As we come to the end of 2024, RFIDJournal writers and experts who contributed their knowledge are taking both a look back at this year and what is ahead in 2025. This entry centers on the Car Connectivity Consortium.
- The organization enters 2025 with significant momentum after surpassing 300 members this year
- Other accomplishments include strengthening the CCC Digital KeyCertification Program, expanded industry footprint and event participation
The Car Connectivity Consortium (CCC) officials promoted their significant growth in 2024 for the cross-industry organization dedicated to advancing vehicle-to-device connectivity solutions,
CCC’s notable strides over the last year include expanding its membership base, strengthening the CCC Digital Key specification and CCC Digital Key Certification Program, building its presence in the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region, and growing its industry footprint through participation in several events. They see this momentum enabling the CCC to continue to pursue its vision of defining how vehicles interact with devices and the world to improve the consumer experience.
“We hear over and over that consumers still have concerns when it comes to the connected features in their vehicles,” said John Sergakis, chairperson of the CCC’s Board of Directors, in a press statement. “This means there’s a significant opportunity to scale adoption if we can work with companies to address some of the biggest pain points for consumers, like ease of use and trust in the technology.”
First CCC-Approved Digital Key Products
The CCC member companies include smartphone and vehicle manufacturers, automotive tier-1 suppliers, silicon/chip vendors, security product suppliers, and more. Its board of directors includes individuals from charter member companies Apple, BMW, CARIAD, DENSO, Ford, General Motors, Google, Honda, Hyundai, Mercedes-Benz, NXP, Panasonic, Samsung, Thales, and Xiaomi.
Additionally, the CCC’s membership is comprised of many of the world’s leading automakers, device manufacturers, and technology companies. The organization recently surpassed the 300-member milestone, expanding its ability to develop global industry-leading solutions that benefit consumers.
In its second year, the CCC designated the first two digital key products as CCC Digital Key Certified in July. The current certification covers the near-field communication (NFC) element of digital key implementations, which allows users to tap to lock, unlock, or start their cars. The certification will expand in the first quarter of 2025 to include Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE), which enables remote lock and unlock and other remote keyless entry features, and ultra-wideband (UWB), which provides fine ranging for passive lock and unlock features and detects when a phone is inside the vehicle for passive start.
Year of Growth
As a part of its efforts to advance vehicle connectivity and address consumer concerns surrounding technology, the CCC has worked to grow its presence in key hubs for automotive innovation around the world, including the APAC region. The CCC recently named Zoe Fan as its new APAC Director to enable more collaboration with the leading automotive manufacturers, device manufacturers, and technology companies based in the area to better understand their specific market needs.
“We’ve worked in lockstep with our membership to address these barriers, and I’m immensely proud of our progress this year,” said Sergakis
In regards to expanding its industry footprint and event participation, CCC representatives spoke at several industry events to advocate for the role a universal standard plays in increasing digital key adoption and trust among consumers, including MOVE America, Tech G, and Mobile World Congress Las Vegas, where the organization showcased the CCC Digital Key in action with a BMW iX production vehicle.
Plugfest Success
In October alongside major device makers, automotive manufacturers, and technology companies to further CCC Digital Key interoperability testing at a Plugfest hosted by Google, one of the CCC’s charter members. The event had a strong focus on UWB and BLE, which are essential to realizing the full potential of the CCC Digital Key specification. The next Plugfest will be held in Munich, Germany in March.
Additionally, CCC President Alysia Johnson was recently named a speaker at SXSW 2025 and will discuss why industry standards are a critical part of shaping our connected vehicle future.
As Ian Televik, Director of Marketing at the CCC, said during a panel discussion at MOVE America, “standards bodies, like the CCC, are imperative to driving progress because we’re able to encourage collaboration among all players in the ecosystem, and that’s at the heart of interoperability. The future of automotive connectivity depends on our ability to make devices and vehicles work together seamlessly for consumers, regardless of make or model. We’re confident in our membership’s ability to make this a reality, and we look forward to the work ahead.”