Polestar has augmented its flagship electric SUV with additional features such as walk-away locking and digital key functionality for selected devices.

Thanks to an over-the-air (OTA) software update, Polestar 3 customers can now use their car keys via Apple Wallet. Drivers can automatically unlock or lock, and start their vehicle while leaving their iPhone in their pocket or by simply wearing their Apple Watch.

The new functionality, arriving soon on the Polestar 4 as well, means customers will have the ability to share car keys in Apple Wallet through Messages, Mail, AirDrop, WhatsApp, and more with up to five other users, and vehicle owners can also decide whether these additional users are able to gain access to their vehicle or have the ability to drive it. Power Reserve allows users to use their car keys in Apple Wallet to access and start their vehicle, even if the iPhone needs to be charged.

Michael Lohscheller, Polestar CEO, said: “At Polestar, we are committed to delivering a premium experience, and that includes our personal relationship with our customers – they asked for car keys in Apple Wallet, and so we delivered. The convenience of using your iPhone or Apple Watch to unlock and start your car, and easily share access to the vehicle with others, shouldn’t be underestimated.”

Polestar has committed to comprehensively upgrade its vehicles throughout their lifecycle with an intensive OTA programme.

Since the Polestar 3’s launch in June 2024, the Swedish brand has implemented nine software updates, adding new features and enhanced software stability, while across its three-car range it has delivered over 30 OTA software updates since launching the Polestar 2 in 2020.

Lohscheller added: “The outstanding Polestar 3 continues to get even better, and we will continue to add value for our customers like this with future OTA updates.”

The Polestar 3 is also set to gain greater computing power with a hardware update.

For model year 2026 the Polestar 3 will be delivered with an upgrade from its current-generation Nvidia Drive AGX Xavier processor to a new, more powerful, Nvidia Drive AGX Orin processor.

Crucially, this hardware update will also be offered to all existing Polestar 3 customers as a complimentary upgrade, staying true to the Swedish brand’s promise to continue to add value and deliver the very best user experience to its customers.

Lohscheller continued: “The ability to upgrade the hardware of our cars when new technologies become available is the perfect demonstration of our commitment to deliver the very best ownership experience to our customers. With the Orin processor upgrade, the already outstanding Polestar 3 gets even better.”