The automotive industry is undergoing a profound transformation. With vehicles now functioning as software-defined, connected platforms, manufacturers face unprecedented security challenges. From over-the-air (OTA) updates and telematics to ADAS, battery systems and mobility services, every vehicle today relies on digital identities and cryptographic trust.

Historically, OEMs have relied heavily on Tier 1 suppliers to manage keys, certificates and firmware signing processes. But as regulators demand stronger controls and vehicles become more interconnected, this fragmented model is no longer viable.

Device Authority’s white paper on OEM-owned key management systems highlights a major industry shift: manufacturers are increasingly bringing identity, cryptographic infrastructure and lifecycle control in-house to regain security, compliance and operational efficiency. OEM-owned key management systems are a proven solution for modern automotive cybersecurity challenges, providing a robust key management solution that automates and secures cryptographic processes across the vehicle lifecycle.

This article explores why the shift is happening, what’s wrong with the legacy supplier-led PKI model, and how OEM-owned key management, as a key management solution, reshapes security for the next generation of connected vehicles.

Key Management Fundamentals

In the era of connected vehicles and software-defined architectures, robust key management is the cornerstone of automotive security. But what exactly does key management entail, and why is it so critical for modern vehicles?

Key management refers to the processes and technologies used to generate, distribute, store, rotate, and revoke cryptographic keys throughout their lifecycle. These keys are essential for enabling secure communication, protecting sensitive data, and ensuring the integrity and confidentiality of information exchanged between vehicle components, cloud services, and external devices.

The Old Model: Supplier-Controlled PKI and Fragmented Trust

For decades, the automotive supply chain operated under a distributed trust model. Tier 1 suppliers implemented their own PKI (public key infrastructure) for the electronic components they produced — electronic control units (ECUs), telematics units, infotainment systems, sensors, gateways and battery controllers.

While this approach was convenient for suppliers, it created several long-standing problems:

1. OEMs had limited visibility into cryptographic assets

Keys, certificates, associated keys, firmware signing infrastructure and root authorities often lived deep inside supplier environments. OEMs depended on supplier documentation, not direct access to trust anchors.

2. Root keys were fragmented across dozens of suppliers

Each supplier used its own root of trust, CA hierarchy and issuance policies, including unique keys for their components. This made unified policy enforcement almost impossible.

3. Lifecycle management lacked coordination

Certificates expired, firmware keys rotated, key generation events, or components updated without OEM oversight, creating risk during the vehicle’s lifespan — especially for OTA updates.

4. Compromise at any supplier could cascade into fleet-wide risk

If a supplier’s signing key was compromised, an attacker could potentially inject malicious firmware into millions of vehicles, putting critical systems within those vehicles at risk.

5. Regulatory compliance became harder

Regulators now require full supply chain auditability, including meeting regulatory requirements for cryptographic key management, but OEMs could not prove compliance if they did not control the trust infrastructure.

The outcome was predictable: OEMs realised they were responsible for security, but they didn’t actually control it.

Why the Industry Is Moving to OEM-Owned Key Management

The rise of connected vehicles and global cybersecurity regulations — such as WP.29 and emerging frameworks in India and China — have pushed OEMs to rethink their security architectures. The modern reality is that OEMs are accountable for every cryptographic event across the entire vehicle lifecycle.

This responsibility requires stronger, centralised control. OEM-owned key management is becoming the new standard for several reasons, serving as a centralized management system for cryptographic assets.

OEMs Must Control Trust for WP.29 and Global Compliance

UNECE WP.29 demands demonstrable cybersecurity management and secure update processes. But compliance is impossible if the OEM does not own the certificates, keys and signing authorities.

OEM ownership enables:

• Full audit trails
• Verifiable signing processes
• Root-of-trust provenance
• Continuous monitoring of certificate lifecycle
• Ability to revoke or rotate keys across the entire fleet
• Direct control over who issues certificates for vehicle components and systems

With India and China introducing even stricter supply chain and data integrity regulations, OEMs must be able to prove trust, not delegate it.

OTA Updates Require a Single, Unified Trust Anchor

Modern vehicles rely heavily on OTA updates (over the air updates), not only for infotainment but for safety-critical components: brakes, steering, engine calibration, battery systems and ADAS.

In a fragmented PKI environment, OTA becomes risky:

• ECUs may reject updates if certificates are mismatched
• Suppliers update credentials independently, causing failures
• Malicious updates could be signed by compromised supplier keys
• OEMs lack a consistent revocation mechanism

With OEM-owned key management:

• The OEM controls firmware signing
• All modules trust the same root authority
• Revocation is instant and universal
• Updates are cryptographically verifiable across the fleet
• End-to-end encryption ensures that updates cannot be intercepted or tampered with during transmission.

OTA shifts from a logistical challenge to a secure, scalable process. A unified trust anchor also reduces the attack surface for OTA updates, minimizing potential vulnerabilities and strengthening overall vehicle security.

Supply Chain Security Cannot Depend on Supplier PKI

The modern automotive supply chain is global, complex and deeply interconnected. An ECU manufactured in Germany, running firmware developed in China and integrated into a vehicle in India presents enormous trust challenges.

Relying on supplier PKI introduces risks such as:

• Weak policies in certain suppliers
• Inconsistent key protection
• Difficulty validating supplier signing procedures
• Limited response options during incidents

Automotive PKI provides a framework for managing cryptographic keys and securing communication between vehicle electronic control units (ECUs) and other components, helping to protect data integrity, confidentiality, and reduce cyber vulnerabilities in modern connected vehicles.

By bringing PKI ownership in-house (public key infrastructure), OEMs create a unified policy gateway for all suppliers. Suppliers authenticate themselves to OEM infrastructure, not the other way around.

This approach simplifies:

• Component validation
• Manufacturing line authentication
• Secure in-field provisioning
• Root-of-trust verification
• Supplier lifecycle management

The OEM becomes the “trust authority” across the supply chain, establishing trusted entities within the automotive ecosystem.

Identity Is Becoming the Foundation of Vehicle Architecture

As vehicles become more software-defined, identity becomes central to everything:

• ECU communication
• Cloud connectivity
• Battery management
• EV charging
• Autonomous driving
• Telematics
• Secure diagnostics
• Mobility services
• Utilizes asymmetric keys and digital certificates to authenticate and authorize vehicle components.

Every module, every software function, every service interaction requires a secure, cryptographically verifiable identity.

Without OEM-owned key management, identity becomes inconsistent — and attackers exploit inconsistency.

Unified identity infrastructure ensures that every component:

• Has a unique cryptographic identity
• Is authenticated before communicating
• Can receive secure updates
• Can be revoked individually without affecting the rest of the vehicle

The public key, as part of the PKI, is essential for establishing trust between components by enabling secure authentication and encrypted communication.

Identity becomes the backbone of safety and reliability.

The Business Case: Cost, Efficiency and Long-Term Stability

Beyond security, OEM-owned key management provides tangible business benefits.

7.3 Future-Proofing

By maintaining control over cryptographic keys, OEMs can adapt to evolving security requirements and regulatory changes. Adhering to industry standards and implementing industry standard protocols such as EST, SCEP, ACME, and CMP ensures long-term adaptability, seamless integration, and compatibility with modern cryptographic algorithms.

7.4 Brand Trust

Demonstrating robust key management practices reassures customers and partners that sensitive data is protected. Preventing data breaches not only safeguards critical information but also enhances brand reputation and consumer trust.

Cost Control

OEMs avoid paying suppliers for certificate issuance, renewal and signing infrastructure. Centralising PKI often reduces total cost of ownership.

Operational Efficiency

A unified platform allows consistent processes across development, manufacturing, servicing and updates.

Future-Proofing

As new standards emerge — post-quantum cryptography, new OTA requirements, new regulator audits — OEMs can adapt their infrastructure without relying on supplier timelines.

Brand Trust

In an era where cybersecurity is a purchasing factor, OEMs that can demonstrate strong cryptographic governance gain competitive advantage.

How KeyScaler Delivers OEM-Owned Key Management

Device Authority’s KeyScaler platform gives OEMs a ready-to-deploy foundation for secure, scalable, centralised key management. KeyScaler supports secure key injection and key injection during manufacturing and provisioning, ensuring cryptographic keys are securely embedded into vehicles to establish trust and system integrity from the outset.

Key benefits include:

• Automated device onboarding and certificate-based authentication
• Lifecycle management for device credentials and policies
• Regulatory compliance with standards such as the Cyber Resilience Act
• Enables fleet operators to maintain secure communication and data integrity across all vehicles.

By leveraging KeyScaler, organizations can protect sensitive data and enhance vehicle security within the broader automotive ecosystem, ensuring robust cryptographic key management and trust across all connected systems.

Centralised Certificate Authority & Root of Trust

OEMs can issue and manage certificates for every ECU and component from a single platform.

Automated Provisioning on Manufacturing Lines

Devices can be securely onboarded with identity during production—without manual intervention.

Secure OTA Trust Chain

Firmware updates are signed, verified and enforced through a unified trust anchor.

Policy-Based Rotation & Revocation

Certificates and keys can be rotated automatically and revoked instantly across millions of vehicles.

Supply Chain Integration

Suppliers interact with OEM-controlled identity systems, ensuring consistent and compliant security.

Audit-Ready Compliance

KeyScaler maintains tamper-proof logs aligned with WP.29, India, China and emerging global regulations.

OEMs gain control, visibility and security across the entire lifecycle — from factory to road to retirement.

Conclusion: The Future of Automotive Security Depends on OEM-Owned Trust

The automotive world is entering a new era. Vehicles are no longer mechanical machines with isolated electronics; they are connected, cloud-integrated and software-driven platforms. This evolution demands a new approach to trust.

OEM-owned key management systems are not simply a technical upgrade — they represent a strategic shift that gives manufacturers control of their security destiny.

Those who adopt this model early will gain:

• Stronger regulatory compliance
• Safer OTA operations
• Resilient supply chains
• Proven trust frameworks
• Reduced long-term costs
• Higher consumer trust

Those who delay will face rising regulatory pressure, fragmented architectures and escalating fleet-wide risk.

In the connected vehicle era, trust must start with the OEM — and platforms like KeyScaler provide the secure, automated infrastructure needed to manage that trust at global scale.