Tesla may soon support Apple Car Keys feature
What's the story
Tesla is reportedly developing functionality similar to Apple Car Keys, a feature that lets you unlock and start your car using an iPhone. The development comes as the automaker begins to adopt native, system-level digital car keys. The latest version (4.52.0) of Tesla's mobile app has several code references to Harmony Wallet Key Cards, according to Not a Tesla App.
Integration details
Shift toward mobile device integration
Tesla's existing Phone Key feature uses Bluetooth to connect the car with the Tesla app on a smartphone. However, a native wallet key is stored at the OS level and uses secure hardware elements, making it more reliable and accessible. The code strings found in version 4.52.0 of the Tesla app specifically mention integration with Huawei's HarmonyOS, indicating that this initial rollout is for Huawei Wallet on HarmonyOS devices.
Market strategy
Global testing ground and potential future support
Tesla has a history of using Chinese market as a testing ground for new software capabilities before rolling them out globally. While the code references don't mention Apple Wallet or Google Wallet, their functionality is similar to how Apple supports native digital car keys on iPhones. This similarity could suggest that Tesla might consider supporting Apple Car Keys in its vehicles in the future, following other automakers like Rivian, Porsche, Toyota, and General Motors who have recently added similar features.