Apple Car Key could make its way to Tesla vehicles

The Apple Wallet app may soon gain digital Car Key support for Tesla vehicles, according to newly discovered code references.

Since 2020, the Car Key feature has let iPhone and Apple Watch owners unlock and start their cars using mobile devices. The capability is built into iOS. However, certain car manufacturers, like Tesla, offer proprietary mobile apps that facilitate the same vehicle locking and unlocking functionality.

On Monday, an update to the Tesla app revealed new details about the automaker's plans regarding digital car keys. Specifically, version 4.52.0 of the Tesla application contains references to the Harmony Wallet Key Card, suggesting that integration with Huawei's HarmonyOS is in the works.

Huawei's Wallet functionality bears resemblance to Apple's Car Key, as both utilize NFC or near-field communication hardware in mobile devices to unlock vehicles.

As for why Tesla appears to be only testing Huawei integration for the time being, the publication Not a Tesla app offers a possible answer. The site points out that Tesla typically rolls out features to users in China before making them available globally, as Huawei holds a larger share of the smartphone market in China.

In January 2025, it was reported that Huawei held 18.2% of the smartphone market in China, with Apple only holding a 17.2% share at the time. The prominence of Huawei relative to Apple has been noticeable since at least 2018, when the Chinese brand was estimated to have overtaken Apple as the world's second-largest smartphone vendor.

As such, it makes sense for Tesla to test out NFC-powered digital car key integration with Huawei before making the same feature available across other platforms.

Monday's findings from the Tesla app update do not directly mention Apple's Car Key or the Apple Wallet app as a whole, although the possibility of Tesla integration remains.

Regarding other manufacturers, such as GM and its various brands, including Cadillac, we've seen more concrete evidence indicating that Car Key will become compatible with their automobiles.

Currently, more than 30 automakers support Apple's Car Key functionality. At WWDC 2025, Apple revealed that Car Key would make its way to 13 additional vehicle brands. If Tesla rolls out Car Key support, it would represent a welcome if somewhat unexpected addition.