Apple is participating in a week-long event intended to test the real-world performance of the standard behind Car Key.
Participating carmakers in the Plugfest event organized by the Car Connectivity Consortium include BMW, General Motors, Hyundai, Mercedes, Rivian, and VW …
The digital key specification behind Apple’s car key feature is maintained by the Car Connectivity Consortium (CCC). Each year, the organization hosts an end-to-end interoperability Plugfest designed to provide data on the real-world performance of the technology.
This year’s version is focused on version 4 of the standard, but will also test compatibility with version 3.
The CCC says that 115 vehicles and other products achieved certification last year, and that 15 major automakers and smart device manufacturers are involved in this year’s tests.
The event convenes leading automotive and technology companies for real-world interoperability testing of CCC Digital Key, the global standard for secure, smart device-based vehicle access. Participating companies include: Accenture LLP, Apple, AUMOVIO, BMW Group, DEKRA Testing and Certification, Ellisys, General Motors, Google, Hyundai Motor Company, Marquardt GmbH, Mercedes-Benz AG, Motorola Mobility LLC, Rivian Automotive, and Volkswagen Group of America.
The CCC told us it believes that critical mass has now been achieved, stating that 2025 signaled “an industry-wide turning point as digital keys move from early innovation to expectation.”
This week’s event also reflects the industry’s accelerating focus on secure, seamless vehicle access. According to CCC’s 2025 Future of Vehicle Connectivity Report, 97% of its member companies rated vehicle access as extremely or very important to their business – a signal of the growing demand for consistent and interoperable digital key experiences across vehicles and devices.
Testing encompasses security, privacy, and reliability. With passive entry supported by a growing number of car makers, this is one of the focuses of the event. Compatible vehicles will automatically unlock as you approach them with the Car Key installed on your iPhone or Apple Watch without any user action.
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