Apple's smart vehicle key technology has only been offered on a few BMW models since its launch in 2020. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said in January that the feature would be expanded to include certain Hyundai products like Genesis "by the summer." Those plans appear to be ahead of schedule now. Apple has updated its CarPlay website to show that the 2022 Genesis GV60, 2022 G90, and 2022 Kia Niro now support the function, according to MacRumors.
It's unclear whether CarKey technology is already standard on those cars or if Hyundai is just getting started with it. A spokesperson for Kia told the outlet it would “have more information about Digital Key availability in the coming weeks."
While automobile manufacturers have long given remote lock controls via cellphones, CarKey is unique in that it treats your iPhone and Apple Watch as if they were physical keys. To utilize the feature, simply raise your phone or wearable up to the door handle on your car to unlock it. You can even start some automobiles by placing your device near the ignition switch. You don't even need to take your phone out of your pocket to get into your car if you have a newer iPhone with Apple's U1 chip.