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EV Digital Key Compatibility: Phone-as-Key by Model, Device and Technology

Last verified September 21, 2026

Re-verification overdueThis guide remains available for context but is not presented as current until it is rechecked.

A remote-control app, a Bluetooth phone key, a UWB wallet key and an NFC touch key are not the same feature. This guide only marks a phone or watch as a driving key when current manufacturer material explicitly establishes local vehicle access and drive authorization.1234567

The same source discipline applies when the car changes hands temporarily. A shareable digital key, a physical backup card, a Guest profile and a dedicated Valet Mode are different states. The matrix below keeps the credential handed to the temporary driver separate from any privacy, performance, storage or telemetry behavior.89101112

The matrix is deliberately source-versioned. A missing EV means not verified here yet, not that the vehicle lacks a digital key. Not established means the checked current source does not support the more specific claim.

Compatibility matrix

EV / source scope Key technology Passive proximity NFC / touch behavior Phone / watch support Drive without physical fob Sharing Fallback / important conditions
Tesla Model Y — 2025+, North America, manual software 2026.26 Tesla Phone Key over Bluetooth. This is a proprietary phone-key path, not a wallet key in the checked manual.12 Yes. Phone Key supports automatic lock/unlock when configured.2 Yes, on some NFC-capable phones. Tesla says supported phones can be held to the driver's door pillar like a key card.2 Phone; Apple Watch can also be set up as a key.2 Yes. Phone Key is an authenticated vehicle key; the physical key card can separately authorize driving as backup.2 Not established in the checked current Keys page. After phone-key authentication, internet is not required for the phone key itself. A physical key card can unlock, authorize driving and lock the vehicle if the phone is dead, lost or unavailable.2
Hyundai IONIQ 5 — MY2025 SEL, XRT and Limited Digital Key 2 Premium with wallet-based phone/watch support; Hyundai documents both NFC-only and NFC+UWB device setup paths.133 Not established in the checked current IONIQ 5 Digital Key copy. UWB support is documented, but this guide does not infer a specific approach/passive behavior from UWB alone.3 Yes. NFC-capable devices can be tapped to the door and placed/tapped on the wireless charger for start.3 Select Apple, Google and Samsung phones; Hyundai also documents phone or smartwatch use.3 Yes. Hyundai says Digital Key 2 can lock, unlock and start the vehicle.3 Yes — up to three shared keys through the supported wallet ecosystems.3 Requires compatible equipment and MyHyundai/Bluelink setup; Hyundai documents an NFC Key Card as backup if the phone is unavailable.133
Kia EV6 — 2025+ / EV9 — 2024+, select trims Digital Key 2 using NFC, Bluetooth and UWB.4 Yes. Kia explicitly describes passive entry with a compatible smartphone.4 Yes. Digital Key 2 can fall back to touch behavior when passive mode is unavailable.4 Current Kia support lists compatible iPhone, Apple Watch, Google Pixel, Samsung Galaxy and selected Motorola devices.4 Yes. Kia's Digital Key 2 is a vehicle key for entry and driving.4 Supported. Eligibility requires an eligible Kia Connect subscription and compatible smart device with an active data plan. Exact trim/device support varies. This page-level prerequisite does not establish that ordinary local key operation needs a continuous data connection. Kia says Kia Connect may currently be unavailable for some MY2022+ vehicles purchased or sold in Massachusetts.4
Kia Niro EV — 2023–26, select trims Digital Key 2 Touch, a separate NFC-based implementation rather than Kia's UWB/Bluetooth Digital Key 2.4 No passive UWB state established for this Touch implementation. Yes — this is the core interaction. Touch the compatible device to the reader and use the documented in-cabin placement for starting.4 Compatible phones; Kia currently documents Apple Watch support for Touch, while Google/Samsung watches are not currently available for this implementation.4 Yes. Digital Key 2 Touch can authorize driving.4 Yes — up to three shared keys, including full-drive or lock/unlock-only access.4 Requires an eligible Kia Connect vehicle enrolled in Kia Connect Lite or higher. Kia separately says no network coverage is needed after initial setup. Kia says Kia Connect may currently be unavailable for MY2022+ vehicles sold or purchased in Massachusetts; exact model/trim/service availability remains source-bounded.4
Ford Mustang Mach-E — MY2026; Select and GT explicitly checked Ford Phone As A Key, a proprietary smartphone virtual-key path in the checked current pages.141516 Yes, at the product-page level. Ford says Phone As A Key can automatically unlock the door as the driver approaches.14 Not established in the checked current consumer pages. Smartphone. A watch-key implementation is not established in the checked current Mach-E pages. Ford presents the phone as a virtual key; the checked current consumer pages do not separately enumerate wallet/NFC/UWB drive-start mechanics, so those fields remain not established.14 Not established in the checked current consumer pages. Phone-as-Key is listed among Ford's free app/modem features, while paid connected-service add-ons are separate. Availability remains year/model/trim dependent.17
Polestar 4 — MY2026 U.S. Standardized digital wallet key with UWB behavior on supported devices and NFC/key-card-style behavior on non-UWB devices.5 Yes with a compatible UWB device. Polestar documents approach/leave automatic lock/unlock and door-handle touch behavior.5 Yes. Without UWB, the digital key functions like a key card at the driver's door pillar and interior key reader.5 Phone or smartwatch in the manual, but current U.S. pairing is Apple-only; Polestar says Android pairing is not currently available and Google/Samsung support is planned.1819 Yes. Polestar says the vehicle can be started and driven with the compatible digital-key device.5 Yes. One primary digital key can share additional digital keys.5 A dead device may continue to work as a key card depending on the device manufacturer. Current U.S. Android availability is the controlling limitation despite the manual's generic compatible-device description.51819
Rivian Gen 2 R1 — Digital Key rollout with software 2025.46 / app 3.8.0+ CCC-based wallet Digital Key on supported Apple, Google Pixel and Samsung devices.6 Yes. Rivian explicitly documents passive entry after Digital Key setup.6 A separate NFC/touch path is not established in the checked rollout material. iPhone, Apple Watch, Google Pixel and Samsung devices are named in the rollout.6 Yes. Rivian says the Digital Key supports vehicle access and driving.6 Yes. Key sharing is part of the rollout.6 Keep this row Gen 2, not a guessed model year. Rivian's 2026 Apple Watch material separately says Gen 1 remains app-based while Gen 2 gets passive Digital Key behavior.20
Cadillac LYRIQ — MY2026 U.S. UWB wallet Digital Key stored in Apple Wallet, Google Wallet or Samsung Wallet.217 Yes. Cadillac documents passive entry within about 2 meters when enabled and passive locking.7 A distinct NFC/touch fallback is not established in the checked current Digital Key page. Supported phones; Cadillac also documents compatible Apple Watch use and current UWB-capable Apple/Google/Samsung device families.7 Yes. Cadillac says a paired Digital Key can be used to drive without the physical fob.7 Yes — up to seven additional UWB-capable devices.7 Setup requires accepting OnStar terms, connectivity and the myCadillac app. A physical Digital Key Card is a backup if equipped, not universal equipment.7

Why remote app unlock is not the same as phone-as-key

Many automaker apps can remotely lock, unlock or start a vehicle over the network. That does not automatically mean the phone is a local vehicle key that can replace the fob for entry and driving.

This guide treats those as separate states. Ford's current connected-services page, for example, lists Phone-as-Key alongside remote lock/unlock and remote start/stop rather than treating them as one capability.17 Likewise, the matrix does not infer phone-as-key support from an app's remote-control menu alone.

Valet and temporary-driver handoff is another separate state

A shareable digital key, a physical backup card, a Guest profile and a dedicated Valet Mode can all solve different parts of the same handoff problem. The checked current sources show why just give the valet a key card and just turn on valet mode are not portable instructions.

Vehicle / source scope What to hand over PIN/password needed to drive Dedicated valet/privacy mode What the mode/profile changes Owner-visible session / connected dependency
Tesla Model Y — current 2025+ North America manual Physical key card. Tesla says the card must be used to access and drive Model Y while Valet Mode is active.8 No PIN to Drive for the valet once Valet Mode is active. If PIN to Drive is enabled, the owner enters it before defining/entering the Valet PIN.8 Yes — Valet Mode. Owner enables it in Park with a 4-digit Valet PIN or through the logged-in Tesla app.8 70 mph speed cap; acceleration/power limits; frunk and glovebox locked; Home/Work, texts, voice commands, self-driving convenience features, key list, Driver Profiles and some apps restricted; Bluetooth/Wi-Fi pairing management restricted.8 App can start/cancel Valet Mode while the car is in Park. App cancellation does not require the Valet PIN because the owner is authenticated to the Tesla account.8
Hyundai U.S. Valet Mode — current Gen5W infotainment manual, if equipped Not established in the checked Valet Mode source. Do not infer that the IONIQ 5 NFC Key Card or a shared Digital Key is the recommended handoff credential.9 Not established as a driving PIN. The documented password turns Valet Mode on/off; the checked page does not say that password authorizes vehicle driving.9 Yes, if equipped. The owner enters a password to activate/deactivate the mode.9 Screen/button control is disabled to protect personal information.9 MyHyundai with Bluelink can show Valet Mode start time, engine-off time, driving distance/hours and maximum vehicle speed observed. That field is telemetry, not an established speed cap.9
Kia U.S. Valet Mode — current Gen5W infotainment manual, if equipped; 2026 EV9 fingerprint supplement Not established in the checked Valet Mode source. Digital Key sharing exists separately, but the source does not identify a particular digital/physical key as the recommended valet credential.11 Not established as a driving PIN. The documented password controls Valet Mode rather than drive authorization. On fingerprint-equipped/configured 2026 EV9s, an enrolled fingerprint can exit Valet Mode without entering the password.1122 Yes, if equipped. Password-controlled Valet Mode is documented at the Gen5W system level.11 Screen/button control is disabled to protect personal information. A Tesla-style speed/power/storage restriction is not established in the checked source.11 Kia Access can show activation/end timing, driving distance/hours and maximum vehicle speed observed. That field is telemetry, not an established speed limiter.11
Lucid Air — current Access & Keys support Lucid NFC key card. Lucid specifically recommends it for loaning the car to a friend, valet use or a service-center drop-off.10 Yes. A PIN is required to shift out of Park when the key card is used; a Primary profile holder can set a Guest PIN for friends, valets or service technicians.10 Not established in the checked current Access & Keys source. Lucid defines a Guest profile for temporary access/driving; preferred driver settings are not saved to that profile.10 A separate Tesla-style restrictive Valet Mode or valet-session telemetry is not established in the checked source.10
2026 Ford Mustang Mach-E Enhanced Valet Mode: a temporary valet passcode. Ford says the first five digits can unlock through the keyless-entry keypad and the full eight-digit code can start and drive the vehicle. The checked Classic-mode section does not establish a special handoff credential.12 Enhanced mode: the eight-digit valet passcode authorizes starting/driving. Classic mode uses a separate four-digit code to lock/unlock the touchscreen, not a documented driving PIN.12 Yes — Classic and Enhanced Valet Mode. Enhanced mode depends on Phone as a Key / backup-start credential setup and validation.12 Ford says Valet Mode limits access to some touchscreen features. The checked section does not establish a speed cap, acceleration/power limit or storage lock.12 When a valid Phone as a Key is detected, the valet passcode can be displayed on the touchscreen and in the Ford app. Separate owner-visible driving telemetry is not established in the checked Valet Mode section.12

The important distinction is operational: the temporary credential and the privacy/restriction mode are separate questions. A source can establish one without establishing the other.

Maximum speed observed is not the same as maximum speed limited

Tesla's current Model Y manual directly says Valet Mode caps vehicle speed at 70 mph and limits maximum acceleration and power.8

Hyundai and Kia use different wording. Their current U.S. Gen5W Valet Mode pages say the owner's connected app can show the maximum vehicle speed recorded during the valet session alongside time/distance fields.911 Those statements establish telemetry. They do not establish a speed limiter, so the matrix keeps speed/power restriction as not established for the checked Hyundai/Kia sources.

Tesla: proprietary Bluetooth Phone Key, plus separate NFC/card fallbacks

Tesla's current North America Model Y manual is scoped to 2025+ and software version 2026.26.1

Phone Key is a Bluetooth-based local key. Tesla says it can automatically lock and unlock the vehicle and, once authenticated, does not need internet connectivity to keep functioning as the phone key.2

Tesla also documents two different fallback-style states: some NFC-capable phones can be held to the driver's door pillar like a key card, and the physical key card can unlock the vehicle and authorize driving.2 Those NFC/card interactions should not be mislabeled as the primary Bluetooth proximity path.

Hyundai and Kia: the same digital key label can hide different technology

For the 2025 IONIQ 5, Hyundai's current product page says Digital Key 2 is standard on SEL, XRT and Limited.13 Hyundai's current owner support maps MY2025 IONIQ 5 and IONIQ 5 N to Digital Key 2 Premium and documents Apple, Google and Samsung device support, wallet sharing, NFC-only setup and NFC+UWB-capable setup.3

The important boundary is that Hyundai's checked current IONIQ 5 copy does not explicitly say passive entry. This guide therefore records the UWB-capable device path without turning that into an unquoted approach-behavior claim.

Kia has an even clearer naming trap. Digital Key 2 on select 2025+ EV6 and 2024+ EV9 trims uses NFC, Bluetooth and UWB and explicitly supports passive entry.4 Digital Key 2 Touch is a different NFC-based feature used on select 2023–26 Niro EV-family trims.4

Kia's current U.S. page adds a page-level prerequisite for Kia Digital Key generally: an eligible Kia Connect subscription plus a compatible smart device with an active data plan, with compatibility varying by model, model year and trim.4 That generic requirement is the controlling eligibility boundary for the EV6/EV9 Digital Key 2 row. It does not establish a specific Kia Connect package level for Digital Key 2, and it does not establish that ordinary local-key operation requires continuous network coverage.

Digital Key 2 Touch has a more specific rule: eligible vehicles must be Kia Connect vehicles enrolled in Kia Connect Lite or higher. Kia separately says Touch does not need network coverage after initial setup.4 The current page also says Kia Connect may currently be unavailable for some MY2022+ vehicles purchased or sold in Massachusetts; keep that wording conditional/current rather than turning it into a permanent statewide exclusion.4

Those are separate rows because a shopper asking does it have digital key? could otherwise get the right label but the wrong day-to-day behavior.

Kia and Ford: temporary-driver modes do not mirror Tesla

Kia's current U.S. Gen5W Valet Mode source is if equipped and focuses on infotainment/privacy control plus owner-app session telemetry.11 It does not identify a valet key credential or establish a speed/power limiter. On the 2026 EV9, fingerprint authentication can add an exit path when equipped/configured, but that does not change the underlying source boundary.22

Ford's 2026 Mustang Mach-E uses yet another pattern. Classic Valet Mode locks the touchscreen behind a four-digit code. Enhanced Valet Mode can generate a temporary valet passcode after Phone-as-a-Key or backup-start credential validation; Ford says the first five digits unlock through the keypad and the full eight digits start/drive the vehicle.12 The checked section does not establish Tesla-style speed/power/storage restrictions.

Polestar 4: the manual describes UWB, but current U.S. Android pairing is still unavailable

The 2026 U.S. Polestar 4 manual describes both UWB/passive digital-key behavior and an NFC/key-card-style fallback for non-UWB devices.5 It also says the key can live on a compatible phone or smartwatch and can authorize driving.5

But Polestar's current U.S. support FAQ says Android devices cannot currently be paired with Polestar 4 Digital Key; Google and Samsung support is planned.18 The current U.S. specifications similarly list Digital key for Apple while marking Google/Samsung for future introduction.19

That current device-availability limitation controls the matrix. Generic manual capability does not justify claiming current Android support.

Rivian: standardized Digital Key is a Gen 2 state

Rivian's December 2025 software release says Rivian Digital Key rolled out to Gen 2 vehicles with software 2025.46 and Rivian app 3.8.0+, using a CCC-based wallet key on supported Apple, Google Pixel and Samsung devices.6

Rivian says it supports access, driving, sharing and passive entry.6 The exact source is generation-scoped, so this guide labels the row Gen 2 R1 instead of guessing a specific model year.

Rivian's February 2026 Apple Watch update reinforces that split: Gen 1 watch access remains app-based, while Gen 2 vehicles with Digital Key configured get passive entry.20

Cadillac LYRIQ: exact model linkage plus a UWB wallet-key implementation

Cadillac's current 2026 LYRIQ Owner Resources page links Digital Key support for both iOS and Android, establishing exact current LYRIQ applicability.21

Cadillac's Digital Key support page then establishes the implementation: supported UWB devices, Apple/Google/Samsung wallets, passive entry and locking, drive-without-fob behavior and sharing with up to seven additional UWB-capable devices.7

Cadillac also documents a physical Digital Key Card as backup if equipped.7 The matrix keeps that qualifier instead of making the card sound standard on every LYRIQ configuration.

Ford Mustang Mach-E: Phone As A Key is current, but don't invent a wallet protocol

Ford's current 2026 Mustang Mach-E product page says Phone As A Key uses the smartphone as a virtual key and can automatically unlock the door as the driver approaches.14 Select and GT trim pages explicitly list Phone As A Key as standard.1516

The checked current consumer pages do not establish an Apple/Google/Samsung wallet key, an NFC touch mode or a named UWB transport. Those fields stay not established rather than being filled from the generic phrase digital key.

What to verify before leaving the fob at home

Check the exact current source for all of these before relying on a phone/watch as the only key or handing the vehicle to someone else:

  • model year and trim;
  • whether the feature is a local drive-authorizing key or only a remote app command;
  • whether passive entry needs UWB, Bluetooth or a specific device generation;
  • whether NFC/touch mode exists and where the device must be placed;
  • which phone/watch models and OS versions are currently certified;
  • whether the key must be stored in Apple Wallet, Google Wallet, Samsung Wallet or an OEM app;
  • whether key sharing includes driving or only lock/unlock permission;
  • whether the system requires an OEM account, connected-service enrollment or app pairing;
  • what happens if the phone battery dies or the vehicle's 12-volt system is low;
  • whether a key card/fob is standard, optional or merely supported if equipped;
  • what exact credential a valet, service writer or other temporary driver should receive;
  • whether that temporary credential also requires a PIN/password to authorize driving;
  • whether any Valet Mode is a credential state, a privacy state, a performance restriction, a telemetry/monitoring state, or some combination of those.

What is not established here

  • This is not a complete list of EVs with digital keys or valet modes. It is a growing exact-source matrix.
  • Tesla: the digital-key and valet rows are limited to the current North America Model Y 2025+ manual observed at software 2026.26/current Sept. 21 representation.
  • Hyundai: the checked MY2025 IONIQ 5 material establishes NFC and NFC+UWB device paths, but not an explicit passive-entry statement in the current copy. The current U.S. Valet Mode manual is if equipped and does not itself establish exact IONIQ 5 fitment or the recommended temporary driving credential.
  • Kia: EV6/EV9/Niro applicability remains select trims until a stable exact trim-level source is directly verified. Digital Key generally requires an eligible Kia Connect subscription and compatible active-data-plan device; Digital Key 2 Touch additionally has an explicit Lite-or-higher rule. The current U.S. Gen5W Valet Mode source is if equipped and does not establish the temporary-driver key credential or a speed/power limiter. Current Massachusetts Kia Connect availability language remains conditional/current.411
  • Lucid: the checked Air source establishes key-card + PIN/Guest PIN temporary access, but does not establish a separate restrictive Valet Mode.
  • Ford: the checked current Mustang Mach-E consumer pages establish Phone As A Key and approach unlock but do not establish a standardized wallet/UWB/NFC implementation. The 2026 owner-manual Valet section establishes temporary Enhanced Valet passcodes and touchscreen restriction, but not a speed/power/storage restriction.12
  • Polestar: the current U.S. device limitation is Apple pairing; future Google/Samsung support is not current availability.
  • Rivian: the source is Gen 2-scoped. A specific model year is not assigned from the Digital Key announcement alone.
  • Cadillac: the backup Digital Key Card is if equipped.
  • Remote app lock/unlock/start is never used as a proxy for local phone-as-key drive authorization.
  • Not established in the checked source is not converted into the vehicle does not have the feature.

Update policy

This is a frequently rechecked living reference. Reverify rows when an OEM changes model-year/trim packaging, supported phone/watch lists, OTA software, wallet/platform certification, key-sharing rules, connected-service requirements, temporary-driver/Valet Mode behavior, PIN/profile rules or dead-device/fallback behavior.

The scheduled next review is September 28, 2026, with earlier verification on any material OEM, mobile-platform, connected-service, credential-handoff or Valet Mode change.

For adjacent access/security states, see the dead low-voltage vehicle access guide, built-in dashcam and parked-security guide, and connected-service entitlement guide.

Sources

Footnotes

  1. Tesla — Model Y Owner's Manual root, North America, observed Sept. 16, 2026. Establishes Model Y 2025+ / software 2026.26 scope. https://www.tesla.com/ownersmanual/modely/en_us/ ↩ ↩2 ↩3

  2. Tesla — Model Y Owner's Manual, Keys, observed Sept. 16, 2026. Establishes Bluetooth Phone Key, automatic lock/unlock, offline-after-authentication behavior, Apple Watch key, supported NFC-phone pillar access and physical key-card fallback/drive authorization. https://www.tesla.com/ownersmanual/modely/en_us/GUID-E004FAB7-1C71-448F-9492-CACF301304D2.html ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5 ↩6 ↩7 ↩8 ↩9

  3. Hyundai Motor America — Digital Key 2: The Future of Car Keys is Here, observed Sept. 16, 2026. Establishes MY2025 IONIQ 5/5 N Digital Key 2 Premium scope, lock/unlock/start, supported Apple/Google/Samsung device families, phone/watch use, wallet sharing, NFC-only and NFC+UWB setup paths and NFC Key Card backup. https://owners.hyundaiusa.com/us/en/resources/technology-and-navigation/introducing-all-new-digital-key ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5 ↩6 ↩7 ↩8 ↩9

  4. Kia America — Kia Digital Key, rechecked Sept. 21, 2026. Establishes Digital Key 2 NFC/Bluetooth/UWB/passive-entry behavior; 2025+ EV6 and 2024+ EV9 select-trim scope; current supported device families; separate Digital Key 2 Touch NFC behavior for select 2023–26 Niro/EV/PHEV trims; sharing, driving, no-network-after-setup and low-12V passive-mode conditions; the page-level requirement that Kia Digital Key requires an eligible Kia Connect subscription plus a compatible smart device with an active data plan; Digital Key 2 Touch's more specific Kia Connect Lite-or-higher eligibility requirement; and current conditional Massachusetts Kia Connect availability language. https://owners.kia.com/us/en/digital-key.html ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5 ↩6 ↩7 ↩8 ↩9 ↩10 ↩11 ↩12 ↩13 ↩14 ↩15 ↩16 ↩17 ↩18 ↩19

  5. Polestar — Polestar 4 2026 U.S. Manual, Digital key, observed Sept. 16, 2026. Establishes phone/watch lock-unlock-start, UWB approach/leave behavior, non-UWB key-card behavior, wallet controls, sharing and conditional dead-device card behavior. https://www.polestar.com/us/manual/polestar-4-coupe/2026/article/47d2c97fd33effd3c0a8cc3718c999b7-05c7943009a1cf5bc0a8b09752cce648-8664b2fa77a7e089c0a8296870d1a409/ ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5 ↩6 ↩7 ↩8 ↩9

  6. Rivian — New Software: Elevating Your Experience / software 2025.46, Dec. 18, 2025, observed Sept. 16, 2026. Establishes Gen 2 Digital Key rollout, Rivian app 3.8.0+, CCC wallet-key implementation, supported Apple/Pixel/Samsung device families, access/drive, sharing and passive entry. https://rivian.com/stories/software-update-2025-46 ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5 ↩6 ↩7 ↩8

  7. Cadillac — About Digital Key, observed Sept. 16, 2026. Establishes supported UWB devices, Apple/Google/Samsung wallet storage, phone/watch use, passive entry/locking, driving without a fob, sharing up to seven devices, setup requirements and if equipped physical Digital Key Card fallback. https://www.cadillac.com/support/vehicle/security/digital-key ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5 ↩6 ↩7 ↩8 ↩9

  8. Tesla — Model Y Owner's Manual, Driver Profiles / Valet Mode, rechecked Sept. 21, 2026. Establishes the key-card requirement while Valet Mode is active, 70 mph speed cap, power/acceleration/storage/privacy restrictions, 4-digit Valet PIN, mobile-app control and PIN-to-Drive interaction. https://www.tesla.com/ownersmanual/modely/en_us/GUID-A2D0403E-3DAC-4695-A4E6-DC875F4DEDC3.html ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5 ↩6 ↩7

  9. Hyundai — U.S. Online Infotainment Manual, Using the Valet mode (if equipped), rechecked Sept. 21, 2026. Establishes password activation/deactivation, screen/button privacy lock, MyHyundai with Bluelink requirement for the documented connected workflow and owner-visible start/off time, distance/hours and maximum speed. It does not establish the temporary driver's key credential, a speed limiter or exact IONIQ 5 fitment. https://ownersmanual.hyundai.com/ivi/STD_GEN5W/AVNT/USA/English/002_Features_valetmode.html ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5 ↩6 ↩7

  10. Lucid Motors — Lucid Air In-Depth: Access and Keys, rechecked Sept. 21, 2026. Establishes NFC key-card use for friend/valet/service handoff, PIN required to shift from Park with the card, Guest PIN availability for temporary drivers and Guest-profile behavior. https://lucidmotors.com/knowledge/vehicles/air/lucid-air-in-depth/access-and-keys ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5

  11. Kia — U.S. STD_GEN5W User's Manual, Using the Valet mode (if equipped), checked Sept. 21, 2026. Establishes password activation/deactivation, screen/button privacy lock and Kia Access session telemetry including start/end timing, distance/hours and maximum vehicle speed. It does not establish the temporary driver's credential or a speed/power limiter. https://ownersmanual.kia.com/ivi/STD_GEN5W/AVNT/USA/English/002_Features_valetmode.html ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5 ↩6 ↩7 ↩8 ↩9

  12. Ford Motor Company — 2026 Mustang Mach-E Owner's Manual, Using the Valet Mode, U.S./Canada, edition date Nov. 2025, checked Sept. 21, 2026. Establishes Classic and Enhanced Valet Mode, four-digit touchscreen lock, Phone-as-a-Key/backup-start prerequisites, temporary five-digit unlock and eight-digit start/drive passcodes and exit behavior. The checked section does not establish a speed cap, power restriction or storage lock. https://www.fordservicecontent.com/Ford_Content/Catalog/owner_information/2026-Mach-E-OM-enUSA-V1.pdf ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5 ↩6 ↩7 ↩8

  13. Hyundai Motor America — 2025 IONIQ 5, observed Sept. 16, 2026. Establishes Digital Key 2 as standard on SEL, XRT and Limited and the compatible-phone/MyHyundai/Bluelink requirement. https://www.hyundaiusa.com/us/en/vehicles/2025-ioniq-5 ↩ ↩2 ↩3

  14. Ford — 2026 Mustang Mach-E, observed Sept. 16, 2026. Establishes Phone As A Key as a smartphone virtual-key feature and automatic approach unlock. https://www.ford.com/suvs/mach-e/ ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4

  15. Ford — 2026 Mustang Mach-E Select, observed Sept. 16, 2026. Lists Phone As A Key as standard equipment. https://www.ford.com/suvs/mach-e/models/select/ ↩ ↩2

  16. Ford — 2026 Mustang Mach-E GT, observed Sept. 16, 2026. Lists Phone As A Key as standard equipment. https://www.ford.com/suvs/mach-e/models/gt/ ↩ ↩2

  17. Ford — Connected Services, observed Sept. 16, 2026. Distinguishes free Ford-app/modem features including Phone-as-Key, door lock/unlock and remote start/stop from paid connected-service add-ons; notes year/model/trim variation. https://www.ford.com/technology/connected-services/ ↩ ↩2

  18. Polestar — Polestar 4 digital key FAQs, U.S., observed Sept. 16, 2026. Establishes that Android pairing is not currently available and Google/Samsung support is planned; also distinguishes Polestar 3/4 standardized wallet keys from Polestar 2's app/Bluetooth implementation. https://www.polestar.com/us/support/faq/polestar-4-digital-key/ ↩ ↩2 ↩3

  19. Polestar — Polestar 4 U.S. specifications, observed Sept. 16, 2026. Lists Digital key for Apple, with Google/Samsung for future introduction, plus UWB key and NFC key card. https://www.polestar.com/us/polestar-4-models/polestar-4-coupe/specifications ↩ ↩2 ↩3

  20. Rivian — New Software: Rivian Apple Watch app, Feb. 19, 2026, observed Sept. 16, 2026. Establishes Gen 1 app-based Apple Watch access versus Gen 2 passive Digital Key behavior. https://rivian.com/stories/software-update-rivian-apple-watch-app-2026 ↩ ↩2

  21. Cadillac — 2026 LYRIQ Owner Resources, observed Sept. 16, 2026. Links current Digital Key support for iOS and Android and establishes exact MY2026 LYRIQ applicability. https://www.cadillac.com/electric/preceding-year/lyriq/owner-resources ↩ ↩2

  22. Kia America — 2026 Kia EV9 Vehicle Feature Tips, checked Sept. 21, 2026. Establishes that fingerprint authentication, when equipped and configured, can exit Valet Mode without entering the password. https://owners.kia.com/content/dam/kia/us/owners/pdf/2026/2026-Kia-EV9-Vehicle-Feature-Tips.pdf ↩ ↩2

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