Tesla appears to be moving toward native digital wallet integration for vehicle access, though not in the way North American users might expect. A recent app teardown has uncovered code pointing to a new feature that could fundamentally change how owners unlock their vehicles.
Latest version of the Tesla mobile application (v4.52.0) contains references to “Harmony Wallet Key Cards”, code strings that suggest integration with Huawei’s digital wallet system. Discovery points to Tesla’s intention to support HarmonyOS devices through native wallet functionality, enabling users in China to store their vehicle credentials directly within Huawei’s secure ecosystem.
Unlike the current app-based approach, native wallet integration operates at the system level. Enables phones to function as proximity keys through Bluetooth or ultra-wideband communication, and as NFC-based key cards, all without requiring the Tesla application to run continuously in the background.
For Tesla owners, the distinction matters significantly. Today’s Phone Key feature depends on the Tesla app maintaining an active background process, which operating systems sometimes terminate to conserve battery life. Native integration eliminates this dependency entirely by storing credentials in a phone’s secure element.
The benefits extend beyond reliability. System-level integration enables features like Tap-to-Unlock and allows devices to maintain functionality even when powered off, capabilities that Apple Wallet car key support already delivers for competing automakers. Rivian recently implemented this standard through the Car Connectivity Consortium protocol, offering secure credential sharing and extended battery life operation.
Tesla’s proprietary approach has worked reasonably well, but the automotive industry has moved toward standardized digital key solutions. Rivian’s holiday 2025 update brought native Apple Wallet car key support and Google Wallet compatibility, features that operate up to five hours after device shutdown and enable seamless credential sharing through messaging platforms.
Harmony Wallet code proves Tesla possesses the technical capability to build these integrations. Whether this development signals broader plans for Apple Wallet car key support remains unclear, though the company has historically tested features in China before global rollout.
Will Tesla finally unlock the potential for native wallet integration beyond HarmonyOS? Code suggests they’re getting their keys in order.
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