New Apple backend code reveals that Haval, a brand owned by Chinese automaker Great Wall Motor (GWM), is preparing to add support for Apple Car Keys, which allows drivers to lock, unlock, and start compatible vehicles using an iPhone or Apple Watch. The discovery comes less than two weeks after similar references first appeared for GWM’s Tank SUV lineup, suggesting coordinated engineering work across GWM’s portfolio rather than a piecemeal rollout.
GWM models already support Apple CarPlay across several of its brands, including the Tank 300, Tank 400, Tank 500, and Tank 700, along with vehicles sold under the Haval, Ora, Wey, and Poer names. Car Keys is a separate feature, one that enables a credential-based relationship between iPhone and vehicle rather than simply mirroring an interface on a dashboard screen. With CarPlay, the iPhone casts its display onto the car’s infotainment system. Car Keys goes further, replacing the physical key by using encrypted digital credentials stored in the iPhone’s Secure Element chip and transmitted via NFC or Ultra Wideband.
The feature was discovered and revealed by Aaron on X:
Apple’s backend has revealed the next car brand getting Apple Car Key support:
Haval (Chinese brand owned by GWM) pic.twitter.com/sW4uNGyoEE
— Aaron (@aaronp613) July 31, 2026
When Haval’s support officially launches, compatible vehicles will join more than 50 models already working with Car Keys, including those from BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Hyundai, Kia, Genesis, Toyota, and Rivian. Apple introduced Car Keys in 2022, and the feature has expanded steadily since. One of the most notable trends in recent growth is the increasing participation of Chinese automakers: BYD, NIO, and Lynk & Co already offer iPhone Car Keys support, and Haval’s addition would deepen that footprint further. For Apple, which has faced headwinds in China around market share and regulatory scrutiny, deeper integration with popular domestic brands serves a clear strategic purpose.
Haval is not a niche player, the brand is among GWM’s highest-volume lines, with models like the Haval H6 consistently ranking among the top-selling SUVs in China and in export markets across Southeast Asia, Australia, and Latin America. Car Keys support could meaningfully affect millions of existing and prospective Haval owners who already use iPhones, giving them a keyless experience that was previously unavailable.
For consumers, the practical benefits are real. Apple Car Keys supports sharing access with family members or friends directly through the Messages app, and compatible vehicles can be unlocked even when an iPhone’s battery is critically low, thanks to Power Reserve mode. Ultra Wideband-equipped vehicles also support hands-free unlocking, where the car detects the iPhone’s proximity and disengages locks automatically without requiring any tap or interaction.
