According to information from Mark Gurman, a new car brand should support the Apple CarKey by summer 2022. The rollout of this NFC-based feature, however, has been slow since it was announced in 2020.
In June 2020, Apple held its traditional WWDC to reveal the main new features of its software interface, iOS 14 at the time in this case. The conference was the opportunity to present Apple CarKey, which allows you to unlock your car directly with your iPhone or Apple Watch. A kind of virtual key, in short.
This technology did not have a thunderous start, since only one brand and one model were concerned at the start: BMW, with its 5 Series in the 2021 version. Since then, other automobiles from the firm from across the Rhine have join this list. But no other brand, even American, has entered into a new partnership with Apple.
Genesis
Except that the deal could soon change if we are to believe information from Mark Gurman of Bloomberg, always well informed about the projects of the group at the apple. According to him, another manufacturer should make its vehicles compatible with Apple CarKey technology, starting next summer.
” As per lines of code unearthed in iOS 15 several months ago, I’ve heard that the next cars to support this feature will be models from Hyundai and its Genesis line. “, can we read in the newsletter of Mark Gurman, relayed by9to5Mac.
The Genesis range is not the most popular in our region, since this high-end label has simply never been launched in Europe. The Korean manufacturer has however reviewed its roadmap and plans to tackle the Old Continent in the coming years through electric cars only.
Apple CarKey, how does it work?
A year and a half after its announcement, Apple CarKey takes some time to invite itself into our vehicles. As a reminder, this system is based on the NFC protocol to unlock a vehicle by bringing an iPhone or a watch connected to the door handle. Beforehand, the driver is asked to identify himself using Face ID or Touch ID.
An Express Mode function makes it possible to bypass the authentication system to speed up the unlocking of the vehicle. And above all, the famous ultra-wideband U1 chip offers new perspectives with compatible vehicles, as it is more precise than NFC technology. With it, you don’t even have to take out your iPhone to open your car.
The autonomous and electric Apple Car project is still in progress, but will be done without Hyundai and Kia.
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