The cars that offer Apple car keys in Australia

Just as tap-and-go technology revolutionised the payment space, digital car keys have arrived to reinvent the way we drive.

Digital car keys – which can allow you to unlock, lock and start your car – are nothing new, but thus far the technology has been reserved for brand-specific apps, or only accessible via a key fob or card.

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Simply put, Apple car keys allow owners to add their digital keys (which can be set up through the brand’s smartphone app) to their Apple or Google Wallet, allowing motorists to tap their phone on the car’s door handle or mirror to unlock the door and/or start the engine.

Currently, Apple's car key functionality is predominantly available on select models in bigger global markets like the United States and Europe.

Soon, however, you'll start seeing this clever functionality offered on Australian cars. Here’s what you need to know.

Similar to how Apple Pay works, Apple's car key functionality allows you to use your phone to lock and unlock your car’s door, as well as start the engine, without the need for the traditional key and/or fob.

Generally speaking, proximity features like the ones previously mentioned are controlled through brand-specific smartphone apps, meaning the driver must use the app if they want to lock their vehicle remotely.

The digital key can be paired with the vehicle through a brand’s smartphone app, and once the remote connection between the phone and the car is established, owners can add the digital key to their Apple Wallet or Android equivalent (Google Wallet) – as well as any accompanying smart watches – for remote access.

Electronic giant Apple first introduced the car key function in mid-2020 and it works by utilising a Near Field Communication (NFC) chip – which is embedded into the smartphone and car – that allows devices to exchange data wirelessly.

According to Apple, its car key function is available "iPhone XS or later, or iPhone SE (2nd generation), with the latest version of iOS, or Apple Watch Series 5 or later, or Apple Watch SE, with the latest version of watchOS".

Disclaimer: For this list, we narrowed down the manufacturers with digital keys that are compatible with Apple Wallet and its Android equivalent (Google Wallet).

Chinese car maker BYD is one of the newest brands to offer digital keys to Apple and Android users in Australia.  

According to BYD Australia’s August 2024 TikTok post – a digital key function is available on the BYD Seal sedan and the newest SUV in its line-up, the Sealion 6.

Once activated through the brand's smartphone app, owners will be given the option to add it to their Apple wallet (see video below for a step-by-step guide).

BYD also stated Seal and Sealion 6 owners can share their digital keys with other people.

"Once you've set up the NFC [near-field communication] card there is an option to share it with others. You can remove them from sharing anytime."

BMW offers two versions of its digital key features. The ‘BMW Digital Key’ enables owners to use mobile devices as a key, while allowing the digital key to be shared with up to five people, “with options to restrict vehicle functions”.

The ‘Digital Key Plus’ allows owners to automatically unlock the car and start the engine without the need to take their phones out of their pocket and/or bag.

Under the Digital Key Plus function, BMW drivers can also lock their vehicle remotely by removing the paired device from the vehicle.

A BMW Australia spokesperson confirmed the following models are equipped with the ‘BMW Digital Key’ feature in Australia: 2 Series, 3 Series, 4 Series, 8 Series, M3 and M4 (equipped with Steptronic Auto) as well as the M5, M8, X5 M, X6 M and Z4.

BMW models compatible with the ‘Digital Key Plus’ are as follows: 2025 F70 1 Series, 5 Series, 7 Series, X1, X2, X3 (2025 G45 variant), iX3, iX, X4, X5, X6, X7 and XM.

However, the digital key feature is only available to customers who have opted for specific models built from 2020 onwards that are equipped with Comfort Access.

BMW’s sister brand, Mini, also utilises the German car maker’s Digital Key and Digital Key Plus features across its entire range.

A Mini Australia spokesperson told Drive the brand's Comfort Access features are offered as standard for Mini buyers.

Mini said the “availability and range of functions” for the Mini digital key is dependent on what country the customer is in, the model, the equipment features and the software version of an owner’s phone.

For a guide on how to set up your Mini Digital Key and add it to your Apple Wallet, click here.

German luxury car maker Mercedes-Benz offers digital car keys for customers who purchase a subscription to the Remote Package available in the Mercedes Me store.

However, a Mercedes-Benz spokesperson told Drive that the digital key function is currently only available on the brand’s E-Class models.

According to Mercedes-Benz's Australian website, depending on the model, the chosen equipment package, and the year of manufacturing, the ‘Remote Digital Extras’ 36-month subscription may already be included.

Besides the option of digital keys, the digital extras include added security features like theft notification and parking detection, remote vehicle finder and parked vehicle locator.

For a step-by-step guide on how to add a Mercedes key to your smartphone's wallet app, click here.

While Korean car maker Hyundai and its luxury arm Genesis offer a digital key feature for some models in overseas markets, the functionality is not currently available on any Australian-delivered models.

However, there is the possibility of digital keys being added to future Hyundai and Genesis models in the country.

“Digital Key is not yet available in Australia, but we are evaluating for release on future Hyundai and Genesis models,” a Hyundai spokesperson told Drive.

According to the Hyundai Europe website, the Ioniq 5 N electric SUV is the first Hyundai model to be equipped with the digital key feature in the country.

Genesis offers the digital key function across its entire range in global markets like the US and Europe.

It's a similar story for Hyundai's sister brand, Kia. While the car maker offers a digital key feature for its EV9, EV3 and the Sorento facelift variants, it's only available in other global markets like Europe and the US.

When asked if it's likely Australian customers will get access to the Apple car key feature for domestic models, a spokesperson for Kia said the brand doesn't have any set plans of introducing it in the country anytime soon.

“Introducing Apple car key isn’t currently on the radar for Australia. However, in the meantime, you can unlock your car using the Kia Connect App (where available) and start your EV9 using the fingerprint module, a feature which will be introduced on other future Kia models,” a Kia spokesperson told Drive.