Backend code spotted a couple of months ago showed that General Motors was preparing to support Apple Wallet digital car keys, and the company has now confirmed those plans.
The news follows the discovery yesterday that Toyota was also making its own preparations for car key support …
Apple told us a year ago that General Motors was one of 13 additional car companies that would support storing digital car keys in the Apple Wallet app.
The feature allows you to store a digital copy of your car keys on your iPhone. Depending on the features a carmaker chooses to support, that permits one or more of three types of usage:
Passive entry : Approach your car with your device, it unlocks, start your car when inside, and walk away from your car with your device, it locks
: Approach your car with your device, it unlocks, start your car when inside, and walk away from your car with your device, it locks Proximity: Lock, unlock, and start the car by holding your device close to the door handle or key reader
Lock, unlock, and start the car by holding your device close to the door handle or key reader Remotely: You can use your device to remote lock and unlock your car, and use other features
Although Apple listed GMC among the new brands that would be supporting the feature, no timelines were provided. However, backend code spotted in October of this year added settings for General Motors vehicles, suggesting that we may now be getting close to a launch.
MacRumors reports that the company has now confirmed its plans but still not provided specific timings or identified the models that will be supported. In addition to the GMC brand itself, the company owns Chevrolet, Buick, and Cadillac.
The company yesterday slightly lessened the impact of its unpopular decision to ditch CarPlay in its cars by offering a new Apple Music app within its own infotainment systems.
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