Audi Integrates NXP's Advanced Trimension UWB Portfolio

• Audi uses NXP’s Trimension NCJ29Dx series of ultra-wideband (UWB) precision ranging ICs to enhance the smart, touchless digital key capabilities of its new premium electric platform (PPE)

• Trimension NCJ29Dx series is designed to provide powerful, accurate and secure ranging and connectivity to meet the needs of global automotive OEMs to deploy smart secure access in compliance with the Car Connectivity Consortium (CCC) standards

• Audi and Porsche jointly developed PPE to lay the foundation for the next generation of electric vehicles

Eindhoven, the Netherlands - October 29, 2024 - NXP Semiconductors NV recently announced that the Trimension® NCJ29Dx series in its rich UWB product portfolio lays the technical foundation for Audi's advanced new generation UWB platform, providing accurate and secure real-time positioning capabilities, thereby enabling contactless digital keys through smart mobile devices and other UWB-based functions to meet the needs of industry-leading high-end car manufacturers. Cars equipped with NXP Trimension UWB devices (including the Audi Q6 e-tron) will be available in 2024.

Smart and secure car access is based on the precise ranging capabilities provided by NXP's extensive Trimension UWB portfolio, which can accurately identify the driver's position relative to the car and unlock the door only when the driver is close to the car. The driver can use the digital key on a UWB-enabled mobile phone or wearable device to unlock and start the car, which can be achieved by placing the mobile phone or wearable device in the driver's pocket or bag, without any hands-free operation.

“Audi has long been at the forefront of automotive technology, and this new generation of UWB-enabled platforms is no exception,” said Ulf Warschat, Head of Development, Body Electronics at AUDI AG . “NXP’s Trimension UWB portfolio provides precise, secure real-time localization, ensuring that drivers can enjoy a host of advanced features and functions for a completely new driving experience.”

“NXP’s proven Trimension UWB platform enables OEMs to offer drivers new features, easily and safely enable hands-free access to their vehicles, and supports a variety of other use cases such as autonomous EV charging,” said Markus Staeblein, senior vice president and general manager of Secure Car Access at NXP Semiconductors. “UWB will continue to drive new levels of consumer automotive experience and quickly become an essential component of the automotive ecosystem, thanks to our expertise and standardization work in organizations such as the Car Connectivity Consortium (CCC) and the FiRa Alliance.”

The Trimension NCJ29Dx family is part of NXP’s portfolio of secure car access solutions, which also includes the NCF3340 NFC controller and KW37 Bluetooth 5.0 long-range MCU, which Audi is also using in its new platform.

The Trimension NCJ29Dx series supports UWB-based precision ranging functions and complies with IEEE 802.15.4, CCC and FiRa standards. It can provide high positioning accuracy and power optimization for battery-powered devices such as remote control keys while minimizing BOM costs. In addition, it can also provide a high level of protection against car theft through relay attacks, and supports multiple encryption operations on chip.

The Trimension NCJ29Dx series is part of a rich UWB product portfolio that is widely used in automotive, mobile, IoT, and industrial fields. Trimension NCJ29D6 and other products combine UWB precision ranging with UWB radar capabilities, allowing OEMs to carry multiple use cases through a single system, including smart, secure car access, child presence detection, intrusion alarms, kick sensing, etc.