Google Hosts CCC’s 20th Plugfest as CCC Digital Key™ Version 4 Testing Expands to New Mobility Use Cases

CCC members gather in California to test new digital vehicle access capabilities and strengthen interoperability across the connected mobility ecosystem.

The Car Connectivity Consortium^® (CCC), the trusted source for defining how vehicles interact with devices and the world to enhance the consumer experience through standardized, secure, and convenient connectivity solutions, today announced the start of the 20^th CCC Digital Key™ End-to-End Plugfest, hosted by Google in San Jose, California. From October 12–16, CCC members across the automotive, mobile, and technology industries are gathering to test the newest set of CCC Digital Key™ Version 4 capabilities for the first time, extending digital vehicle access into more mobility use cases.

“Reaching our 20th CCC Plugfest is an incredible achievement and a testament to the dedication of our members,” said Alysia Johnson, President of CCC. “Over the past four years, these events have helped bridge the path from CCC Digital Key™ specification development to real-world implementations across device and vehicle brands globally. The shared commitment and collaborative innovation of CCC members are what continue to shape the future of secure and interoperable digital vehicle access.”

Plugfest #20 will further advance testing and validation for CCC Digital Key™ implementations. The Version 4 capabilities being tested expand digital key capabilities into broader mobility use cases, including fleets, rentals, and service-based vehicle access. As these use cases introduce more complex vehicle access and management scenarios, Version 4 is designed to support interoperable access across different vehicles, devices, and systems. This testing helps members identify compatibility issues early and strengthen the interoperability needed for the CCC Digital Key™ to work consistently across brands and use cases.

“As digital vehicle access expands into more complex access scenarios, CCC Digital Key™ implementations need to work consistently across a broader ecosystem,” said Bahar Sadeghi, Senior Director, Technical Strategy and Advisory at CCC. “The testing at CCC Plugfests provides members the opportunity to validate interoperability in practice and use the results to strengthen the specification. We thank Google for hosting our members in San Jose and supporting the collaboration that makes this testing possible.”

Participating member companies include Apple, BMW Group, DEKRA, Ellisys, Ford Motor Company, Google, Motorola Mobility LLC, Rivian and Volkswagen Group Technologies, LLC, Samsung, and TTA. Key focus areas include:

• New Version 4 Test Cases: Testing Server-Based Owner Device, Server-Based Fleet Device, Fleet Management Server, Service Provider Server, and other capabilities supporting fleet and service-based vehicle access.
• Cross-Version Interoperability: Version 4 implementations tested with both Version 4 and Version 3 implementations, helping identify potential Version 4 Interoperability Device List candidate devices.
• Bluetooth^® Low Energy (LE) Testing: Bluetooth^® LE sniffing validation to strengthen testing capabilities and assess remaining test cases and test-equipment issues.
• Access Functionality Testing: Updated Near Field Communications test cases and continued validation of remote keyless entry and passive entry capabilities.

CCC Plugfests play a critical role in moving the CCC Digital Key™ specification from development to real-world implementation across brands. That progress will continue at CCC’s Members Meeting in Vancouver from October 20–22, where members will collaborate on the next phase of digital vehicle access standards. The meeting will also include a Fleet Forum open to members and non-members, bringing together fleet experts to explore how technology standards can support emerging fleet access use cases.

For more information about CCC and its initiatives, visit www.carconnectivity.org.

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About the Car Connectivity Consortium:

The Car Connectivity Consortium^® (CCC) is a cross-industry organization dedicated to defining how vehicles interact with devices and the world to create a more seamless and secure consumer experience. CCC standardizes the connected ecosystem around vehicles and devices, bringing together automakers, device manufacturers, automotive suppliers, chip vendors, and security providers to develop solutions that prioritize convenience, security, and privacy protections. With more than 300 member companies, CCC plays a leading role in advancing connected vehicle technologies and shaping the future of trusted digital vehicle access. Its Board of Directors includes representatives from Apple, BMW, CARIAD, DENSO, Ford, General Motors, Google, Honda, Hyundai, Mercedes-Benz, NXP, Panasonic Automotive Systems, Samsung, Thales, and Xiaomi. For more information, visit www.carconnectivity.org.

Contacts

Media Contact
Ally Hodapp
INK Communications for CCC
ccc@ink-co.com