Apple Wallet car key support is coming to Rivian's second-generation R1S and R1T electric vehicles with a 2025.46 software update later this month, according to the company's software chief Wassym Bensaid. He did not provide a specific date.


This feature will allow you to remotely unlock, lock, and start a second-generation R1S or R1T with an iPhone or Apple Watch, without needing to use the Rivian app. Express Mode will be supported, meaning you can keep your iPhone in your pocket as you approach the vehicle, as unlocking the device with Face ID is not required.

Rivian is implementing a newer version of the feature with Ultra Wideband technology for passive entry, eliminating the need to place your iPhone near an NFC reader.


If your iPhone battery runs out, a Power Reserve feature ensures the Apple Wallet key can still be used for up to five hours after the device shut off.

You can share an Apple Wallet car key with up to eight family and friends via AirDrop or any messaging app, such as the Messages app or WhatsApp.

Apple Wallet car keys will not be supported in Rivian's first-generation R1S and R1T vehicles that were built through the 2024 model year.

Despite implementing Apple Wallet car key support, Rivian remains opposed to CarPlay. The electric vehicle maker does offer a built-in Apple Music app with a Connect+ subscription, which costs $14.99 per month or $149.99 per year.
This article, "Rivian to Offer iPhone Car Keys in Apple Wallet App Later This Month" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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EV manufacturer Rivian appears to finally be rolling out support for Apple's digital car keys available through the Wallet app on iPhone and Apple Watch. Rivian announced support for the feature in debuting its second-generation R1S and R1T over a year ago, but the company had not activated it until today, as spotted in an Apple configuration file by MacRumors contributor Aaron Perris.


While we can't confirm whether it's up and running for all users just yet, Apple has pushed support live on its end, so owners of supported Rivian vehicles should hopefully be seeing it soon.

Apple's car key feature allows an ‌iPhone‌ or Apple Watch with NFC capabilities to unlock a vehicle through the Wallet app. A digital version of a car key is stored in Wallet, and unlocking can be done simply by holding an Apple Watch or ‌‌iPhone‌‌ near a compatible vehicle's NFC reader. And with Ultra Wideband technology, compatible vehicles can even recognize a digital car key with your phone still in your pocket.

Rivian has supported its own digital key feature through the Rivian app, but Apple Wallet support will offer more seamless integration for ‌iPhone‌ users, presumably including features like key sharing and Express Mode to allow the key to function for several hours even after your device has run out of battery and shut down.

Rivian still has not shown any interest in adding support for CarPlay in its vehicles, with CEO RJ Scaringe saying last year that handing over functions to ‌CarPlay‌ would be at odds with Rivian's desire to offer a seamlessly integrated experience in its vehicles.

While ‌CarPlay‌ still doesn't appear to be in the cards for Rivian vehicles, today's rollout of Apple car keys joins integrated Apple Music with Spatial Audio support as Apple features adopted by the brand.

Update August 29 4:35 a.m.: Rivian tells MacRumors that while the feature has been pushed live on Apple's side, it hasn't yet launched on Rivian's side. It is, however, coming soon.
This article, "Rivian Activates Apple Car Key Support in Second-Generation Vehicles [Update: Coming Soon]" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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