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WISeKey Partners with China SINCODE to Secure Chinese Connected CarsWISeKey Partners with China SINCODE to Secure Chinese Connected Cars SINCODE offers its technology to over 350 Chinese car manufacturers Geneva, January 3, 2019 - WISeKey International Holding Ltd ("WISeKey", SIX: WIHN) (OTCQX: WIKYY), a leading cybersecurity and IoT company, today announced its partnership with SINCODE, a leading Chinese automobile ECU supplier, to develop the WISekey ISTANA connected cars solution in China. The growing demand of Chinese customers for greater connectivity has driven automakers to carry out upgrades on their Chinese models ahead of the rest of the world's major car manufactures. Chinese customers have placed stronger emphasis on in-car connectivity and internet access than customers in many other markets, with more than 41 million people in China expected to make use of in-car connectivity by 2021, while the value of the overall car market is expected to grow to 401 billion yuan ($62.95 billion) by 2021, according to the professional services consultancy firm, Accenture China. Currently, 11.6 million cars on Chinese roads feature online connectivity, accounting for 10.6 percent of the market, according to a survey carried out by Accenture China. The WISeKey connected cars ISTANA I platform allows smart car manufactures to validate the authenticity of different vehicle components. Certificate-based security also protects onboard communication between vehicle components and enables secure over-the-air software updates. Additionally, authentication certificates can be used by employees, dealers and suppliers to access car components to diagnose mechanical/technical issues and update software from any location. Finally, the ISTANA PKI platform allows users to securely interact with a car's smart features using smartphones and other devices. Currently, WISeKey is working with several smart car manufacturers and its ISTANA PKI platform is already active in several large-scale projects. A recent example is a strategic contract signed with a leading European automobile manufacturer, cementing its role in the connected cars sector. The agreement includes the integration of WISeKey IoT and PKI with the manufacturer's connected car solutions allowing them to authenticate legitimate car components and enable owners to securely interact with the car's smart features. Connected cars are distinct from basic models primarily due to their ability to access to the Internet via their communication system. It allows the driver to connect their smartphone to the car, but also the car itself to connect to surrounding cars and infrastructures. Passengers can, therefore, benefit from extended services, particularly through apps. Those connected cars consist of 6 essential points:
The connected car market is expected to increase by 50.9% per year in China. Virtually all new cars on the market today include electronic technologies that could be vulnerable to hacking or privacy intrusions if data security is not addressed. Embedded WISeKey hardware securityin the car protects the "identity" of each device, prevents unauthorized tampering, and protects the privacy and security of the vast amount of data these devices generate. BI Intelligence expects 94 million connected cars to be sold in 2021 (with 82% to be connected cars), representing a compound annual growth rate of 35% from 21 million connected cars sold in 2016. A fundamental principle behind the security of WISeKey Semiconductors is that its chips not only control how devices perform under normal conditions, but also control how these devices react when attacked or tampered with in any way, including self-destruction. WISeKey Semiconductor chips are designed to authenticate individual car components within the vehicle itself, ensure that only legitimate software is installed in the car, authenticate users, make certain that only legitimate users have access to the connected car functions, and encrypt data to make it tamperproof and private. "We are delighted to enter into a partnership with WISeKey," said Bai Yunfei, President of SINCODE. "Chinese consumers are very fond of new technologies, as compared to European customers, are more open to novelty and innovation. We believe that in the global market for connected cars, the Chinese market should gain a significant market share. Our target customers are mainly modern and connected urban youth." "As cars in China continue to evolve, essentially becoming motorized computers, they are vulnerable to the very same threats and attacks as home computers, laptops and smartphones. Unless appropriate cybersecurity measures are implemented, hackers can remotely access the vehicle's computer system, manipulate the brakes, engine, and transmission. This cooperation with SINCODE will allow us in China to help verify legitimate car systems, protect the data they create and avoid malicious hacking," said Carlos Moreira, CEO of WISeKey. Added IoT Security from WISeKey Semiconductors WISeKey Semiconductor brings a 25-year heritage delivering certified Secure Elements in the most risk-sensitive applications including government ID cards and passports, credit cards and Pay TV access cards, and specialty crypto tokens. WISeKey Semiconductor's VaultIC chips are specifically tailored to the needs of IoT devices which often have low power capabilities and the need to be securely updateable in the field. About SINCODE About WISeKey: For more information, visit www.wisekey.com. To receive WISeKey's latest news visit the WISeKey Investors Corner. Press and investor contacts:
Disclaimer: This communication expressly or implicitly contains certain forward-looking statements concerning WISeKey International Holding Ltd and its business. Such statements involve certain known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, which could cause the actual results, financial condition, performance or achievements of WISeKey International Holding Ltd to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. WISeKey International Holding Ltd is providing this communication as of this date and does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements contained herein as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. This press release does not constitute an offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to buy, any securities, and it does not constitute an offering prospectus within the meaning of article 652a or article 1156 of the Swiss Code of Obligations or a listing prospectus within the meaning of the listing rules of the SIX Swiss Exchange. Investors must rely on their own evaluation of WISeKey and its securities, including the merits and risks involved. Nothing contained herein is, or shall be relied on as, a promise or representation as to the future performance of WISeKey. |