2026 GMC Sierra EV Drops Planned Digital Key Feature Before Launch

The 2026 GMC Sierra EV will not receive the smartphone-based Digital Key feature that General Motors had previously planned for the electric pickup.

While the feature was expected to arrive through an over-the-air software update, GM has instead equipped the truck with a Key Card, leaving owners without the ability to lock, unlock, start, or drive the vehicle using a compatible smartphone.

Digital Key No Longer Planned For 2026

Earlier expectations suggested that the 2026 GMC Sierra EV would gain Digital Key functionality through the myGMC mobile app. The feature would have allowed owners to use their smartphones as a vehicle key, eliminating the need for a traditional key fob in many situations.

That will no longer happen, at least for the 2026 model year. The same decision also applies to the closely related Chevrolet Silverado EV, which likewise will not receive Digital Key support, according to GM Authority.

Instead, GM is providing a Key Card that can be used to access and operate the vehicle.

Despite the change, the 2026 Sierra EV still arrives with several notable updates across the lineup. GMC has expanded the available paint palette to nine colors and introduced two new trims: the Sierra EV Elevation and the off-road-focused Sierra EV AT4.

Pricing starts at $64,995 for the Sierra EV Elevation equipped with the Standard Range battery. At the top of the range, the Sierra EV AT4 with the Extended Range battery starts at $81,895.

Expanded Lineup Continues As GM Commits To Electric Pickups

The Sierra EV lineup continues to offer three battery options: Standard, Extended, and Max.

The Standard Range battery is exclusive to the base Elevation trim and carries an EPA-estimated driving range of 282 miles. At the other end of the lineup, the Sierra EV AT4 Max and Sierra EV Denali Max offer an EPA-estimated range of up to 478 miles on a full charge.

Every Sierra EV is built on General Motors’ BT1 electric truck platform and assembled at the company’s Factory Zero plant in Michigan. Production of the 2027 model year is scheduled to begin in October.

Although electric full-size pickups have yet to match the sales success of traditional gasoline trucks, General Motors continues to invest in the segment. During 2025, the automaker sold 11,275 Chevrolet Silverado EVs and 7,996 GMC Sierra EVs, underscoring its continued presence in the growing electric truck market.

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