Apple may very well be pushing for wider adoption of its Automobile Key characteristic for iPhones and has launched a brand new “Automobile Keys Assessments” app that seems to be geared in direction of this objective. 

As first noticed by 9to5Mac, Apple added the brand new Automobile Key Assessments app to the App Retailer this week. Since launching in 2020, solely some BMW fashions — and a few of Hyundai’s Kia and Genesis-brand autos — assist the iPhone Automobile Key characteristic. 

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The characteristic requires including a automobile key to Apple Pockets for customers to unlock and begin the ignition of a automobile. You will want an iPhone XS or later, iPhone SE (2nd technology), Apple Watch Collection 5 or later, or Apple Watch SE. 

Customers can use ‘passive entry’ to unlock the appropriate autos with an iPhone 11 or later or Apple Watch Collection 6 or later.  

The brand new app is seemingly aimed toward automobile producers, who can entry it through a direct hyperlink to check their autos. Since it is not meant for customers, it is not listed on App Retailer beneath Apple’s developer account. 

Apple says the Automobile Key Assessments app is aimed toward Apple MFi (Made For iPhone) program licensees who can use the app to “check and validate connection, efficiency, and different key necessities for the certification means of the autos you develop that incorporate Apple digital automobile keys know-how.”

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The itemizing presents plenty of check circumstances that automobile makers can check associated to distant keyless entry. It additionally notes the app requires iOS 16.1 or later.  

Apple lists all of the automobiles that assist Automobile Play and Automobile Keys right here and it suggests there’s quite a lot of room to develop Automobile Key compatibility. Apple Automobile Play is supported by a whole bunch of various fashions throughout dozens of manufacturers. Automobile Key, nevertheless, is just supported on about two dozen fashions throughout BMW (16), Hyundai (1), Kia (2), and Genesis (1).