IST Achieves IATF 16949 Certification for Automotive NFC Key Cards

IDEMIA Secure Transactions (IST) has achieved IATF 16949 certification for its production facility in Vitré, Ille-et-Vilaine, France for its automotive-qualified Near Field Communication (NFC) Key Card portfolio. This makes IST the first supplier worldwide to obtain IATF 16949 certification for automotive NFC Key Cards.

The International Automotive Task Force (IATF), an ad-hoc group of automotive manufacturers and their respective national industry associations, sets common quality requirements for automotive products. IATF 16949 is an international standard for automotive management systems that was jointly developed by IATF members. To gain certification, the Vitré factory underwent an extensive two-year auditing and approval process by an accredited independent certification body and was officially recognized as meeting automotive customer requirements for continual improvement, defect prevention, and the reduction of variation and waste.

Opened in 2024, the Vitré facility in northwestern France is IST’s newest state-of-the-art manufacturing site for advanced smart cards and the cornerstone of its fully European value chain strategy. The Vitré production facility continues to strengthen its position as an Automotive Center of Excellence, a strategy initiated in 2016 when it obtained IATF certifications for automotive Surface Mount Device (SMD) and eSIM solutions.

The IATF 16949 certification demonstrates that the Vitré facility can produce high-performance NFC Key Cards for automotive customers in line with stringent industry quality standards and is a testament of the robustness of IST’s processes, operational efficiency, and performance, demonstrating maturity in supply chain quality and reliability. This certification also formalizes the integration of Automotive Industry Action Group (AIAG) core tools like Advanced Product Quality Planning (APQP), Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA), and Production Part Approval Process (PPAP) into the product of automotive NFC Key Cards.

As an industry leader with a proven track record in the automotive sector, IDEMIA Secure Transactions is well-positioned to provide a full end-to-end integration service to both OEM and Tier 1 carmakers, offering cutting-edge solutions with a customer-centric focus.

More importantly, this new certification underscores IST’s role as a pivotal player in the global automotive industry, aligning its deep expertise in NFC key card solutions with recognized quality management standards.