The Car Connectivity Consortium (CCC) officially expanded its Digital Key Certification Program to include Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) and Ultra-Wideband (UWB) technologies, adding to the existing CCC certification for digital keys using Near-Field Communications (NFC).
The announcement comes after CCC President Alysia Johnson told Fierce Electronics in January that support for BLE and UWB was “weeks away,” and that it was central to the CCC’s vision “to become the trusted source for defining how vehicles interact with devices and the world to improve the consumer experience.” CCC members also just completed a BMW-hosted Plugfest in Munich, Germany, last week which focused on validating BLE “sniffing test cases,” OEM test cases, and UWB test cases, among other items.
This expansion builds on the existing certification requirements for interoperability, security and functionality, and also will add functionality for remote access, passive entry, and passive start.
The interoperability aspect means that devices and vehicles supporting the certification will enable NFC implementations for tap-to-lock/unlock and start; BLE implementations for remote keyless entry; and UWB implementations in complement to BLE for secure passive entry and start capabilities.
“The evolution of CCC Digital Key Certification Program reflects our ongoing commitment to advancing technologies that simplify and secure how vehicles and devices work together,” said Alysia Johnson, President of CCC. “By expanding our support of Bluetooth LE and UWB, we’re enabling a future where consumers can rely on seamless and private access to their vehicles, no matter the device or manufacturer.”
The enhanced security aspect of the CCC Digital Key certification covers the digital key applet, which resides on a mobile device’s secure element. This ensures that all security-critical processing and secure storage of the digital keys are properly implemented to resist the highest level of hardware-based and software-based attacks, the CCC stated. This allows Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) and suppliers to trust the secure communication between devices and vehicles, protecting consumer data and privacy.
Significantly, the certifications also lets consumers easily and securely share digital keys across devices from different ecosystems, such as iOS or Android, ensuring greater flexibility and convenience.
The newly-expanded certification also incorporates certification requirements from other standards development organizations, including NFC Forum, Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG), and FiRa Consortium, ensuring credibility.
“The expansion of the CCC Digital Key Certification Program to include Bluetooth® LE and UWB technologies is a transformative step for the global automotive industry,” said John Sergakis, Chairperson of CCC. “By setting a universal standard for digital key solutions, we are enabling automakers and technology providers worldwide to create seamless, secure, and user-friendly experiences that meet the evolving needs of modern consumers and support the future of connected vehicles.”