December 16, 2025
With NFC CR15 gaining importance for digital keys and secure vehicle access, we spoke with Andreas Bender, Deputy Managing Director of IBL-Lab GmbH to explore current challenges, certification processes, and emerging NFC trends in the automotive industry.
IB-Lenhardt AG and its accredited testing laboratory IBL-Lab GmbH provide internationally recognized testing, certification, and market access services for wireless and automotive communication technologies. The group supports manufacturers from early development to global product launch, ensuring compliance with international standards.
1. Why is CR15 particularly important for automotive manufacturers and their customers?
As we are currently observing, the traditional remote key is increasingly disappearing. It is being replaced by a contactless card or a smartphone app. Since both the card and the smartphone (even when the battery is dead) are recognized by the NFC reader built into the vehicle, the car can be unlocked and started with them. CR15 increases the range of NFC implementations, making it even more effective and reliable - perfect for automotive applications.
2. What typical challenges do you currently see among your automotive customers when it comes to reliable NFC implementations?
The requirements for digital key readers and NFC technology are new topics for many manufacturers. This means that development teams must first familiarize themselves with the NFC Forum certification standards and their technical implications. Implementing a reliable digital key reader involves the understanding of complex analog and digital parameters as well as antenna design, for example.
3. What does a typical certification process look like, and how can companies prepare best?
NFC Forum provides the relevant specifications and requirements for a compliance test. The tests themselves are carried out on an NFC Forum–approved test bench, where both the analog and digital parts are evaluated. Optimal preparation on the manufacturer’s side using a pre-conformance test solution from a test solution provider like COMPRION saves costs and, above all, time, as it provides access to the exact same test cases used later in certification.
4. Where do you see the next trends and application possibilities for NFC in the automotive industry?
The topic of digital key readers as a replacement for the traditional car key is currently very prominent. In-vehicle applications for pairing smartphones or other devices via NFC are also growing. Additionally, NFC will play an important role in future logistics processes, particularly in parts identification.
Interviewee
Andreas Bender
IBL-Lab GmbH
Deputy Managing Director
www.ib-lenhardt.com
While the certification process may initially appear complex, it becomes significantly more navigable with structured support and access to specialized testing expertise. For further clarification on certification requirements or preparation strategies, please refer to IB Lenhardt or reach out to COMPRION at sales(at)comprion.com
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