The 16th annual Plugfest, hosted by the Car Connectivity Consortium (CCC), brought together over a dozen automobile and smartphone manufacturers in Palo Alto, California. The event focused on testing the latest in digital key technology, a feature that allows vehicle owners to lock, unlock, and start their cars using smartphones or other digital devices.
Digital keys are becoming increasingly common, and the goal of Plugfest was to test interoperability and real-world performance across vehicles, devices, and wireless technologies. This event provided a platform for rival companies to collaborate and ensure that digital keys work seamlessly across different devices and vehicle brands.
As cars become more technologically advanced with software-defined features and over-the-air updates, the validation efforts for digital keys become crucial to keep pace with innovation in the auto and smartphone industries.
Wassym Bensaid, the chief software officer at Rivian, emphasized the complexity of ensuring wireless access across a fragmented set of device hardware and software. Companies with more vertical integration, like Rivian, have an advantage in tackling this challenge by deeply integrating phone-to-car connectivity across vehicle software, cloud systems, and various device ecosystems.
Phone manufacturers play a key role in setting standards around data security and privacy for digital keys. Apple, for example, announced support for digital car keys from multiple vehicle brands, including Audi, Cadillac, Chevy, Hyundai, Kia, GMC, Volvo, Rivian, and others.
The Car Connectivity Consortium, along with major car companies and tech giants like Apple, Samsung, and Xiaomi, is driving the adoption of digital keys. The Digital Key Certification Program launched by CCC has seen a significant increase in certifications, indicating a growing interest in this technology.
With the rollout of version 4 of its specification, CCC is enhancing support for fleet owners and improving features like “friend sharing,” which allows secure sharing of access with others. This feature enables vehicle owners to easily share access with individuals using different phone types or manufacturers.
Despite advancements, digital keys are not without flaws, as evidenced by user complaints on platforms like Reddit. However, technologies like Ultra-Wideband (UWB) are seen as more reliable for digital key applications due to their accuracy and security features.
Overall, the evolution of digital key technology is paving the way for seamless and secure connectivity between smartphones and vehicles, offering a convenient and efficient way for users to interact with their cars.