New features for Tesla vehicles may soon include expanded phone key functionality, potentially incorporating Apple’s car key feature. Reports indicate that this development is initially aimed at the Chinese market, utilizing Huawei’s HarmonyOS, although support for iPhones could follow.
Currently, Tesla users can access their vehicles using an iPhone or Apple Watch through the Tesla app. The addition of Apple’s car key platform would allow for capabilities such as locking, starting, and stopping vehicles directly from the Wallet app, along with advanced features like tap-to-unlock and NFC access.
Notably, even if an iPhone loses power, the car key function remains operational for up to five hours. Rivian has recently introduced similar support for its vehicles, while Tesla is also reportedly developing CarPlay support, which could be released by the end of this year. Meanwhile, other manufacturers, including GM, continue to opt against integrating Apple’s in-car platform.