NXP’s Trimension NCJ29D6 is the automotive chip family BMW plans to use in selected 2026 vehicle programs. NXP says it supports BMW Digital Key Plus and can combine secure ultra-wideband (UWB) ranging with short-range radar. The announcement, dated August 4, 2026, does not name the BMW models or establish a consumer retrofit option.
What is the NXP NCJ29D6?
The NCJ29D6 is a family of automotive chips intended for vehicle manufacturers, not a general-purpose phone accessory. NXP introduced the family in 2023 as a way to combine secure UWB ranging with short-range UWB radar in one automotive platform. That combination can support both digital-key access and vehicle-sensing functions.
NXP describes the family’s potential applications as hands-free digital-key access, child-presence detection, intrusion alerts and related sensing. Those are use cases the platform is designed to support; the announcement does not say that every NCJ29D6-equipped BMW will include every function.
Which NCJ29D6 variants are described?
NXP’s 2023 technical introduction distinguishes two variants. The company says both are part of the family, and that the radar-capable version is pin-to-pin compatible with the other.
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| Variant | Capability stated by NXP | Compatibility detail |
|---|---|---|
| NCJ29D6B | Supports hands-free access using a digital key on a UWB-enabled mobile phone. | Not stated separately in the 2023 technical description. |
| NCJ29D6A | Adds short-range UWB radar. | Pin-to-pin compatible with the NCJ29D6B, according to NXP’s 2023 technical release. |
The available BMW deployment announcement names the NCJ29D6 family, but does not identify which variant will be used in a particular vehicle or feature.
What does the chip have to do with BMW Digital Key Plus and Digital Key 3.0?
BMW introduced Digital Key Plus on the iX in 2021 using UWB. In BMW’s launch context, the company described working with Apple and the Car Connectivity Consortium (CCC) to establish Digital Key specification 3.0 as a global automotive standard. NXP’s 2026 announcement connects the NCJ29D6 family to BMW Digital Key Plus, while NXP’s UWB overview identifies CCC Release 3.0 compliance as a design focus.
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UWB lets a compatible phone function as a proximity-aware key. When the vehicle and phone support the feature, the driver can approach and unlock the vehicle without taking the phone out of a pocket or bag. The chip is one vehicle-side component in that system; the phone, vehicle electronics and standards-compatible implementation also matter.
Earlier, NXP’s NCJ29D5 announcement described BMW, Continental, NXP and other partners working through the CCC and IEEE on interoperability and standardization for smartphone access, remote parking and other automotive UWB uses. That history helps explain why Digital Key is an ecosystem effort rather than a feature supplied by a single chip alone.
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When will the NCJ29D6 appear in BMW vehicles?
NXP said on August 4, 2026, that BMW Group would deploy the NCJ29D6 family in selected 2026 vehicle programs. The announcement does not list the models, trims, markets or production dates, so it does not establish which BMW a buyer can order with the chip. It also does not specify whether all listed applications will be enabled in those programs.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Can you add UWB Digital Key to an existing BMW?
The NCJ29D6 announcement establishes an OEM vehicle-program deployment, not a do-it-yourself upgrade or standalone aftermarket product. It does not say that the chip is sold to consumers, that an existing BMW can be retrofitted with it, or that a phone accessory can add the announced functions. Whether a particular BMW supports Digital Key Plus depends on that vehicle’s equipment and the compatible phone or device; check BMW’s vehicle-specific information for availability.
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