background options as well as new categories including parking, EV charging, and quick food ordering.

Stay tuned to AppleInsider for additional coverage of WWDC 2020.

11 Comments

fallenjt 4056 comments · 13 Years

About 4 years ago

I prefer Tesla app which I don’t even need to take it out of the pocket to nake it work😂

redraider11 186 comments · 9 Years

There’s only a couple things I really care about with CarPlay right now. One is for an Apple approved dongle, whether it be 1st or 3rd party, for wireless CarPlay in older cars. The other is to have the current temperature on the CarPlay home screen. An awesome feature that will probably never happen would be for CarPlay to have access to the GPS in my car, so when we go somewhere with spotty cell service I can still get navigation with Apple Maps or Waze.

mike1 3437 comments · 10 Years

I guess CarKey would be good in an emergency, but having to take out the phone to tap the door handle is a step backwards. These cars already have keyless entry.

SpamSandwich 32917 comments · 19 Years

Still not sold on this as it seems like a real risk to security of a vehicle. My mind might be changed if I see real world use and the benefits.

jony0 380 comments · 12 Years

fallenjt said:

I prefer Tesla app which I don’t even need to take it out of the pocket to nake it work😂

Probably because their cars have hardware other than NFC. It would seem that the basic system they demonstrated here was just NFC for some kind of universality. When more cars will be fitted with the new standard, the U1 chip will allow that possibility as well.