Tata EVs to Get iPhone, Apple Watch Car Key Support Soon: Report

Apple announced at its WWDC conference last year that Tata.EV cars would soon allow iPhone and Apple Watch users to store digital car keys in their Apple Wallet, and that functionality appears to be close to rolling out now. Popular Apple news website MacRumours says it has detected evidence in the tech giant’s backend systems indicating that support is imminent.

Neither company has yet made an announcement, and it is not clear when Tata EV owners can expect to be able to lock, unlock, and remotely start their cars using an iPhone or an Apple Watch. It is also not yet known which Tata Motors cars will be supported, though the Tata.EV logo used for last year’s announcement seems to indicate that only the company’s electric consumer models are likely to be on the list, at least at first.

Digital car keys not only allow the owner to skip carrying a bulky car fob, but also make it possible to delegate car access to third parties. With Apple’s ecosystem, it’s as easy as sending an email, iMessage or WhatsApp message, or sharing via AirDrop. Once authorised with an activation code, A person with an authorised key only has to hold their device near the car’s NFC sensor, typically placed in or near the handle. FaceID can be used for authentication, but Apple also offers Express Mode which forgoes this in order to let users unlock their car more quickly.

Users will need at least an iPhone XS or iPhone SE (2nd generation) running the latest version of iOS. The Apple Watch Series 5 or Apple Watch SE or newer models with the latest version of watchOS are also compatible. Car keys can be synchronised across a user’s devices, when signed in with the same iCloud account.

Passive entry, which allows a car to be unlocked when approaching it based on proximity alone, requires an iPhone 11 or Apple Watch Series 6 or later (excluding iPhone SE models and iPhone 16e). Users can choose to set up notifications so they are alerted whenever their car is unlocked using an Apple device. Some cars support remote locking and unlocking as well.

Car keys in Apple Wallet work even if an iPhone needs to be charged, as some models reserve a small amount of battery power. If a device is lost, the car keys in Apple Wallet can be remotely disabled to prevent misuse. Shared keys are still active, allowing a previously authorised person to use the car. Keys will be transferred to a new device when performing an upgrade.

Tata’s consumer EV portfolio currently includes the Nexon EV, Punch EV, Curvy EV, Harrier EV, Tigor EV and Tiago EV, with the Sierra EV expected to launch soon and a Safari EV likely on the cards as well.

Audi, Volvo, Kia, Mercedes-Benz, BYD and BMW were previously on the list of 20 manufacturers who support car keys in Apple Wallet in some countries, with Porsche joining Tata in last year’s announcement of 13 new names. The rollout would be a first for an Indian manufacturer in India. Additional companies, and possibly even new features, could be announced at WWDC 2026, scheduled to begin on June 8.