NXP tech promises fix to keyless car theft vulnerability

By dpa | 29 August 2019


EINDHOVEN (The Netherlands): Despite being more comfortable to use, cars with keyless systems are still much more prone to being stolen than those with conventional keys.

But now ultra wideband radio has been touted as the technology to make the theft of keyless cars a thing of the past.

Dutch chip company NXP Semiconductors N.V. and Volkswagen have teamed up to develop a new wireless technology that is thought to prevent car theft in vehicles with contactless key systems.

With the so-called ultra-wideband radio concept, the manufacturers believe they can block the typical theft scenario, whereby thieves amplify the signal from the remote key on the driver to unlock the car.

On most current keyless car systems, thieves can use a home-made radio extension to quickly open a car and drive it away, since any immobilisers and most alarm systems are bypassed.

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Thieves can easily assemble these radio extension from everyday electronic parts, which can extend the radio connection between key and car up to 1 kilometre, regardless of whether the original key is in the owner’s home or in a jacket pocket.

Over time, the new ultra-wideband technology will also enable additional car-related features based on precise position recognition, such as automatically opening the car boot or detecting a baby seat on the front passenger seat to switch off the airbag.

In the technology, the distance between the transmitter in a key or smartphone and an antenna is calculated over the time that the signal travels the distance between them.

With the help of several antennas it is capable of determining exactly – to a few centimetres – the position of the transmitter, says NXP chief technology officer Lars Reger.

The plans are now in place for ultra wideband to go beyond the car and in the direction of the networked home.

Other manufacturers already gathering support for ultra wideband technology include Bosch, the electronics giant Samsung and lock specialist Assa Abloy.

Reger expects that there will be a considerable increase in the usage of ultra-wideband radio over the next year and a half. “For us, the focus is first on theft protection,” says VW manager Maik Rohde.

Volkswagen plans to introduce two models with ultra-wideband radio on board this year, while additional functions will be implemented later.

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