Apple Car Keys Tests

You need a BMW to use this feature on your iPhone.

Apple has published a developer tool app it calls Car Keys Tests. What does this app do?

A tool for car key developers

Car Keys Tests is made available in the Developer Tools category, a report explains.

It is a testing app for licensed Made For iPhone (MFi) developers who want to test their implementation of the Apple Car Key feature. An MFi authorization is required to make use of the app.

When testing, developers can test, validate, and troubleshoot their implementation and also get guidance as to what steps they need to take to make their vehicles compatible with Car Keys.

A short history of Apple Car Keys

Car Key hasn’t turned on many vehicle makers as yet. Introduced in 2020 just a small handful of vehicles support it. It is possible that this may change, given Apple has now published this app.

BMW became the first carmaker to introduce support for the Apple feature. In that maker’s implementation the key would be set up via the BMW app and could then be shared with up to five friends. Car Keys will function for up to five hours if your iPhone runs out of charge.

“Apple and BMW have been working closely with the Car Connectivity Consortium (CCC) to press ahead with the establishment of global standards. The Digital Key specification 2.0 for NFC has been released in May 2020 while the next generation of Digital Key using Ultra Wideband technology is already well underway,” BMW said at that time.

Thing is, not much has happened since and while the CCC has continued working on its standard the next major event on the group’s diary isn’t scheduled until its next ‘Plug Fest’ later this spring. It is perhaps to support that event that Apple has released its app.

CCS Insights in 2021 predicted that Apple will team up with car makers to put AirTag protection inside car keys in future, which may be part of the overall plan.

How to use Apple Car Keys

Apple Car Keys makes use of the NFC capabilities in iPhone or Apple Watch to open your car door. You can also lock doors, start the engines, and use any other key controls the vehicle may support.

To implement the feature, car manufacturers must build NFC functionality into their vehicles. You can share digital keys and also limit access to some keys – that includes setting maximum media volume and vehicle speed for the key you give your teenagers, for example.

• To begin using Car Keys you must first contact your vehicle maker or dealership to see if these are supported in your vehicle.
• If you are you will need to follow their process to get Car Keys activated.
• This usually involves using a manufacturer-provided pairing code and is likely to also require that you download and use an app provided by that car brand. That’s how the BMW integration works.
• This process usually takes a few minutes before the device becomes authorised.

Once activated and added into Wallet you’ll be able to open your car just by tapping your iPhone or Apple Watch against the lock. Access will also be authorised by Face or Touch ID. To start the vehicle, you need to place your iPhone on the in car mount. You’ll also find your key in Wallet. Tap this to take a look and you’ll find information about your car, an Invite button, a toggle to put the system into Express Mode.

How to share Apple Car Keys

When you tap the Invite button you can invite people to also have a Key for your vehicle and set the level of access you wish to provide. This may vary across different cars, but usually includes the option to access and drive the car, unlock it, or to only open the trunk of the vehicle. These keys can also be shared across iPhones and Android devices, as of December 2022. Support for this feature is currently available in some vehicles from BMW, Kia, and Hyundai. Apple’s own guide to the system is available here.

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