The 2026 Lexus ES will be the first vehicle in the Lexus lineup to support Apple Car Key, the digital car key feature built into Apple's Wallet app, according to confirmation from Toyota shared with automotive outlet Carscoops. The feature is expected to roll out alongside the vehicle's release later this year.
Apple Car Key works through NFC β the same short-range wireless technology used for contactless payments. Customers with a compatible iPhone or Apple Watch can simply hold their device near the door handle to unlock and start the car, with no PIN or Face ID authentication required in Express Mode. One of the feature's most practical selling points: it continues to function for up to five hours after the phone's battery has died, relying on a low-power reserve mode.
The addition is particularly meaningful for Lexus owners because it addresses a genuine weakness in the brand's current offering. Lexus already has its own Digital Key system, but that solution requires an active internet connection to Toyota's servers to function. In areas with poor cellular coverage, or simply when the servers are unavailable, the existing system can fail entirely. Apple Car Key, by contrast, works entirely offline β making it a more reliable day-to-day option.
Lexus and its parent brand Toyota have been steadily expanding their Apple Wallet integration. The 2026 Toyota RAV4 became compatible with the feature in February, and Apple Car Key support across the Toyota family is expected to grow in the months ahead.
More broadly, Apple Car Key has gained significant momentum across the automotive industry. BMW was among the earliest adopters, and the feature is now available on vehicles from Genesis, Kia, Hyundai, Lotus, Mercedes-Benz, and Volvo, among others. What once felt like a niche convenience is increasingly becoming a standard expectation among premium buyers.