- Rivian will soon get support for Apple Car Key.
- Support for the virtual key has gone live on Cupertino’s end, just ahead Apple’s “Awe dropping” launch event in September where the iPhone 17 is expected to be announced.
- 33 total automakers worldwide have pledged support for Apple’s Car Key since it was announced in 2020.
For so many folks, their cell phone is such a key component of their life. It’s their social connection, their camera and even their wallet where they store all of their credit cards. Soon it will be their car key, too.
Apple first announced Car Key all the way back in 2020. Manufacturers have been sluggish to adopt since then, but that hasn’t kept iPhone owners from getting excited for the day the feature finally comes to their car. A new report from MacRumors reveals that Rivian’s release will be coming very soon.
Photo by: Rivian
The upcoming support for Rivian’s R1 vehicles was noticed after a configuration file was spotted containing information about the feature’s activation in Apple Wallet, an app on iPhone which stores sensitive information like credit card details and even digital drivers licenses behind Apple’s Secure Enclave cryptoprocessor.
According to MacRumors, Rivian says that the feature has been pushed live on Apple’s side. However, the automaker has yet to officially launch the feature on its side, meaning that the building blocks are in place, but aren’t yet connected together for Rivian owner to take advantage of it. The automaker told MacRumors that the feature is “coming soon.”
On Friday, Rivian software chief Wassym Bensaid confirmed that Rivian’s “next-generation digital key,” which can be stored in an Apple or Android wallet, will arrive in “an upcoming OTA update.” He specified that it works with Rivian’s second-generation vehicles, which recently launched.
Apple’s Car Key feature allows iPhone and Apple Watch owners to use the device’s NFC radio to act like a digital key to a supported vehicle. When the device communicates with the car, it acts similar to a key fob—meaning you can lock, unlock, start or perform other vehicle actions when in proximity to the vehicle and even remotely. It also supports Apple’s Express Mode, which allows the device to act as a key without being unlocked (meaning the phone can remain in your pocket and still function as a key). Automakers can choose which specific features of Car Key to implement, and how it can interact with the car.
Today, select models across Audi, BMW, Genesis, Hyundai, Kia, Lotus, Mini, Mercedes, Polestar, Ram and Volvo’s lineups support Car Key functionality. Apple notes that support for Acura, Cadillac, Chevrolet, GMC, Lucid, Porsche, and Smart vehicles is also coming soon (plus Rivian, of course). That makes 33 total automakers across the globe with Car Key currently supported or pledged across the globe.
No hard date is set on when the feature will go live on Rivian’s side, but the automaker reportedly confirmed that it would be coming soon.
The feature will reportedly only be compatible with Gen 2 R1 vehicles for now, meaning that early Gen 1 owners will be left without it. The good news is that the early models already support Phone as a Key using the Rivian app, so it’s not like they’ll be left completely unsupported. Hopefully, the feature also extends to the upcoming Rivian R2.
Updated Friday, August 29, 6:45 p.m. with confirmation from Rivian executive Wassym Bensaid.
