Last month, Apple released a beta version of iOS 13.4 and developers quickly noticed it featured a new CarKey function for the iPhone and Watch.
Fast forward to today and 9to5Mac reports iOS 14 contains code that hints BMW will support the upcoming CarKey feature.
When the publication reached out to the automaker for comment, they played coy and pointed to an old press release noting “Providing customers with simple, connected and keyless access to their vehicles has been a key area of innovation.”
Also Read: Apple’s CarKey Feature Will Turn Your iPhone And Watch Into A Digital Key
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The same press release went on to say “Today, it is already possible to lock and unlock the vehicle, start the engine and share the key with others using the BMW Digital Key as part of BMW Connected on the smartphone. But this is only the first step in a global technological transformation being shaped and led by the BMW Group.”
While that’s not a confirmation, it’s pretty much the opposite of a denial. As a result, it’s likely BMW will be one of Apple’s CarKey launch partners.
Apple and BMW might be staying tight-lipped, but previous reports have indicated the CarKey feature will enable users to lock, unlock and start compatible vehicles via near field communication (NFC) technology. This can be done by simply holding an iPhone or Watch up to a vehicle’s NFC reader and it doesn’t require users to unlock their device first.
As we noted last month, CarKey appears to be the result of the Apple’s involvement in the Car Connectivity Consortium. The group – which has over a 100 members including BMW, GM, Honda, Hyundai, Jaguar Land Rover, Mercedes, PSA, Renault, Suzuki, Toyota, Volkswagen and Volvo – released Digital Key 1.0 back in 2018.
The consortium is already working on the third-generation of the specification, known as Digital Key 3.0, and it’s slated to use Bluetooth Low Energy and Ultra-Wideband technology. This promises to make digital keys far more user friendly as people will no longer have to pull out their smartphone and hold it next to the door handle. Instead, they can simply leave it in their pocket or purse.
