A Brief Analysis of the Development of Biometric Technology in the Automotive Industry

Nowadays, people have become accustomed to using fingerprint unlocking for their phones and making payments by facial recognition. Biometric technology has brought greater convenience to daily life. Beyond its impact on everyday routines, biometric tech is also being widely adopted in the automotive industry—and in recent years, its adoption has been accelerating rapidly. According to relevant reports, by 2025, one-third of all new cars worldwide will be equipped with biometric sensors. So, how exactly is biometric technology reshaping the automotive industry? And what transformative changes will it usher in for the sector? This episode of "Quality Cars" will provide a detailed analysis for you.
1. What is biometric technology? What are the key features of biometric technology?

So-called biometric technology closely integrates high-tech methods—such as computers with optics, acoustics, biosensors, and biostatistical principles—to identify individuals based on their inherent physiological traits (like fingerprints, facial features, or iris patterns) as well as behavioral characteristics (such as handwriting, voice, or gait). Compared to traditional identity verification methods, biometric technology boasts the following distinctive features:
1. Portability: Biometric traits are inherent characteristics of the human body, uniquely tied to each individual, and thus inherently portable.
2. Security: Human biometrics themselves serve as the best proof of personal identity, meeting even higher security requirements.
3. Uniqueness: Each person possesses uniquely distinct biometric characteristics.
4. Stability: Biometric features such as fingerprints and irises—characteristics unique to the human body—do not change over time or under varying conditions.
5. Universality: Everyone possesses biometric characteristics.
6. Convenience: Biometric technology eliminates the need to remember passwords or carry special tools (such as keys), reducing the risk of loss.
7. Collectability: Biometric features are easy to measure.
8. Acceptability: Users are willing to accept the selected personal biometric features and their applications.
Based on these characteristics, biometric technology offers advantages that traditional identity verification methods simply cannot match. By adopting biometric technology, users no longer need to memorize or set passwords—instead, they can securely encrypt sensitive documents, data, and transactions, effectively preventing unauthorized access while enjoying greater convenience.
2. Applications of Biometric Technology in the Automotive Industry

Biometric technologies have already become quite commonplace in everyday life, and these innovations are rapidly making their way into the automotive industry. Currently, the applications of biometrics in the auto sector primarily include fingerprint recognition, voice recognition, gesture recognition, facial recognition, and iris recognition, among others.
1. Fingerprint Recognition
Fingerprint recognition technology primarily relies on the unique ridge patterns and detailed features of human fingerprints, comparing them against fingerprint feature points stored in a known database to verify an individual's identity. The application of fingerprint recognition in the automotive industry isn't new—back in 2004, the Audi A8L was already equipped with a fingerprint-activated start button. Subsequently, automakers like Porsche also began developing and rolling out this technology one after another. Today, fingerprint scanners have become compact and affordable, making them well-suited for widespread adoption. However, fingerprint collection can be affected by external factors such as damaged skin or variations in temperature and humidity. Moreover, fingerprints are vulnerable to being easily obtained and replicated at low cost—through methods like creating fingerprint molds or using artificial fingers—posing significant security risks.
2. Voice Recognition
Voice recognition is currently the most widely adopted and frequently used biometric technology in automobiles, with its primary application being intelligent voice control—allowing drivers to operate the vehicle through specific voice commands. Compared to other biometric technologies, voice recognition is simpler and more convenient. However, it has drawbacks: it’s easily affected by external noise, and current in-car intelligent voice-control systems have relatively high requirements for users’ standard Mandarin, often failing to recognize regional dialects.
3. Gesture Recognition
Similar to voice recognition, gesture recognition is also a "non-contact" control method. When the driver or passenger brings their hand close to the touchscreen or sensors on the center console, the system can detect the hand’s gestures, enabling functions like making calls, adjusting volume, selecting songs, and controlling vehicle settings—all without any physical contact. Gesture recognition is further divided into static gesture recognition and dynamic gesture recognition. For instance, models like the UNI-K under Changan Automobile are equipped with static gesture recognition, while BMW’s 7 Series, 5 Series, as well as models such as the X7 (spec/quote) and X5 (spec/quote), all feature dynamic gesture recognition. Like voice control, gesture recognition offers the advantage of being simple and convenient to operate, and it remains unaffected by external environmental factors. However, currently, gesture recognition in cars can only control specific functions, limiting its scalability. Additionally, users typically need to position their hands precisely in front of the sensor; if the positioning is off, accurate recognition may not be possible.
4. Facial Recognition
Facial recognition is a technology that identifies individuals by quantifying a series of parameters derived from facial features—such as the distances, angles, and shapes of facial characteristics and organs. This technology has a wide range of applications, including monitoring whether a driver is paying attention and verifying the driver's identity. The former is primarily used in smart driver-assistance systems like Cadillac’s Super Cruise and Subaru’s DriverFocus, while the latter is commonly found in vehicles equipped with FACE ID functionality, such as Avatr 11 and Leapmotor C01. Facial recognition offers a simple and discreet method of data collection, enabling it to gather multiple facial profiles across various use cases. However, it is highly susceptible to factors like lighting conditions, focus accuracy, and facial orientation. Additionally, individuals with distinctly unique facial features—such as those with smaller eyes—may experience false identification, potentially being misclassified as showing signs of fatigue while driving.
5. Iris Recognition
Iris recognition is a technology that identifies individuals by leveraging the unique characteristics of the human eye's iris, and it’s widely regarded as the most accurate, reliable, and scalable identity verification system available today. In 2021, iris recognition technology was first integrated into BMW’s iNext model, while Hyundai Motor Company filed a patent application with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office in 2022 for an iris-based authentication system that allows drivers to unlock and start their vehicles simply by scanning their eye’s iris. Compared to fingerprint and facial recognition, non-contact iris recognition offers superior security, thanks to the intricate and distinctive structure of the iris, making it far more difficult for others to replicate. An iris recognition system consists of two major components: software and hardware. While the software component presents certain technical challenges, factors such as the high cost of detection equipment and insufficient camera stability have also hindered the widespread adoption and advancement of this innovative technology.

Translated from Sina Auto

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