Apple’s Car Keys feature in Wallet looks to be gaining support for three more automakers: Lincoln, Lucid Motors, and China’s Freelander. MacRumors contributor Aaron Perris spotted references to all three buried in Apple’s backend code, though the code itself doesn’t say when any of it actually launches.
That timing gap matters here. What’s confirmed is just that Apple’s systems now reference Lincoln, Lucid, and Freelander somewhere in the backend, the kind of discovery that’s turned up ahead of past Car Key expansions, most recently around iOS 27’s rollout. Not confirmed: a launch date, which specific models from each brand will support it, which countries get it, or whether all three brands go live together. Treat it as Apple preparing an expansion, not one that’s already live.
For anyone unfamiliar, Car Keys lets a compatible vehicle’s digital key live in Apple Wallet, letting an iPhone or Apple Watch lock, unlock, and start the car instead of a physical key. It runs on the Car Connectivity Consortium’s Digital Key standard, using NFC, Bluetooth Low Energy, and, on supported vehicles, Ultra Wideband for more precise proximity detection, though each automaker still has to separately implement and certify the feature. Express Mode lets the phone work without unlocking it or opening Wallet at all, and Power Reserve keeps a supported key functional for a stretch even after the iPhone’s battery dies. Depending on how the manufacturer sets it up, owners can also share access with someone else without handing over a spare key.
Car Keys already covers a fairly long list of brands, Audi, BMW, Hyundai, Kia, Genesis, Mercedes-Benz, Volvo, Cadillac, Lexus, MINI, Polestar, Porsche, RAM, Rivian, and Toyota. Lincoln and Lucid would slot into that same list, while Freelander would be something newer for Apple, another entry point into the Chinese auto market alongside its existing partners there. Lincoln’s inclusion is notable mainly because it’s part of Ford, extending Apple’s reach into Ford’s luxury arm, and Lucid adds another EV maker to a list that’s grown increasingly EV-heavy. Freelander’s details are thinner than the other two, so it’s worth holding off on guessing which of its models might actually support the feature once it does arrive.
M Adnan Akram is the founder and lead writer at Phoonomo, covering mobile technology with a primary focus on Apple and the broader smartphone industry, alongside emerging developments in AI. He follows product launches, spec leaks, and industry trends closely to keep readers informed with timely updates.
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