iOS 14 can turn your iPhone into a car key

iOS 14 offers a lot of new features for users to take advantage of, but we haven't mentioned the automotive and mobility features the mobile platform offers. Apple is also improving Apple Maps and CarPlay experience with this new version of its operating system.

One of the more notable additions is turning your iPhone into your car's key with the aptly named Car Key. The feature is coming in the fall, with support for iOS 13 as well. It'll first work with the new 2021 BMW 5-Series, with other vehicles and automakers expected to support the feature next year. 

Car Key uses the phone's NFC chip to serve as the car's key signal. You can hold your NFC-equipped Apple device (like your iPhone or perhaps your Apple Watch) next to the car's NFC reader, which should be around the car's door handle. You will then authenticate this via Face ID or Touch ID. Express Mode will sidestep the authentication.

Vehicle access can be shared with other users via iMessage, allowing them to lock, unlock, and start the cars. Shared Car Keys can restrict features, so you might use it to prevent, let's say, your teenager from taking the car out for a spin when they aren't allowed to. Now, what if you lose your phone? Car Key can be turned off remotely.

Apple plans to move away from NFC and use the more standardized U1 ultra-wideband chip to connect to automobiles. The UWB1 chip will allow the car to detect your device within undefined proximity, which means you don't need to take out your phone when Express Mode is enabled. 

Aside from offering CarKey, iOS 14 brings new wallpapers to CarPlay and some new Apple Maps features. Canada is expected to get the new Maps soon.

Apple Maps will be introducing Guides, which lets the company obtain data from cities and other locations via third-party services to turn your smartphone into a guidebook of sorts for the places you visit. Cyclist navigation is also coming to the app to make it easier to go around areas. And charging locations will be automatically suggested for those who will navigate using electric cars. BMW and Ford EVs are the first to get this integration. Apple Maps will be able to take the car's battery status into account when it plots a route for you.

Source: Motor Authority + SlashGear