Tesla App Code Suggests Native Digital Car Keys

Tesla appears poised to introduce native digital car keys for its vehicles, allowing owners to unlock and start their cars directly from smartphone wallets like Apple Wallet or Google Wallet, based on code discovered in the latest version of the company's mobile app.

The references emerged in Tesla app version 4.52.0, which includes mentions of "Harmony Wallet Key Cards." This points to initial integration with Huawei's HarmonyOS, the operating system powering many smartphones in China. Tesla has a pattern of testing new software features in the Chinese market before global expansion, driven by the region's large user base and Huawei's strong position there. In early 2025, Huawei commanded an 18.2 percent share of China's smartphone market, edging out Apple's 17.2 percent.

Currently, Tesla owners rely on the company's app for phone-as-key functionality, which uses Bluetooth and requires the application to run in the background. This setup can sometimes falter if the phone's operating system pauses the app to conserve battery. The new approach would store the digital key in the device's secure hardware element, enabling more reliable access via near-field communication,...