Danny Weber
09:58 29-08-2025
© Rivian
Rivian enables Apple Car Key in Wallet for iPhone and Watch with NFC and UWB unlocking, plus key sharing and Express Mode, while CarPlay support remains absent.
US electric-vehicle maker Rivian has switched on Apple Car Key support, available through the Wallet app on iPhone and Apple Watch. The capability was announced alongside the second-generation R1S SUV and R1T pickup, but it had remained dormant until now.
Owners of compatible models can now use an iPhone or Apple Watch with NFC to unlock their vehicle by holding the device to the reader. And with UWB, the car can be opened even when the phone stays in a pocket.
Rivian previously offered its own solution through the company’s app, but Wallet integration streamlines the routine: it brings key sharing and an Express Mode that keeps the key usable even if the device is out of power.
The company still resists adding Apple CarPlay, seeing it as an obstacle to its own ecosystem. Even so, support for Apple Music with spatial audio—and now Apple Car Key—makes its vehicles more enticing for iPhone owners. It won’t resolve the CarPlay standoff, but it does make everyday use feel a touch more seamless.