CCC Plugfest 16 brings together OEMs and technology partners to strengthen EV charging interoperability
The Car Connectivity Consortium (CCC), the global authority responsible for defining how vehicles securely interact with smart devices and the digital ecosystem around them, has officially launched its sixteenth end-to-end interoperability Plugfest. Taking place from January 12 to January 16, the week-long event is hosted by Rivian and Volkswagen Group Technologies, LLC (RV Tech) at their Palo Alto, California facility, placing the spotlight squarely on Silicon Valley as the epicenter of next-generation vehicle connectivity innovation.
Plugfest #16 brings together a diverse group of leading automotive manufacturers, technology providers, testing organizations, and mobility innovators for intensive, real-world testing of CCC Digital Key™, the globally recognized standard that enables secure, convenient, and interoperable smart device–based vehicle access. As vehicles increasingly become software-defined platforms, digital key technologies are emerging as a critical foundation for seamless ownership experiences, shared mobility services, and future autonomous use cases.
A Global Gathering of Automotive and Technology Leaders
This latest Plugfest convenes a wide cross-section of CCC member companies representing both the automotive and consumer technology ecosystems. Participants 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. Together, these organizations represent a significant portion of the global vehicle market, mobile device platforms, and connectivity infrastructure.
By bringing these companies together in a collaborative, non-competitive environment, CCC Plugfests are designed to accelerate interoperability, uncover implementation challenges early, and ensure that Digital Key solutions work consistently across different vehicle brands, smartphones, operating systems, and hardware configurations. The Palo Alto event reflects CCC’s long-standing commitment to fostering cross-industry cooperation at a time when digital access is becoming as essential to vehicles as physical keys once were.
Advancing CCC Digital Key™ Version 4 Interoperability
A central focus of Plugfest #16 is advancing interoperability and certification readiness for CCC Digital Key™ Version 4 (v4), the latest evolution of the standard. Digital Key v4 builds upon previous versions by enhancing security, expanding feature support, and improving compatibility across Bluetooth® Low Energy (LE), Near Field Communication (NFC), and Ultra-wideband (UWB) technologies.
Throughout the week, participating members are conducting comprehensive evaluations of v4 implementations across both v3 and v4 devices. These cross-version tests are essential for ensuring backward compatibility as the ecosystem transitions to newer hardware and software platforms. The results will also help identify potential Interoperability Device List (IDL) candidates—trusted reference devices used by the industry to validate conformance and interoperability during certification processes.
By identifying reliable IDL devices, CCC helps ensure that automakers, smartphone manufacturers, and suppliers have consistent benchmarks when implementing Digital Key functionality, reducing fragmentation and speeding time-to-market for new features.
Industry Demand for Seamless and Secure Vehicle Access
The significance of Plugfest #16 is underscored by the growing importance of digital vehicle access across the automotive and mobility sectors. According to the CCC 2025 Future of Vehicle Connectivity Report, an overwhelming 97% of CCC member companies rated vehicle access as either “extremely important” or “very important” to their business strategies. This finding highlights the accelerating demand for standardized, secure, and interoperable digital key experiences across global markets.
As consumers increasingly expect their vehicles to integrate seamlessly with smartphones, wearables, and cloud services, Digital Key technologies are becoming a core component of brand differentiation and customer satisfaction. Beyond personal vehicle ownership, digital keys are also foundational to car-sharing platforms, fleet management solutions, subscription services, and emerging autonomous mobility models.
“As demand for secure and seamless vehicle access accelerates across the vehicle and mobile industries, events like Plugfest #16 are essential to ensuring CCC Digital Key™ continues to meet the needs of our global membership,” said Alysia Johnson, President of the Car Connectivity Consortium. “We’re also grateful to Rivian and Volkswagen Group Technologies for hosting this week’s event here in Silicon Valley, where hands-on collaboration helps advance the next phase of interoperability.”
Comprehensive Testing Across Connectivity Technologies
Plugfest #16 features a robust agenda of structured testing activities designed to reflect real-world usage scenarios and future certification requirements. Among the key focus areas are:
CCC Digital Key™ v4 Interoperability Testing:
Participants are conducting cross-version evaluations of v4 and v3 implementations to assess compatibility between newer and legacy devices. These tests help identify potential issues that could impact end users and provide valuable feedback for refining specifications and implementation guidelines.
Bluetooth® LE Sniffing Validation:
Dedicated full-day Bluetooth® LE sniffing sessions are being held to analyze communication behavior between vehicles and devices. These sessions are instrumental in resolving remaining test case issues, improving protocol robustness, and supporting future certification efforts.
Updated NFC Scenarios:
Based on findings from previous Plugfests, CCC has refined several NFC use cases. Plugfest #16 includes updated testing scenarios covering passive entry, remote keyless entry, and other NFC-enabled interactions, ensuring that Digital Key solutions remain reliable even in low-power or degraded connectivity conditions.
Ultra-wideband (UWB) Tool Evaluations:
UWB continues to play a critical role in enabling precise, secure, and location-aware vehicle access. During the event, vendors are demonstrating UWB testing equipment and tools that support member development and future certification processes, helping the ecosystem prepare for broader UWB adoption.
Authorized Laboratory Participation:
CCC-authorized end-to-end laboratories are actively participating in the event, executing published test cases using IDL devices and CCC-approved tools. DEKRA, one of the first North American organizations to earn Authorized Test Lab (ATL) status from CCC, is among the labs conducting on-site testing. Their involvement helps align real-world Plugfest findings with formal certification workflows.
Strengthening Certification Readiness and Ecosystem Confidence
According to Ganesh Venkatesan, Technical Director for CCC, Plugfest #16 plays a vital role in moving the ecosystem closer to certification readiness. “Plugfest #16 allows members to validate CCC Digital Key™ v4 in real-world conditions,” he said. “Bluetooth® LE sniffing, updated NFC evaluations, UWB tool testing, and lab-led checks all help refine implementations and move the ecosystem closer to certification readiness.”
By simulating real-world environments and usage patterns, Plugfests help uncover subtle interoperability challenges that may not surface during isolated development or laboratory testing. These insights feed directly into the ongoing refinement of CCC’s technical specifications, test documentation, and certification tools.
Collaboration at the Core of Connected Mobility
At its core, Plugfest #16 exemplifies CCC’s collaborative approach to advancing vehicle connectivity. Rather than competing in isolation, member companies work together to ensure that Digital Key solutions deliver consistent, secure, and user-friendly experiences regardless of brand or device.
As vehicles become increasingly connected, autonomous, and software-driven, standards like CCC Digital Key™ will play a central role in shaping how drivers and passengers interact with mobility platforms. Events like Plugfest #16 not only accelerate technical progress but also build trust across the ecosystem, ensuring that innovations are deployed safely and reliably at global scale.
With strong participation from automakers, technology leaders, and testing organizations—and with the backing of hosts Rivian and Volkswagen Group Technologies—CCC Plugfest #16 marks another important milestone in the evolution of digital vehicle access and the future of connected mobility.
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