The Car Connectivity Consortium (CCC) has opened Plugfest #19, a digital key interoperability testing event hosted by Geely Holding Group in Ningbo, China from 7 to 10 September 2026. The four-day event tests CCC Digital Key Version 3 and Version 4 implementations against Bluetooth Low Energy, Near Field Communication, and passive entry scenarios.

China installed digital keys in 13.3 million passenger vehicles in 2025, a 58.1% installation rate, with penetration across the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region forecast to exceed 60% in 2026. The scale makes interoperability across vehicles and devices increasingly critical.

Earlier this year, the first CCC Digital Key certified vehicles from China were announced, covering Nio, Xpeng, Ingeek, and Geely Holding Group. Mahindra & Mahindra in India and Hyundai Motor Company in South Korea also achieved certification.

In a statement, Alysia Johnson, President of the Car Connectivity Consortium, said: “The Asia-Pacific region has always played an important role in shaping the future of digital key technology. As digital key adoption grows, a common global standard is essential to ensuring interoperability across vehicles and devices. CCC Plugfests bring members together to validate implementations and advance interoperability, helping deliver secure and seamless digital key experiences for consumers globally. We’re grateful to Geely Holding Group for hosting Plugfest #19 in China and supporting this important work.”

Source: Business Wire