Apple Announces Porsche Support For iPhone Car Keys

[RunningOnSolar]

Apple says 13 automotive brands will support car keys. Porsche was one of the newer entries listed in the article. I personally heard this in the keynote, but offer corroboration here https://www.macrumors.com/2025/06/09/more-automakers-to-offer-iphone-car-keys

This link highlights the relevant section:
https://www.macrumors.com/2025/06/09/more-automakers-to-offer-iphone-car-keys/#:~:text=During its WWDC 2025 keynote,WEY, Chery, and Voyah.

There was also some discussion in the keynote regarding significant new CarPlay features, such as support for widgets.
https://www.macrumors.com/2025/06/09/ios-26-upgrades-carplay-in-five-ways/

I would have liked more on CarPlay Ultra and associated brands, but Apple was carefully avoiding overcommitment that has recently tarnished their image. One of the earliest examples of this was talk of next generation CarPlay. This was supposed to have been delivered end of last year and was only recently announced for Aston Martin.

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[CandianPorsche83]

Hoping this would be backwards compatible but not holding my breath lol

 

[unaturalx]

Im hoping we get to see CarPlay Ultra soon.

 

[daveo4EV]

AppleWallet/apple-car-key requires NFC hardware - it's unclear what Porsche models (VW/Audi for that matter) have the necessary hardware for this feature…I don't doubt Porsche will eventually support this…

but I'll be deeply deeply surprised if it's supported in any Porsche prior to MY'2026…or even 27/28…

we'll see

I'll be happy - but deeply surprised.

 

[TiLaSoul]

AppleWallet/apple-car-key requires NFC hardware - it's unclear what Porsche models (VW/Audi for that matter) have the necessary hardware for this feature…I don't doubt Porsche will eventually support this…

Apple Car Key requires UWB hardware, not NFC. The current Macan EV has UWB hardware, as long as you specced comfort access.

Porsche could support that today if they wanted to.

 

[alxman]

I’m not an expert on this, but AI search states the following:

Apple Car Key uses both UWB (Ultra-Wideband) and NFC (Near Field Communication) technologies, though they serve different purposes. UWB is used for accurate distance and proximity sensing, while NFC is used for the actual data transfer needed to lock, unlock, or start the car.

Here's a more detailed breakdown:

• UWB:
  UWB technology allows for precise distance and proximity sensing between the iPhone/Apple Watch and the vehicle. This is how Apple Car Key determines if you are close enough to unlock or start the car, even if your phone is in your pocket or bag.
• NFC:
  NFC is used for the actual communication and data exchange between the iPhone/Apple Watch and the car's system. This is how the key information is transferred to the vehicle to unlock or start it.

In essence, UWB provides the "sense" of being nearby, while NFC handles the "transfer" of the key information.

 

[MatC21]

The Audi Q6 and A6 already support the "phone as key", so the Platform can definitely support it.
I'd be very happy if it will work on MY25 but I highly doubt it as well.

 

[daveo4EV]

Apple Car Key requires UWB hardware, not NFC. The current Macan EV has UWB hardware, as long as you specced comfort access.

Porsche could support that today if they wanted to.

it requires both…as to which MY's already have it? I don't know…

 

[daveo4EV]

this is _NOT_ definitive - but it _IS_ indicative…

background: when you present a modern iPhone/iOS to a device that supports/enabled NFC the appleWallet will appear because the NFC wireless in the phone "wakes up" and launches the AppleWallet (or other NFC app)…

therefore a rudimentary test of "does this thing do NFC" is to present your phone to the potential NFC reader and see if it wakes up…

so I did the following test…

I presented my phone to my neighbors 2025 BMW X5 hybrid (which does support apple car key) - and my iPhone "woke up" and initiated NFC activities - but it did not unlock the BMW because, well my neighbor doesn't trust me with his car keys - go figure -

I presented my phone to my 2024 Macan Turbo EV w/comfort access - my phone remained idle/offline/dark/asleep - it did not indicate or detect any NFC radio waves from the door handles of my 2024 Macan Turbo EV…

now I realize this is not definitive as a test - because Porsche may have the hardware present but disabled…

but for what it's worth my simplistic "NFC detector" does not trigger when presented to my 2024 Macan Turbo EV…

YMMV…we'll have to await more details from Porsche as to when/how this feature will be supported.

I welcome any factual data.

 

[Dragon Tourniquet]

it requires both…as to which MY's already have it? I don't know…

Based on the manual (which states the car has UWB & NFC radios as part of the FCC compliance part), and how the keys for the '25 Macan work, it appears the UWB & NFC hardware is built into the car. Unfortunately that doesn't necessarily mean Porsche will add it to existing cars, or that it meet's Apple's requirements.

Fun thing related to CarKey, Apple also has HomeKey and TouchPass. Apple requires HomeKey and TouchPass NFC chips to be certified by them before they will allow them, which can cause companies to have to revise their hardware to use a different part. This actually happened with Ubiquiti and their Access products. To add support for TouchPass, they had to replace their NFC chip.

This doesn't mean Apple has the same requirements for CarKey as HomeKey or TouchPass, and the only way to find out is to try and sign up for development on their car platform, but I wouldn't be surprised if they do have the same requirement. That doesn't doesn't mean the part in the '25 Macan isn't certified by Apple. Maybe Porsche planned ahead and got the right part, knowing the software would follow.

Hopefully Porsche has the right part in the car to satisfy Apple, and hopefully they plan to add the required software to the '25 Macan, since it really should have been there on Day 1, but all we can do is hope.

 

[seabird]

it requires both…as to which MY's already have it? I don't know…

NFC is not required for CarKey. It is supported as an emergency backup in case your phone battery dies.

I presented my phone to my 2024 Macan Turbo EV w/comfort access - my phone remained idle/offline/dark/asleep - it did not indicate or detect any NFC radio waves from the door handles of my 2024 Macan Turbo EV…

Of course it doesn't. Leaving a device broadcasting that has no use is both a waste of power and a pointless security risk. There is no NFC functionality enabled in the Macan.

However, if your Comfort Access fob is working, then UWB is working. A random phone is not supposed to wake up for BLE or UWB signals.

 

[Dragon Tourniquet]

background: when you present a modern iPhone/iOS to a device that supports/enabled NFC the appleWallet will appear because the NFC wireless in the phone "wakes up" and launches the AppleWallet (or other NFC app)…

Of course it doesn't. Leaving a device broadcasting that has no use is both a waste of power and a pointless security risk. There is no NFC functionality enabled in the Macan.

This test might not be indicative of the Macan having NFC active or not, and the NFC functionality might still be active. When Apple was working to enable Audi and Polestar last year they had to add strings and code into Wallet to allow it to work (it first appeared in iOS 18.1 beta).

Some of the things an NFC reader broadcasts are identifiers for the reader and what it is used for, and Apple does filter what goes through to Wallet. If the car is broadcasting that it is for CarKey, and Apple sees it isn't a make/model that is enabled yet, it could just ignore it. But there's no way to tell (using just an iPhone) if it's that or if the Macan just isn't broadcasting.

Unfortunately the specs on low level CarKey implementation are not public. You have to join Apple's MFi program AND be an auto manufacturer to get access to those docs.

 

[seabird]

This test might not be indicative of the Macan having NFC active or not, and the NFC functionality might still be active.

I'm not sure what you mean. The NFC reader in the Macan is not enabled for any existing feature.

When and if that changes via a software update, the behavior of the phone may change in proximity to the door handle or it may not. In either case, the phone doing nothing near the car is expected behavior as of today.

 

[Dragon Tourniquet]

I'm not sure what you mean. The NFC reader in the Macan is not enabled for any existing feature.

It definitely is enabled for at least one feature, specifically the "Emergency release and locking of doors" (in manual), for when the battery in the key is dead. Requiring the key to be placed in close proximity to a specific location is specifically so the NFC chip in the key can get enough energy to respond to the NFC reader under the windshield VIN. UWB wouldn't be able to get enough energy to activate in such a fashion.

If there are or aren't NFC reads in the door handles or B pillars is unknown without digging through parts replacement info.

 

[seabird]

It definitely is enabled for at least one feature, specifically the "Emergency release and locking of doors" (in manual), for when the battery in the key is dead. Requiring the key to be placed in close proximity to a specific location is specifically so the NFC chip in the key can get enough energy to respond to the NFC reader under the windshield VIN.

There is also the dead key ignition pad on the interior center console. Neither has anything to do with an NFC-equipped phone responding to walking up to the door-area antenna. If it were, you'd just have to hold the key fob against the B pillar instead of the windshield in that emergency procedure.

It is unlikely, but technically possible, that the B pillar UWB antenna lacks an NFC loop entirely. But again (1) NFC is not required or relevant as a test of CarKey support and (2) there is no active NFC functionality in the doors for any other use.

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