Apple Teams Up with Automakers to Test Digital Car Key 4.0—Unlock Vehicles Automatically as iPhone Approaches

Apple is participating in interoperability testing for the Digital Key 4.0 standard organized by the Car Connectivity Consortium (CCC), alongside 15 leading automakers and device manufacturers including BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Volkswagen, General Motors, Hyundai, and Rivian. The week-long test focuses on the performance of version 4.0 and its compatibility with version 3.0, with particular emphasis on validating security, privacy protection, and reliability. Users can automatically unlock their vehicles simply by approaching with an iPhone or Apple Watch that supports the Car Key feature—no manual interaction required. The CCC stated that digital key technology is now ready for large-scale deployment and identified 2025 as a pivotal year for the industry—a turning point when the technology transitions from the innovation phase to a widely expected market feature. According to the consortium’s “2025 Automotive Connectivity Future Report,” 97% of member companies consider vehicle unlocking functionality “critical” or “very important” to their business, underscoring strong market demand for a consistent, seamless experience across devices and vehicle models.