Why the Next Car Upgrade Is Invisible

FIDO leads new secure access standards as consumer cyber concerns grow and automakers explore early-stage adoption of stronger authentication.

11 Sep 2025

The race to secure connected vehicles is intensifying as automakers roll out features such as in-car payments, mobile app controls and shared access, turning digital authentication into a strategic concern rather than a background function.

The FIDO Alliance has emerged as a key voice in this shift. In a recent white paper, Addressing Cybersecurity Challenges in the Automotive Industry, the group sets out how passkeys and secure device onboarding could replace passwords and easily copied key fobs. It argues that stronger authentication would support shared vehicles, enable in-car commerce and reduce exposure to common cyber risks.

Adoption, however, remains limited. Most carmakers are still in early exploratory phases, according to industry analysts, assessing how such standards could be integrated into existing vehicle platforms. Even so, the proposals point to a potential change in how drivers unlock, start and interact with connected cars.

Consumer sentiment is adding urgency. RunSafe Security’s 2025 Connected Car Cyber Safety and Security Index, based on surveys of drivers in the US, the UK and Germany, found that only a small minority felt very confident in their vehicle’s cyber protections. While the survey is not global, it reflects a broader pattern in advanced connected-car markets, where concern about remote attacks and digital vulnerabilities is rising.

For automakers, the pressure is structural. Software now underpins a growing share of vehicle functionality and revenue, from connected services to over-the-air updates and digital add-ons. Each depends on reliable identity and access systems. At the same time, links to cloud platforms and payment networks expand the potential attack surface, affecting both private cars and shared fleets.

Industry observers say the focus on authentication also presents an opportunity. Common standards could help build consumer trust, simplify access across brands and reduce fragmentation in security approaches. While widespread deployment of passkey-based vehicle access is still some way off, the current work suggests a longer-term move towards simpler and more secure digital entry.

As standards develop and partnerships form, automakers are laying the groundwork for connected services that drivers can use with greater confidence, even as vehicles become more digitally open.