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You can now unlock your Audi with your iPhone, but you’ll need to have one specific model

By Britta O'Boyle Published March 17, 2025

Apple Car Keys on BMW — BMW / BMW

Apple first introduced support for digital car keys back in 2022 and a number of car brands already offer the feature on some of their models, including BMW, BYD, Lotus, Mercedes-Benz and the Hyundai Group. Audi has been missing from that list for the last couple of years though, until now.

The German car manufacturer has recently enabled Apple Car Key support for its A6 Avant e-tron model, which sees the digital key feature coming to Audi’s electric car platform for the first time. The support was spotted by Mac4Ever and picked up by MacRumors, with the suggestion that the Car Key support may also make its way over to Porsche for its next line of vehicles.

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The A6 Avant e-tron model is the second model to launch from Audi on its Premium Platform Electric (PPE) platform, and with Porsche sharing this platform, it would make sense that the support for Apple Car Keys also transfers across soon.

What is Apple’s Car Key feature?

The Apple Car Key feature, for those not familiar, enables you to unlock your car with an NFC-enabled Apple Watch or iPhone. A digital version of your car’s key is stored within Apple Wallet on your iPhone or Apple Watch, and the car will unlock as you get close by, or when you tap on the door handle.

You can set your iPhone or Apple Watch up so that Face ID is required to authenticate you and then unlock your car, but there is also an Express Mode that will allow for quicker unlocking by bypassing the authentication process.

Once you set up the digital key on your device, you’ll see it when you double tap the side button on your iPhone or Apple Watch, as you would your cards for Apple Pay and boarding passes if you’re travelling.

Code changes were previously spotted in the Apple Wallet backend back in October 2024 by MacRumors suggesting support for Apple Car Keys was in progress for Volvo, Polestar and Audi.

For now, Volvo and Polestar don’t yet support digital car keys but with Audi having now joined the list, albeit only one model, it’s possible Volvo and Polestar won’t be far behind. You can see the full list of car models that support Car Keys in a list on Apple’s Support Page. Look for the grey key alongside the car model to spot them easily.

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Britta is a freelance technology journalist who has been writing about tech for over a decade. She's covered all consumer…

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Tesla’s new Cybertruck trim goes low on price, high on range

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Tesla has just introduced the most affordable variant of its Cybertruck in the US market. Carrying a sticker price worth $69,990, and dipping down to $62,490 with the federal tax credit applied, the new “Long Range” rear-wheel drive (RWD) model is quite an interesting package, in both good and odd ways.

For starters, despite being the most affordable trim, it offers the highest per-charge mileage at 350 miles. The pricier All-Wheel Drive version delivers a range of 325 miles, while the top-of-the-line $99,990 Cyberbeast model can only muster 301 miles.

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Subaru’s electric comeback starts now: Trailseeker EV to debut in NYC

subaru trailseeker ev debut 2026 4 thumb

Subaru is finally accelerating into the EV fast lane. The automaker is officially teasing the 2026 Trailseeker, an all-new electric SUV set to debut at the New York International Auto Show next week. While details are still scarce, the Trailseeker marks Subaru’s long-awaited second entry into the EV space, joining the Solterra — and the expectations couldn't be higher.
The teaser image offers only a glimpse of the Trailseeker’s rear badge and taillight, but the name alone suggests rugged ambitions. It's a clear nod to Subaru’s outdoorsy heritage. But in the EV space, the outdoors belongs to brands like Rivian, whose upcoming R2 compact SUV is already turning heads. The Trailseeker is Subaru’s chance to reassert its identity in an electric age.
Currently, Subaru’s only EV is the Solterra, a joint venture with Toyota that shares a platform with the bZ4X. While the Solterra nails some Subaru essentials — all-wheel drive, spaciousness, and off-road capability — it falls short on key EV metrics. Reviewers have pointed to its modest 225-mile range, slow 100kW charging, and unremarkable acceleration, especially compared to rivals like the Hyundai Ioniq 5 or Ford Mustang Mach-E.
The hope is that Subaru has learned from these criticisms and is poised to deliver a more competitive product. The Trailseeker could either be a variation of a newer Toyota EV (possibly the next-gen C-HR+), or something entirely new under the shared platform strategy. Subaru previously announced that its next three EVs would be co-developed with Toyota, before launching four in-house EVs by 2028.
Given how long Subaru has waited to expand its EV offerings, the Trailseeker has to deliver. It's not just about adding a second electric model — it's about keeping pace with a market rapidly leaving legacy automakers behind. If the Trailseeker can improve on the Solterra's shortcomings and channel that classic Subaru ruggedness into a truly modern EV, it might just be the spark the brand needs.

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EVs top gas cars in German reliability report — but one weak spot won’t quit

future electric cars 2021 volkswagen id4 official 32

Electric vehicles are quietly crushing old stereotypes about being delicate or unreliable, and the data now backs it up in a big way. According to Germany’s ADAC — Europe’s largest roadside assistance provider — EVs are actually more reliable than their internal combustion engine (ICE) counterparts. And this isn’t just a small study — it’s based on a staggering 3.6 million breakdowns in 2024 alone.
For cars registered between 2020 and 2022, EVs averaged just 4.2 breakdowns per 1,000 vehicles, while ICE cars saw more than double that, at 10.4 per 1,000. Even with more EVs hitting the road, they only accounted for 1.2% of total breakdowns — a big win for the battery-powered crowd.
Among standout performers, some cars delivered exceptionally low breakdown rates. The Audi A4 clocked in at just 0.4 breakdowns per 1,000 vehicles for 2022 models, with Tesla’s Model 3 right behind at 0.5. The Volkswagen ID.4, another popular EV, also impressed with a rate of 1.0 – as did the Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross at 1.3. On the flip side, there were some major outliers: the Hyundai Ioniq 5 showed a surprisingly high 22.4 breakdowns per 1,000 vehicles for its 2022 models, while the hybrid Toyota RAV4 posted 18.4.
Interestingly, the most common issue for both EVs and ICE vehicles was exactly the same: the humble 12-volt battery. Despite all the futuristic tech in EVs, it’s this old-school component that causes 50% of all EV breakdowns, and 45% for gas-powered cars. Meanwhile, EVs shine in categories like engine management and electrical systems — areas where traditional engines are more complex and failure-prone.
But EVs aren’t completely flawless. They had a slightly higher rate of tire-related issues — 1.3 breakdowns per 1,000 vehicles compared to 0.9 for ICE cars. That could be due to their heavier weight and high torque, which can accelerate tire wear. Still, this trend is fading in newer EVs as tire tech and vehicle calibration improve.
Now, zooming out beyond Germany: a 2024 Consumer Reports study in the U.S. painted a different picture. It found that EVs, especially newer models, had more reliability issues than gas cars, citing tech glitches and inconsistent build quality. But it’s worth noting that the American data focused more on owner-reported problems, not just roadside breakdowns.
So, while the long-term story is still developing, especially for older EVs, Germany’s data suggests that when it comes to simply keeping you on the road, EVs are pulling ahead — quietly, efficiently, and with far fewer breakdowns than you might expect.