Samsung just unlocked a new frontier for mobile wallets. Starting this month, Samsung Wallet users with compatible Galaxy smartphones can now ditch their physical car keys for select 2026 Toyota RAV4 models. The partnership marks a major step in mobile authentication moving beyond payments and IDs into the physical world of vehicle access, starting with the US, Canada, and Mexico before expanding across Europe.
The smartphone is becoming your entire life - wallet, ID, key - and Samsung just added another check to that box. On Tuesday, the company announced that Samsung Wallet now supports digital key functionality for select 2026 Toyota RAV4 models. Starting this month, Galaxy users can unlock, lock, and start their vehicles straight from their phones, without ever pulling out a physical key.
The rollout is deliberate but significant. This isn't vaporware or a limited beta. Samsung is kicking off availability this month across the US, Canada, and Mexico, with Europe to follow in alignment with Toyota's own launch timeline. More Toyota models will support the feature down the line, but for now it's the 2026 RAV4 leading the charge.
"Samsung Wallet is designed to remove friction from daily life through the combination of seamless convenience and uncompromising security," Woncheol Chai, EVP and Head of Digital Wallet Team at Samsung Electronics, told the press. "By bringing Digital Key support to Toyota vehicles, starting with the 2026 Toyota RAV4, we're extending those benefits to more people, so that Galaxy users can get on the road faster, safer and more easily."
What makes this work is the underlying hardware. The system relies on Ultra-Wideband (UWB) technology for hands-free entry and Near Field Communication (NFC) for proximity-based unlocking and engine start. UWB, which is a standardized protocol set by the Car Connectivity Consortium, offers precision that prevents the relay attacks that plague older wireless car access systems. The technology knows exactly where your phone is relative to the vehicle, making it much harder to spoof.