Car Keys in Apple CarPlay to come to new vehicle brand

It's taken long enough.

Recently, reports have come out from MacRumors that Lexus is being added to Apple's backend code for CarPlay and car keys. According to MacRumors, along with 9to5Mac, this doesn't necessarily mean that Lexus will support the feature immediately, but that they are nearly ready for it.

Carscoops also reported on rumors that are in line with this, saying that the new 2026 Lexus ES would be getting the Car Key feature soon. This would also be the second car that Toyota adds to the list of cars with Apple Car Key (along with the 2026 RAV4).

The entire Apple Car Key saga is interesting, because, to a lot of people, an upgraded car experience, like with CarPlay Ultra, is more valuable than a remote start/lock and unlock. People already have their keys with them. Plus, making the bulk of the trip, the driving experience, easier and more enjoyable, is often a higher priority than carrying one less key on your keychain.

The most interesting thing to watch out for will be whether or not new cars, that are in the wild already, will get the feature through a software update. No news has been shared about it at this time, but it may very well happen. The other big question is when will this roll out to other Toyota models in general? Will we have to wait a few months? Will it be staggered or altogether? It's tough to say, since such little information has been given. However, it is safe to say that the feature is being worked on and it will hopefully be ready soon.

Apple's Car Key feature is a great way to carry less keys and lock and unlock your car quicker and safer. We will have to wait and see what Apple does soon.