According to Apple, the feature has now expanded to select 2022 vehicle models from Genesis and Kia, which are both divisions of Korean automaker Hyundai.[1]

Figure 1: iPhone car unlocks the 2022 Genesis GV60 and G90 and the 2022 Kia Niro

Figure 1 shows that the One of the most interesting and limited features available within the iOS ecosystem is Car Key. Launched in 2020, only a limited number of BMW models could be unlocked with the owner’s iPhone and Apple Watch. Now, Apple is expanding this feature to some Kia and Genesis vehicles.

What’s good to note is that Car Key is finally expanding to more vehicles after almost two years.

To not even take your iPhone from your pocket or raise your Apple Watch to unlock the car, you’ll need an iPhone 11 or Apple Watch Series 6 due to the need for the U1 chip.

Users can still use Car Key by NFC as long as their iPhone or Apple Watch are running iOS 13.6 or watch OS 6.2.8 and, obviously, feature an NFC sensor. [2]

Apple updated a list of vehicles on its website this week to indicate that the 2022 Genesis GV60, 2022 Genesis G90, and 2022 Kia Niro now support the iPhone's car key feature.

A spokesperson for Kia said the company "will have more information about Digital Key availability in the coming weeks," while Genesis and Apple did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Apple began preparing for Genesis to support the feature last year.[1]

Apple’s digital car keys are part of the company’s broader push to minimize the number of items you carry around in your pockets or purse.

Apple announced that users in Arizona can use their Wallet to carry their driver’s license or state ID and has plans to expand this feature to a number of other states in the near future.

Apple also lets users staying in select Hyatt hotels unlock their rooms with a digitally-stored key.[3]

References:

1. https://www.macrumors.com/2022/03/23/iphone-car-key-feature-2022-genesis-kia/
2. https://9to5mac.com/2022/03/23/iphone-car-key-feature-now-available-for-some-2022-kia-and-genesis-vehicles/
3. https://finnoexpert.com/2022/03/24/apples-iphone-car-key-will-unlock-certain-2022-genesis-and-kia-models/

Cite this article:

Sri Vasagi K (2022), Apple iPhone Unlocks Few Models of Genesis, Kia Vehicle 2022, AnaTechMax, pp. 37