Apple wants you to ditch your car keys.
The world’s third-largest company announced it’s expanding the Apple Wallet car key support to include even more automakers.
That means more drivers will soon be able to lock, unlock, and even start their cars directly from their iPhones.
And some drivers will be able to ditch their clunky keys and fobs.
Apple first launched digital car keys in 2020, but until now, the feature was limited to a handful of high-end vehicles from specific brands.
Acura, Chevrolet, Cadillac, and GMC are now part of the US roster, increasing the number of global partner brands to 13, according to Apple’s announcement on Monday at the Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC).
Previously, this feature was exclusive to certain models by luxury car manufacturers such as Volvo, Genesis, Rivian, Audi, and BMW.
Hyundai and Kia were the only budget-friendly options in the original rollout.
Apple has launched a series of car related updates during its latest tech unveil event
Apple didn’t say exactly when the feature will be available in new cars, only saying the launch was coming ‘soon.’
A representative didn’t immediately respond to DailyMail.com’s request for comment.
It’s a move that continues Apple’s slow but deliberate push into the auto industry.
Between 2014 and 2024, the company spent billions attempting to develop an Apple Car, codenamed ‘Project Titan.’
But after 10 years in the lab, Apple cancelled the project last year.
Rather than entering the car manufacturing market, the tech giant has invested heavily in refining its Apple CarPlay system, which mirrors phone apps and widgets on vehicle screens.
The investment shows the tech giant is clearly interested in becoming the digital interface for the modern vehicle.
Apple also unveiled a new look and feel for soon-to-launch CarPlay updates.
Tim Cook, Apple’s CEO, has led the company toward developing more vehicle technology
The new version of Apple CarPlay, seen in this Aston Martin, will feature a new widget design
CarPlay’s new look will offer a range of visual updates
But CarPlay is facing some resistance – GM is launching new cars without the phone mirroring system, while Rivian (shown above) has never used Apple’s in-car tech. But the EV company is one of the vehicle models using the Apple Wallet key
The company teased a redesigned version of the system with its controversial Liquid Glass aesthetic, interactive tiles, and new standby widgets that keep things like clocks and calendar events visible while the car idles.
Not every automaker is on board with Apple’s vision for the dashboard. The CarPlay update has faced a surprising amount of resistance in the automotive sector.
General Motors — which owns Chevy, Cadillac, and GMC — has already started phasing out Apple CarPlay in its new electric vehicles.
Instead of mirroring your iPhone, GM’s EVs now run on Ultifi, its in-house software platform.
The company has poured millions into developing the system as part of a broader strategy to control the user experience — and the valuable data that comes with it.
And GM isn’t alone. Some of the biggest names in the EV world, including Tesla and Rivian, have never supported CarPlay.
These automakers are betting that drivers will adapt to native systems that are more tightly integrated with the car itself.
That integration can offer features Apple can’t. For example, when a Tesla driver maps a route to a Supercharger, the car automatically preconditions the battery temperature to optimize charging speed.
