GM will begin phasing out Near Field Communication (NFC) from Cadillac models during the 2022 model year, GM Authority has learned.
NFC, which is currently fitted as standard for 2021 model year Cadillac models, allows data to be transferred between two compatible electronic devices which are very close to each other but not physically touching. An early form of the technology first appeared in the late 20th century, though the specifications for the NFC tags which are now necessary for communication were not drawn up until 2006. Since then, NFC has made it possible for smart phones to be used for a wide range of purposes, including making secure financial transactions, reading “smart” posters and sharing games.
Among NFC’s many features is its ability to facilitate the pairing of a phone with a vehicle. This provision substantially simplifies the task of pairing a phone to a vehicle. All that’s required of a user is to bring the phone near (or tap it on) the “N” icon on the center stack (seen in the image above). Doing so would begin the pairing sequence. Once this one-time pairing is complete, the driver or passengers can then use the phone’s functionality, now facilitated by Bluetooth, without touching the phone itself.
“The NFC feature was originally added in response to customer concerns with the ease of cell phone pairing,” Cadillac spokesperson, Whitney Lewis, explained to GM Authority.
However, those concerns are not as strong as they once were.
“The pairing process has improved over time with each infotainment generation, and at the same time, customers are now more accustomed to the process. Additionally, the NFC feature worked with only a portion of cell phones in the market,” Lewis added, referring to the fact that near field communication can work only if both devices have an NFC tag.
It’s also worth noting that the feature was not compatible with the very popular Apple iPhone devices.
The decision to phase out NFC during the 2022 model year suggests that it will not be used on any new Cadillac model in the future. This would include the 2022 Cadillac Blackwing models.
It would also not be used in the marque’s upcoming electric vehicles, starting with the Cadillac Lyriq EV crossover, which is due to go on sale in the first quarter of 2022 as a 2023 model year vehicle.
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Comments
Cancelled just in time for NFC digital keys to become a thing
“In addition, the feature was not compatible with the very popular Apple iPhone devices.”
This is only true for iphones that are iOS 12 or older. iPhone 7+ phones with iOS 13+ can read/write NFC tags now without issue.
Yes but are you sure that NFC can be used to pair the iPhone to the car? I didn’t think this was possible.
Stupid move. So easy to use. I paired my Note with my pops XT6 and I was up and running in under 15 seconds for a Sunday drive. Yes I could have gone thru the menus, but it would have taken longer for sure.
How much are they saving from removing this feature? I’ve used it on loaners and actually liked the convenience but in typical GM fashion their reasoning for removing or omitting features doesn’t add up and only seems to fit the cheap mentality.
It’s not as much the actual unit, but radio transmitters require extensive testing and certification in each of the worldwide markets the car is sold. Even a North American model requires you have it approved by the US, Canada and Mexico separately.
The car industry has very strict electromagnetic compatibility requirements because they don’t want self-interference with the AM radio, and can’t have signals come in, say when you drive next to a radio tower, and screw up your engine management or power steering. On top of that, you have cybersecurity concerns and every new interface means more testing.
T R I don’t think this is a cost saving measure as much as it is a decision based on low usage of the feature. I don’t know of anyone who used the NFC pairing feature and I sell Cadillacs. There are a few exceptions but for the most part, it’s a feature no one wants.
For what it’s worth, most of the customers I sell new Cadillacs to have iPhones.
Yes, EMC testing is no joke. Very complicated and a pain to fix the issues. Gotta do crazy harness routings and shieldings. And I do agree with the article, Ive never even tried using NFC for anything. It takes 30 seconds to pair a phone, and then you never have to do it again until you upgrade your phone/car. Would rather have the money go to features that actually are used daily.
Very bizarre. So removing a feature that costs 50 cents for a thin tag that gets embedded under the leather? Because it works on about half the phones out there, but some don’t work because of the phone, not the car? I’ve personally loved this feature on the cadillacs I’ve rented, it makes things so easy. Yes it takes 30 seconds to do and yes the systems have gotten better than absolutely-terrible at least – but it’s just a bizarre feature to remove when it’s so cheap and works so well
They’re not using a tag, they have a full NFC reader-writer. Check out FCC ID A269ZUA152 for all the glory details. I think it has to be that way if the device name is allowed to change.
Is there anything Cadillac isn’t about to cancel or phase out?
Electric cars, for starters.
Big mistake. Just when NFC is really taking off due to mobile phone payments?
All y’all are in a rabbit hole! The question is does any iPhone have Bluetooth connectivity? I honestly don’t know as my only iPhone was the 3S and it didn’t have NFC. The car I had at the time didn’t have Bluetooth connectable radio. All my Windows phones and Android phones had / have no problem doing the Bluetooth connection to the car radio! Just don’t like the battery drain.