The all-electric Hyper GT, 2024 Lotus Emeya, is adding another feature to its long list of tech available in the car, and this is with Apple's Car Key feature that allows smart device control. This will allow users to use their iPhones and Apple Watches to lock or unlock the vehicle, alongside other features available to access, with Lotus finally given compatibility.
It was reported that Lotus applied for this program to bring the smart device integration for vehicle controls, only getting approval now.
Lotus 2024 Emeya Now Gets Apple Car Key Support
Lotus
According to Electrek, Lotus sent an email to a user who inquired about Apple's Car Key support for its vehicles, with the company responding that all of the latest models are now available to use this feature. While this entails the Emeya as well, the report claimed that its owners may soon get a notification for an over-the-air update to bring the feature to the EV.
There are four remote functions available in this Car Key integration to Lotus vehicles, accessible via the Apple Wallet app which stores the digital key.
The Apple Wallet allows various features available to enjoy, offering a way for Emeya to add more to its dedicated features with its smartphone app, the Lotus Connect.
Eligible cars and brands to use Apple's Car Key integration may use their iPhones and Apple Watches for the available features to access. This centers on the four functions of Lotus including locking and unlocking cars, turning on the climate, opening the rear trunk, and opening the front trunk (frunk).
Other features include the passive key where users no longer have to press anything, as well as sharing it with family or friends.
Digital Car Keys: What Do They Bring?
Back in Apple's WWDC 2020 event, the company announced the Car Key feature made available to the iPhones and Apple Watches, and it used the NFC chip of these devices to communicate with the car. It was also tested on the 2021 BMW 5 Series first, with Apple claiming that this will soon be an "industry-wide" standard that uses the U1 ultra wideband chip.
Other car companies were also joining the company in their quest to integrate the Car Key feature into their cars, alongside other tech entities who worked on offering one for their brand.
Later, Apple's Car Key was made shareable to Android to store the digital car key experiences on devices outside the iPhone and Apple Watch.
Samsung also joined in leveraging their NFC chip and Ultra wideband on their renowned smartphones to feature digital car keys for various car brands, for owners to use. The latest company to be part of this feature is Lotus with its all-electric Hyper-GT, the 2024 Emeya, offering a way to control the vehicle with the iPhones and Apple Watches.
