GM rolls out digital keys for Cadillac EVs, letting drivers unlock and start cars from a phone wallet
Starting today, General Motors is rolling out digital keys for select 2026 and 2027 Cadillac EVs, letting drivers unlock and drive using a key stored in their phone's digital wallet.
- Up to 7 additional devices
- September 10, 2026
- Through mid-October 2026
- December 2026
What Happened
General Motors is introducing a digital key that lets drivers unlock and drive their vehicle by adding a version of the physical key to a digital wallet on a compatible iPhone, Apple Watch, Google Pixel or Samsung Galaxy device. The feature begins with select 2026 and 2027 Cadillac EVs, and GM says more of its models will follow. The rollout is phased, with eligible Cadillac vehicles getting access first and a broader set of Chevrolet, GMC and Cadillac vehicles arriving in December. Customers will see a notification in the "What's New" section of their vehicle mobile app when digital key becomes available to them.
- Sharing: you can securely share your key with up to seven additional devices via AirDrop, Messages, WhatsApp and more.
- Walk up and drive: the vehicle automatically unlocks as you approach and locks when you walk away, without taking out your phone.
- Cabin comfort: you can pop the trunk and adjust climate controls from your digital wallet before stepping inside.
Phased introduction for eligible Cadillac vehicles: the 2025-2027 LYRIQ, 2026-2027 OPTIQ and 2027 VISTIQ.
Availability expands to more vehicles, including the 2026-2027 Chevrolet Tahoe and Suburban, 2026-2027 GMC Yukon and Yukon XL, and the 2027 Escalade, Escalade IQ/IQL and CELESTIQ.
The rollout continues across additional GM vehicles, with customers notified through the "What's New" section of the vehicle mobile app.
GM says the digital key is backed by advanced security. The vehicle knows when your device is near, using ultra-wideband technology for secure, encrypted, proximity-based authentication, plus Bluetooth for connected controls such as locking, unlocking, opening the trunk and adjusting climate settings. The key is stored in Apple Wallet, Google Wallet or Samsung Wallet, the same way those wallets store payment cards, and it is built on the Car Connectivity Consortium (CCC) standard, an automotive and technology-industry framework meant to ensure vehicles and devices work together reliably and safely. Account owners can remove digital key access at any time through the vehicle or the digital wallet, and if a device is lost or stolen, calling OnStar allows the key to be deactivated immediately.
- Apple: iPhone 11 or newer, Apple Watch Series 6 or newer, and Apple Watch Ultra (first generation or newer).
- Google: Pixel 6 Pro, Pixel 7 Pro, Pixel Fold, Pixel 8 Pro, Pixel 9 Pro, Pixel 9 Pro XL, Pixel 9 Pro Fold, Pixel 10 Pro, Pixel 10 Pro XL and Pixel 10 Pro Fold.
- Samsung: Galaxy S21+ 5G or newer, Galaxy Note20 or newer models, and Galaxy Z Fold and Z TriFold models.
To add a digital key, a customer downloads and signs in to the vehicle's mobile app, then, while in an OnStar-connected GM vehicle with the physical key fob nearby, follows the app's prompts to add a key to a compatible digital wallet. After pairing, Bluetooth and ultra-wideband enable everyday access. GM says the digital key experience will continue to evolve beyond unlocking and starting a vehicle, laying the groundwork for more deeply integrated and personalized experiences, such as automatically adjusting vehicle settings as drivers approach.
Previously from General Motors
GM has been reworking how phones connect to its vehicles: in September 2026 it said it would return Apple CarPlay and Android Auto to its infotainment stack, beginning with selected 2027 pickup models, after having tried to move drivers toward its own software. The digital key rollout continues that reliance on phone-based features, this time placing vehicle access itself inside Apple, Google and Samsung wallet apps.
Background drawn from MotorClaw's earlier coverage of General Motors's official releases.
Why this matters
The rollout gives owners of eligible Cadillac EVs a phone-based alternative to carrying a physical key fob, and GM says more models will follow over time. It also shows how much of the everyday car experience now depends on phone platforms from Apple, Google and Samsung, whose wallets store the credential.
Terms in This Story
- Ultra-wideband
- A short-range wireless technology that can precisely detect how close two devices are, used here to confirm your phone or watch is near the car before unlocking it.
- Digital wallet
- A phone or watch app that securely stores credentials such as payment cards; here it stores a digital version of your vehicle key.
- Car Connectivity Consortium (CCC)
- An automotive and technology-industry standards group whose framework is designed to ensure vehicles and mobile devices work together reliably and safely.
- OnStar
- GM's connected vehicle service, which can deactivate a digital key if a device is lost or stolen.
Summarised from the linked release; details can be imperfect — always verify against the original source.