Continental to Showcase Biometric Vehicle Access System at CES 2025

Continental is preparing to showcase its latest automotive technology innovations at CES 2025 in Las Vegas, centered around the “Intelligent Vehicle Experience Car.” The demonstration vehicle features touch-free biometric access solutions designed to enhance driver-vehicle interaction, with planned implementation in production vehicles within three to five years. 

The biometric system recognizes authorized users through facial and movement characteristics, automatically unlocking doors, starting the engine, or opening the tailgate as they approach. For security, it can identify unauthorized individuals and maintain vehicle lockdown while triggering alerts. “Biometrics opens up completely new horizons for the mobility of tomorrow,” said Dr. Claudio Longo, Head of Research and Advanced Engineering at Continental.

Jean-François Tarabbia, Head of Architecture and Network Solutions at Continental, draws parallels between future vehicles and smart devices: “The car is on track to become a smart device, similar to a cell phone,” he said, “which will use biometric technologies to take the user experience to a new level of security and comfort.” This vision is consistent with broader industry trends, as market research indicates significant growth in vehicle access control systems driven by biometric technology adoption.

The system incorporates Human Machine Interfaces (HMI) with exterior audio and visual feedback to confirm vehicle status. It anticipates user intentions by recognizing hand gestures near doors and eye movements toward the tailgate, enabling automated responses while maintaining safety and comfort. These features represent an evolution in automotive biometric authentication, following similar developments from other manufacturers like Ford’s recent patent filings for advanced vehicle security systems.

The technology combines artificial intelligence algorithms with existing vehicle sensors, including 360-degree cameras and ultra-wideband radar sensors. The system addresses data protection requirements and energy efficiency considerations, particularly important given increasing regulatory scrutiny of biometric data handling in automotive applications. Cloud connectivity enables over-the-air updates for new intelligent functions throughout the vehicle’s lifecycle.

Sources: Business News Week

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December 16, 2024 – by Ali Nassar-Smith