Apple Digital Key to Be Applied to Hyundai Vehicles This Summer

[Asia Economy Reporter Yujin Cho] Starting this summer, it is expected that some Hyundai and Genesis vehicle models will be able to start their engines using an Apple iPhone.

On the 17th (local time), Bloomberg News reported through Apple's specialized newsletter 'Power On' that Apple's digital car key feature will be applied to some Hyundai models and Genesis vehicles.

Drivers can automatically unlock the doors and start the engine by bringing their iPhone or Apple Watch close to the vehicle. Ultra Wideband (UWB) iPhone users (iPhone 11 or later) can use this feature without taking the iPhone out of their pocket.

Mark Gurman, a reporter for Power On, said that Hyundai and Genesis are expected to support Apple's digital car key feature by this summer.

Gurman added that it is not yet clear which Hyundai models will have the Apple digital key feature applied. Last year, Hyundai added Near Field Communication (NFC) functionality connecting smartphones and cars to new electric vehicles such as the Ioniq 5.

Apple's digital key being applied to mass-produced cars is the second case after BMW. The digital key feature, first introduced by Apple in June 2020, was initially applied to BMW's 2021 model year vehicles, a German premium automaker.