Ottawa Infotainment and Pektron team up on smartphone keyless entry

By AI, Created 12:26 PM UTC, June 03, 2026, /AGP/ – Ottawa Infotainment and Pektron announced a collaboration at AutoTech Detroit on June 3, 2026, to deliver a next-generation keyless entry system that uses smartphones instead of traditional fobs. The companies said the partnership combines DragonFire OS with Pektron hardware and will be available to OEMs and mobility providers.

Why it matters: - The collaboration targets a core shift in connected vehicles: turning the smartphone into a secure replacement for the key fob. - Ottawa Infotainment and Pektron are positioning the system for OEMs and Tier 1 suppliers that want faster deployment of digital cockpit features. - The partnership adds another integrated module to Ottawa Infotainment’s software-defined vehicle ecosystem.

What happened: - Ottawa Infotainment and Pektron announced a strategic collaboration at AutoTech Detroit on June 3, 2026. - The companies are working on a next-generation keyless entry solution that integrates smartphone access into the in-vehicle experience. - The solution combines Ottawa Infotainment’s DragonFire OS with Pektron’s automotive-grade hardware. - The announcement said the joint solution will be available to OEMs and mobility providers through Ottawa Infotainment’s ecosystem of integrated modules.

The details: - Pektron’s Access Control Module, or ACM, is the hardware core of the system. - The ACM uses NFC communication to enable keyless entry. - DragonFire OS now officially supports the ACM as a verified ecosystem module. - Ottawa Infotainment said that support allows OEMs and Tier 1 suppliers to deploy integrated keyless entry as part of a broader digital cockpit platform. - Sean Hazaray, CEO of Ottawa Infotainment, said customers now expect phones to function as key fobs and that Pektron provides a robust and secure hardware foundation. - Darrin Bruce, vice president and general manager of Pektron (US), said the platform is designed to simplify integration while meeting high standards for security and performance. - Jonathan Hacker, CTO of Ottawa Infotainment, said cybersecurity is critical for keyless entry and that combining Pektron hardware with DragonFire OS reduces risk while preserving convenience. - Ottawa Infotainment develops digital cockpit systems, production-ready domain controllers and SDV compute platforms for global automotive manufacturers. - DragonFire OS powers infotainment, cluster and body control functions, and the company’s DragonFire Pro and Spark controllers are in production programs. - Pektron is a global automotive electronics engineering company with expertise in keyless entry, NFC systems, lighting, ECUs, body controllers and mission-critical vehicle electronics.

Between the lines: - The partnership shows how automotive software companies are leaning on specialized hardware partners to make security-sensitive features production-ready. - The focus on verified ecosystem support signals a push to make keyless entry easier for automakers to adopt without building every layer in-house. - The emphasis on cybersecurity reflects the main hurdle for smartphone-based access: convenience only scales if the system is trusted.

What’s next: - Ottawa Infotainment and Pektron said they will show a deeper level of integration and expanded capabilities at CES 2027. - The companies will exhibit together in West Hall at CES 2027. - Ottawa Infotainment plans to continue expanding its integrated module ecosystem for software-defined vehicles.

The bottom line: - The collaboration is designed to make smartphone keyless entry a more secure, scalable option for automakers moving toward software-defined vehicles.

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