Automotive Security

Modern vehicles and their connected infrastructure present broad attack surfaces, making them attractive targets for adversaries, with successful attacks posing serious risks to users. Effective mitigation starts at the electronic component and software level inside the vehicle and extends across the in-vehicle network to external wireless interfaces and cloud services. Leveraging more than a decade of automotive security expertise, NXP provides proven building blocks that help car makers ensure the safety and security of future vehicles.

Securing Software-Defined Vehicles

Modern vehicles demand robust, updateable end-to-end security—protecting processors and software through secure debug, secure boot, secure updates and runtime attestation, while ensuring encrypted and authenticated communication across in-vehicle networks (Ethernet, CAN, ASA) and external interfaces (Wi Fi, cellular, Bluetooth, digital radio, UWB, NFC).

For highly integrated Software-Defined Vehicles (SDVs), NXP adds software defined, hardware enabled isolation to safely integrate virtual ECUs on a single SoC. Security is also built into NXP CoreRide, an integrated software and hardware reference platform, delivering validated system level safety and security KPIs that simplify integration and accelerate SDV development.

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Software-Defined Vehicle Development

Securing SDVs with NXP CoreRide

The NXP CoreRide platform delivers a secure-by-design foundation built on NXP processors with a hardware root of trust, quantum-safe secure boot, and strong isolation. Enhanced by secure networking solutions, it powers trusted ECUs, enables remote attestation, and delivers seamless connectivity across the vehicle and beyond.


NXP SOLUTIONS APPLIED

Automotive Security Portfolio

NXP offers a comprehensive portfolio of security solutions that enables customers to protect their vehicle electronic architectures (VEA) in a scalable, cost effective way without compromising performance. This portfolio includes microcontrollers and processors with built-in security features, as well as dedicated secure solutions for in vehicle networking and application specific protection.


Microcontrollers and Processors In-Vehicle Networking Application-Specific
S32 Automotive Processing Platform with Hardware Security Engine (HSE) and Secure Isolation S32J Ethernet Switches and Network Controllers with Hardware Security Engine (HSE) Radar One-chip SoCs with Hardware Security Engine (HSE)
i.MX 9 Applications Processors with EdgeLock Secure Enclave Multi-Gig Sage and Secure TSN Ethernet Switch with Advanced Secure Boot Radio and Audio One-chip processors with integrated security engine
i.MX RT Crossover MCUs with EdgeLock Secure Enclave Automotive Ethernet PHY Transceivers with built-in MACsec support UWB, Secure Elements, NFC and BLE for smart car access
ASA Motion Link Connectivity solutions with built-in MACsec support DSRC Modem and Secure Element for secure V2X Communication
Secure CAN Transceivers with messages filtering capabilities to block spoofing and attacks Secure Element and Wireless (Qi) charging transmitter ICs with integrated security solution

Security Technologies

Hardware Root-of-Trust

NXP's Secure Enclave Technology — built on the Hardware Security Engine (HSE) and EdgeLock Secure Enclave — forms a robust hardware foundation for ECU and vehicle level security. It anchors trust across the platform through secure boot, secure debug, authenticated software updates, on-chip monitoring, and both software and ECU to ECU attestation. By isolating cryptographic keys and enforcing key policies, it delivers scalable, seamless security with virtually unlimited certificates and keys, and supports efficient, secure secret provisioning directly on the customer's factory floor without special equipment. Fully integrated and optimized for performance, this approach provides a unified, cost effective security solution.

In addition, NXP offers discrete Secure Elements that can be used as hardware-backed keystore for Android Strongbox, for enabling Qi authentication, as well as to secure battery management system (BMS) and connections to backend servers.

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Safe and Secure Integration of Virtual ECUs

NXP provides software defined, hardware isolated execution environments that securely and safely integrate virtual ECUs into a single SoC, enabling function consolidation and up integration without compromising safety, security or IP. This architecture allows domains to share on-chip resources under software defined configurations while maintaining strict isolation, freedom from interference, and confidentiality between software suppliers—mirroring the protections of discrete ECUs. The platform is fully ready at boot.

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Post-Quantum Cryptography

Quantum computing is rapidly becoming a near term reality, requiring proactive action, especially in long lived automotive and industrial systems that must remain secure for decades. As regulators push aggressive timelines, designers face the challenge of future proofing devices already in the field. NXP addresses this by embedding Post-Quantum Cryptography (PQC) as a foundational element of its security architecture.

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Post-Quantum Cryptography

Application-specific solutions

Smart Car Access

NXP's Ultra Wideband (UWB) technology enables secure ranging and precision sensing and serves as a core element of NXP's Digital Key solution alongside Secure Elements (SE), Bluetooth® Low Energy and NFC. These widely deployed technologies allow drivers to unlock and start a vehicle using a smartphone, key fob or NFC smart card, and enable secure, convenient sharing of vehicle access across mobile devices—advancing the smart car access ecosystem.

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SMART CAR ACCESS

Wireless charging (Qi)

NXP, as an Approved Manufacturer CA Service Provider, offers a turnkey Qi v1.3 certification solution that simplifies delivering safe, Qi compliant charging devices. It includes the required tamper resistant subsystem along with secure issuance and injection of product unit certificates for full Qi v1.3 compliance.

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Wireless Power

Secure BMS

The EU Battery Passport (effective 2027) drives more secure and sustainable battery use. NXP and TNO's secureBMS addresses these requirements with advanced hardware, secure data sharing and cloud integration, ensuring traceability, safety and compliance for next generation energy systems.

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Battery Management System (BMS)

Trust and Assurance

Trust is the foundation of automotive security. In an era of highly connected vehicles, customers and partners must be confident that their vehicles and data are protected by robust, proven security solutions. NXP ensures this trust by adhering to leading industry standards, with products and processes designed and certified to meet or exceed ISO/SAE 21434, ISO 27001, IEC 62443 and TISAX. As the world's first supplier to achieve ISO/SAE 21434 certification, NXP demonstrates clear leadership in automotive cybersecurity and supports OEMs in meeting regulations such as UN R155 and GB 44495. NXP's cybersecurity engineering processes are certified as compliant with ISO/SAE 21434 (view the certificate).

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Compliance and Certifications


Through our EdgeLock Assurance program, every marked product is built on proven security processes and aligned with relevant industry standards. To ensure high assurance, NXP also works with accredited third party labs for independent evaluation and certification under schemes such as SESIP and Common Criteria—SESIP itself originally built on IP donated by NXP, reflecting our commitment to open, Industry-verified security mechanisms.

NXP further strengthens trust through proactive vulnerability management and responsible disclosure via our Product Security Incident Response Team (PSIRT), which oversees intake, investigation and resolution of security issues across our automotive portfolio.

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