Apple"s Car Keys feature could get some new updates and features in the near future. As a member of the Car Connectivity Consortium (CCC), the Cupertino giant is now working on the next generation of the Digital Key specification that powers the car key feature on iPhone and Apple Watch.
CCC said in a press release that Apple is hosting the latest collaborative testing event in California, focusing on the real-world testing of the Digital Key 4.0 specification. It"s the upcoming successor to the Digital Key 3.0 specification from 2021, which added support for Ultra Wideband (UWB) in addition to NFC and Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE).
Apple"s Car Keys feature was added to the Wallet app in 2020 with NFC support. It was updated in the following year to support Ultra Wide Band (UWB). After saving their car key in the wallet, users can lock, unlock, or even start their compatible vehicle using supported iPhone and Apple Watch models.
The consortium is populated by over 300 members, including Google, Samsung, BMW, Motorola, Ford, Hyundai, Mercedes-Benz, and others. After Apple, Google, and Samsung have added support for car keys in their respective wallet apps, which are also based on CCC"s Digital Key specification.
While few details are known about the upcoming specification, CCC said that Digital Key 4.0 aims to "improve cross-platform interoperability and cross-version compatibility as adoption continues to grow rapidly."
Participants will be able to carry out testing sessions in parallel across outdoor spaces and indoor labs. One of the goals is to achieve cross-version compatibility; hence, Digital Key 3.0 and 4.0 will be tested across multiple vehicles and devices.
CCC notes that the ecosystem that supports connected vehicles is expanding. According to data from McKinsey, the global automotive software and electronics market is expected to reach $462 billion by 2030.
Apple"s dream of building a car might have shattered, but Cupertino is turning over different stones to get into people"s cars. Earlier this year, Apple introduced updates to the CarPlay software and its next generation called CarPlay Ultra, which can take over all of the driver"s screens to offer a consistent experience.