NFC Key Cards for Automobiles: A Major Innovation for the Industry

Contactless technologies are increasingly present in our daily lives, including in the automotive sector. IDEMIA, the world leader in identity technologies, has just taken a significant step forward by obtaining NFC Forum certification for its range of NFC key cards intended for the automotive sector. In this article, we will explore the importance of this certification and the prospects it offers for the automotive industry.

What is NFC Forum Certification?

The NFC Forum is an international body that aims to promote the use and standardization of near field communication (NFC) technology. To obtain NFC Forum certification, devices must comply with NFC Forum specifications, thus ensuring consistent behavior between NFC implementations and a solid foundation for interoperability.

IDEMIA’s NFC Forum certification for key cards (Certification Release 13) is a first in the automotive industry. It attests to IDEMIA’s expertise in the field of NFC key cards and confirms its leadership and positioning in the sector.

The benefits of NFC key cards for the automotive industry

NFC key cards offer numerous benefits for car manufacturers and vehicle users. They allow secure, contactless access and control of vehicles, making them more convenient and hygienic than traditional physical keys.

With NFC Forum certification, IDEMIA’s NFC key cards are compatible with all NFC readers designed for CCC (Car Connectivity Consortium) enabled smartphone keys. This compatibility is crucial as digital keys are rapidly replacing physical keys as the industry standard. NFC key cards thus become the natural complementary companion to digital keys.

Moreover, NFC Forum’s CR13 certification for the first time includes certification for the NFC use case concerning car access, as specified by the Car Connectivity Consortium (CCC).

Prospects for the future

Automotive OEMs show a strategic interest in transitioning from traditional key chains to new solutions, such as smartphones and NFC key cards, to authorize vehicle access. IDEMIA is committed to supporting these market trends with a product portfolio that respects automotive standards, performance, cryptographic expertise, and smart card manufacturing.

Obtaining NFC Forum certification for IDEMIA’s NFC key cards paves the way for wider adoption of this technology in the automotive industry. Manufacturers and consumers will thus be able to benefit from secure, contactless, interoperable vehicle access and control, while enjoying the convenience and reliability offered by this innovation.

In conclusion, the NFC Forum certification obtained by IDEMIA for its NFC key cards is a significant milestone for the automotive industry. This recognition underlines IDEMIA’s expertise in the field of NFC key cards and paves the way for wider adoption of this technology in the sector. Car manufacturers and vehicle users will thus be able to benefit from secure, contactless, interoperable vehicle access and control, while enjoying the convenience and reliability offered by NFC key cards.