Rivian Activates Apple Car Key Support in Second-Generation Vehicles [Update: Coming Soon]

EV manufacturer Rivian appears to finally be rolling out support for Apple's digital car keys available through the Wallet app on iPhone and Apple Watch. Rivian announced support for the feature in debuting its second-generation R1S and R1T over a year ago, but the company had not activated it until today, as spotted in an Apple configuration file by MacRumors contributor Aaron Perris.

rivian r1s v2
While we can't confirm whether it's up and running for all users just yet, Apple has pushed support live on its end, so owners of supported Rivian vehicles should hopefully be seeing it soon.

Apple's car key feature allows an ‌iPhone‌ or Apple Watch with NFC capabilities to unlock a vehicle through the Wallet app. A digital version of a car key is stored in Wallet, and unlocking can be done simply by holding an Apple Watch or ‌‌iPhone‌‌ near a compatible vehicle's NFC reader. And with Ultra Wideband technology, compatible vehicles can even recognize a digital car key with your phone still in your pocket.

Rivian has supported its own digital key feature through the Rivian app, but Apple Wallet support will offer more seamless integration for ‌iPhone‌ users, presumably including features like key sharing and Express Mode to allow the key to function for several hours even after your device has run out of battery and shut down.

Rivian still has not shown any interest in adding support for CarPlay in its vehicles, with CEO RJ Scaringe saying last year that handing over functions to ‌CarPlay‌ would be at odds with Rivian's desire to offer a seamlessly integrated experience in its vehicles.

While ‌CarPlay‌ still doesn't appear to be in the cards for Rivian vehicles, today's rollout of Apple car keys joins integrated Apple Music with Spatial Audio support as Apple features adopted by the brand.

Update August 29 4:35 a.m.: Rivian tells MacRumors that while the feature has been pushed live on Apple's side, it hasn't yet launched on Rivian's side. It is, however, coming soon.

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Top Rated Comments

skiguy45 Avatar
17 weeks ago
My phone is the center of my digital life. It's with me almost constantly.

My car needs to bend over backwards to work seamlessly with my phone. This is what car manufacturers who shun CarPlay don't get. It's not about your maps being better than Apple's. It's about accessing everything on my phone while I drive.

Sorry Rivian, Tesla, and GM ... Cars are commodity. I'll find one that makes my life easier, not harder.

And actually it's not that they don't get it ... it's about charging customers for services. And I 100% won't do that either.
Score: 17 Votes (Like | Disagree)
isomorphic Avatar
17 weeks ago
How hard is this to understand? No CarPlay, no buy.
Score: 12 Votes (Like | Disagree)
sigurros Avatar
17 weeks ago
Who cares about this feature? Rivian needs to add CarPlay support like yesterday. They are turning away potential customers. If you ca't ask Siri to send messages or play podcasts or your favorite music with their system, what's the point? And then there's WAZE. People want to have that on the screen at ALL TIMES!!!!
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Daniel L Avatar
17 weeks ago

Who cares about this feature? Rivian needs to add CarPlay support like yesterday. They are turning away potential customers. If you ca't ask Siri to send messages or play podcasts or your favorite music with their system, what's the point? And then there's WAZE. People want to have that on the screen at ALL TIMES!!!!

No CarPlay in my Tesla, and I don't miss it one bit. If it were available, which wouldn't make sense, I would never use it.
Have two Teslas (2022 and 2024) and just got a 2025 Porsche.

I have to use CarPlay in the Porsche and it sucks compared to Tesla’s system. 3 touches to do a simple task that takes one touch on the Tesla.

I haven’t tried the Rivian’s system yet but if it’s anything like Tesla’s I’d rather have that instead.
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Jeff321 Avatar
17 weeks ago
CarPlay is a requirement in my next vehicle. If you don’t have that I’m not even considering your brand.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
BabyBoii Avatar
17 weeks ago
Having both a tesla and rivian, rivian has a better software/interface. I feel like carplay is great if you have a 5" screen. For these full screen vehicles, a much bigger interface is needed. Would be cool if it had some carplay ultra features, but can see why they don't use it.

Tesla has better self driving
Rivian has better interior and UX
Pick your poison

Side note:
Scout could be the coolest EV brand if they could launch with carplay ultra and if their vehicles look as good as the prototypes.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)