STMicroelectronics has introduced two new automotive NFC readers in its ST25R portfolio, delivering superior wake-up and detection range for enhanced user experiences.

The ST25R500 and ST25R501 meet Car Connectivity Consortium (CCC) and Wireless Power Consortium requirements for digital key and center console applications for device pairing and engine start and wireless charging NFC card protection.

The new readers combine market-leading 2W peak output power and high receiver sensitivity, ensuring up to 70% greater interaction range than other readers in the market.

The ST25R501, housed in a 4mm x 4mm QFN package, occupies 36% less PCB area and is the industry’s most powerful automotive NFC reader with the smallest outline, making it ideal for doorhandle and B-pillar modules.

They are AEC-Q100 qualified, NFC Forum CR13 compliant, and meet the stringent requirements of car and phone OEMs.

In addition to car access and start systems, ST’s ST25R500 and ST25R501 are used in NFC card protection on center-console Qi chargers, phone pairing, and data transfer. While the ST25R501 is optimized for space-constrained applications, the ST25R500 has higher continuous output power and is also suited to applications like keyfob charging.

Both ICs support widely used protocols, including NFC-A, NFC-B (ISO14443A/B), and NFC-F (FeliCa), as well as NFC-A/NFC-F card emulation for Qi charging NFC card protection. ST demonstrated its new automotive NFC readers at Embedded World 2025.

“The automotive readers we are announcing today are the subject of ongoing design activities with lead customers, covering a vast majority of accounts and including the major players in the automotive market,” Rene Wutte, head of automotive NFC reader marketing, STMicroelectronics, said. “They simplify engineering challenges, allowing product development teams to focus on creating sleek, slim, and stylish designs that enhance the user experience by providing seamless and enjoyable contactless interactions between vehicle owners and their cars.”

The Marquardt Group, a high-tech company developing electrical and electronic products for automotive and other markets including household appliances, is an early customer for ST’s new devices.

Johannes Mattes, globally responsible for access sensors at Marquardt, said, “OEMs and device makers impose strict requirements on the range performance of automotive NFC equipment. In the past, we have needed to commit a great deal of time to passing those measurement points and there have been significant engineering risks. Using ST’s latest high-power readers in our new door handle module for digital access control enabled us to complete the design extremely quickly while also significantly boosting the performance compared to legacy products.”