Volvo is enhancing its compatibility with Apple’s Car Key functionality. The car manufacturer is rolling out a software update to the Volvo EX30, enabling support for Car Key. This feature allows users to save a key within the Apple Wallet app on their device, facilitating car starting, locking, and unlocking.
First introduced in Europe last year, the Volvo EX30 made its debut in the United States just last month. It ranked as the third best-selling electric vehicle (EV) in Europe last year, closely following Tesla’s Model Y and Model 3. The EX30 serves as a more compact option compared to the Volvo EX90.
Users of the Volvo EX30 took to Reddit to highlight that software version 1.5.2 began its rollout this month, complete with support for Apple’s Car Key. Below are the highlights as noted in the Volvo release notes:
Utilize your phone as a digital key to lock, unlock, and start your vehicle. This digital key is conveniently stored in your phone’s wallet app. To start your vehicle with the digital key, simply bring your phone inside the car or position it on the card reader. Currently, the Digital Key feature is exclusive to Apple devices.
The digital key enables you to use your phone as a key card, managing the locking, unlocking, and starting of your vehicle.
To connect your phone to the car, launch the mobile app and initiate the pairing guide. Upon successful pairing, your digital key will appear in your phone’s wallet app.
In contrast, the Volvo EX90 has supported Apple’s Car Key since its launch last year. The adoption of Car Key has been gradual since its announcement at WWDC in 2020. Besides these two Volvo models, it is also compatible with manufacturers like Rivian, Kia, BMW, and others. This week, compatibility was added for the Audi A6 Avant E-Tron, with Porsche EVs likely to follow soon.
Apple maintains a complete list of vehicles supporting Car Key on its official website, though it may not reflect the latest additions from Volvo and Audi.
Have you tried using Apple’s Car Key feature? Share your experiences in the comments below.
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