Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Mobile
  3. News

Apple reportedly working with BMW on CarKey feature, spotted in iOS 14 code

By
 

Apple is reportedly working with BMW for the rumored CarKey feature, which has appeared in iOS 14 code after being first spotted in the iOS 13.4 beta.

Recommended Videos

The code for iOS 13.4 contained references to a CarKey API, according to 9to5Mac. The feature will allow iPhone and Apple Watch owners to unlock and lock the doors of NFC-compatible cars, and to start them up. CarKey is expected to work even if the devices have run out of battery, and even if they have no access to the internet.

Related: 
Best new movies to stream on Netflix, Hulu, Prime Video, HBO Max, and more

The digital keys will be located in Apple’s Wallet app, and they may even be shared with other people through the Messages app. Vehicle owners will be able to grant permanent access to their cars, such as to parents or a spouse, or temporary access, such as for a friend who wants to borrow it for a weekend or a valet driver.

9to5Mac has now spotted evidence from the code of iOS 14 that suggests Apple is working with BMW as the first car manufacturer that will adopt CarKey. BMW was also the first to adopt Apple’s Wireless CarPlay, so this comes as no surprise.

Screenshots uploaded on Twitter also apparently show the user interface for CarKey, which is already included in the release version of iOS 13.4.

Ready to take the i8 for a spin @MaxWinebach? pic.twitter.com/bmKqY71BEd

— Dongle (@DongleBookPro) March 23, 2020

There are questions about the legitimacy of the screenshots due to certain abnormalities, including the explanation for Express Mode referring to Express Cards instead, and the spacing for text in the Set CarKey Access Type menu appears awkward. However, since this is not yet a fully rolled out feature, it may not yet have received a final polish from Apple.

iPhone 11’s ultra-wideband chip

Apple’s CarKey may utilize the ultra-wideband chip that was introduced on the iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro, and iPhone 11 Pro Max, according to 9to5Mac. So far, the chip has only been used for minor improvements to the AirDrop wireless data transfer feature. With the Apple Watch mentioned in the iOS 13.4 beta code, a future model of the smartwatch may soon also be equipped with the UWB chip.

In addition to CarKey, another expected upcoming application for the UWB chip is for AirTags, Apple’s rumored tracking product similar to Tile.

Aaron Mamiit
Aaron Mamiit
Contributor
Aaron received an NES and a copy of Super Mario Bros. for Christmas when he was four years old, and he has been fascinated…
Topics

Editors’ Recommendations

3 big iOS 19 changes that I hope Apple reveals at WWDC 2025
iOS 19 sample logo.

We’re less than two days away from Apple’s big WWDC 2025 keynote, where the company will reveal new versions of each of its software platforms. One of the biggest changes this year is the expected shift from iOS 19 to iOS 26, with new versions of macOS, iPadOS, tvOS, watchOS, and visionOS also set to follow suit. We're also expecting to see the evolution of Apple Health, including a new AI doctor and Health subscription.

iOS 26, if it is to be named that, is expected to introduce one of the biggest evolutions in design for Apple software since the first iPhone was launched. Inspired by visionOS and the Apple Vision Pro, it’s expected to be a monumental redesign, but I hope that Apple also takes the time to make a few improvements.

Read more
iOS 26 rumored to go back to basics with four intriguing upgrades
An iPhone 15 Pro Max running iOS 18, showing its home screen.

In just two days from now, Apple will take the stage at WWDC 2025 and showcase the big yearly upgrades for its entire software portfolio. I am quite excited about the platform-wide design update and a few functional changes to iPadOS, especially the one targeting a more macOS-like makeover for the iPad’s software. 

Of course, analysts will be keenly watching for Apple’s next moves with AI, but it seems some of the most dramatic features have been pushed into the next year. Apple can afford some of those delays, as long as the company serves enough meaningful updates to its user base. Apple won’t exactly be running dry on AI, though. 

Read more
5 rumored iOS 26 features we could see at WWDC 2025
An iPhone 16 laying on a shelf with its screen on.

Apple’s upcoming WWDC 2025 showcase is going to be a busy one, even though the expected AI-powered software rebirth may not land until next year. In the meantime, reliable sources have spilled the beans on what we might expect for the next major iOS overhaul. 

Starting with the name, Apple could skip iOS 19 and could go straight from v18 to v26. We are also expecting a design overhaul, something that could draw inspiration from Vision OS. On the functional side, an AI health coach would be a huge draw for fitness enthusiasts. 

Read more