Apple Wallet: VW car key apparently in development

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A discovery in Apple's server infrastructure suggests that Volkswagen could be the next major manufacturer to support car keys in Apple Wallet. A concrete launch date is still pending – but this addition would be particularly significant for the German market.

Apple Wallet allows you to turn your iPhone and Apple Watch into a digital car key, enabling you to lock, unlock, and start compatible vehicles. The number of supported brands is constantly growing, while setting up such a car key follows the same basic principle for all manufacturers. Now, a hint from Apple's backend suggests that Volkswagen, a particularly prominent name in German-speaking countries, could soon be added.

The notification from Apple's backend

Before Apple Wallet officially supports the keys of a new car manufacturer, Apple updates its servers with code that prepares for the extension. This is precisely how several new brands have been discovered in the past, even before their official launch. Volkswagen has now appeared for the first time in the backend list of companies that support, or are expected to support, the car key feature (via MacRumors).

The reliability of this indicator is demonstrated by the example of Toyota: The manufacturer spent approximately two months in the backend before support was actually activated. Therefore, an entry on this list is not a guaranteed, but historically reliable, sign of an imminent launch.

Models and timing remain open

There are no concrete details yet on which vehicles will benefit first. New manufacturers typically implement a slow rollout, initially covering only one or two models and expanding gradually. The exact launch date is also uncertain: a debut within the coming weeks is conceivable, as is a delay of several months. The only certainty at present is that preparations are underway.

Volkswagen joins a growing list

Volkswagen wouldn't be the only recent addition. Toyota received its Wallet keys in February, followed by Porsche in May – both among the most prominent expansions of recent months. At the same time, Tesla is also working on native digital car keys, further fueling the trend. Apple is thus continuously expanding the ecosystem of its car keys, introduced in 2020, instead of limiting it to a few premium brands.

A heavyweight for the German market

Should the tip be confirmed, Volkswagen would be one of the most significant additions to the digital key ecosystem in German-speaking countries: hardly any other brand is as widespread here. For many drivers, the digital key could thus become accessible for the first time without having to go through a niche brand. Until Volkswagen officially confirms and rolls out the feature, however, the backend discovery remains a strong but unconfirmed indication of one of the major new additions to the digital wallet this year. (Image: Shutterstock / Jeppe Gustafsson)