As digital keys become more widely used among car owners, a consortium of auto and phone makers are working to ensure that people can trust that this new technology is secure and will always work across multiple devices.
Published in The Verge on December 11, 2023.
The Car Connectivity Consortium announced a new certification for digital keys to ensure that people can trust the technology.
The Car Connectivity Consortium (CCC) is an industry group that includes most major car companies, like Ford, GM, BMW, Honda, Hyundai, and Mercedes-Benz, as well as phone makers like Apple, Samsung, and Xiaomi. The consortium announced a new certification program for digital keys that use near-field communication (NFC). NFC-equipped phones must be tapped against the car’s door handle to unlock it, rather than using a key or key fob.
The CCC Digital Key Certification is intended to establish a “global compatibility of products and services for a seamless experience… regardless of car or device,” the group states. In this way, consumers can be assured that the technology will always work, even as they cycle through new phones or new cars.
Car and device makers submit their products for testing to the CCC to ensure that it meets all its criteria for safety, security, and interoperability. If they pass, they receive a certificate and the group’s logo can be used in marketing materials to ensure consumers that the device meets all of CCC’s digital key standards.
Read the full article in The Verge here.
