NXP unveils ‘world's first’ concept car with NFC

"The Continental concept car makes use of an NFC enabled mobile device that becomes part of an enhanced, extended dashboard," said Ruediger Stroh, pictured, executive vice president and general manager, NXP. "Consumers will soon be able to open their vehicle in the morning just by presenting their NFC enabled phone to the door." According to Stroh, the concept car is able to give the driver a personal welcome message and even set comfort preferences. By placing the phone in a dock on the dashboard, it then becomes part of an on board entertainment and communication system, providing a selection of personal music choices, facilitating audio streaming and setting up hands free calling. The secure mobile device can also disarm the engine immobiliser and allow the engine to start. It is able to receive important diagnostic data such as fuel consumption, mileage and service data to be viewed away from the car at a later time and, using GPS, the location coordinates of the car can also be sent to the phone via NFC. "With an NFC enabled mobile device, we'll be able to easily and seamlessly interact with technology and applications as we transit between our home and office, making driving a truly personal experience," said Stroh. "This concept car is an amazing example of how we will all use NFC in our cars in the next few years and, as an increasing number of NFC enabled handsets with embedded secure elements enter the market, we now begin to see the development of increasingly innovative applications, which put the mobile phone at the heart of the consumer experience."