# Kigen Unveils Industry-First eSA-Certified Automotive eSIM Built for the Next Generation of Connected Vehicles
## A New Standard in Vehicle Connectivity Security
Kigen, a leading provider of embedded SIM (eSIM) and integrated SIM (iSIM) technology, has earned the GSMA eUICC Security Assurance (eSA) certification for its newly launched Automotive eSIM product line. This milestone represents a significant advancement in securing connected vehicles, as it marks the industry’s first eSA-certified eSIM to support SGP.32 version 1.3 — the GSMA’s most recent IoT eSIM (eUICC) specification.
The certification brings together Kigen’s proprietary eSIM operating system and Infineon Technologies’ TEGRION SLI22 automotive security controller, offering connected-vehicle manufacturers and Tier-1 suppliers a robust, standards-compliant platform designed to protect fleets that are expected to remain secure for more than a decade.
## A Unified Platform Across Market Segments
The Kigen Automotive eSIM is certified across the entire TEGRION SLx22 chip family, which forms the foundation of a three-product portfolio serving different connected-device markets. The Automotive variant, built on the SLI22 chip, targets vehicles and fleets directly. The Consumer variant, built on the SLC22 chip, supports the latest SGP.22 version 2.7 specification for personal devices. The Industrial IoT variant, built on the SLM22 chip, supports the SGP.32 version 1.3 specification for industrial connected applications.
All three products run on the same operating system and hardware platform, share identical development tools and management software stacks, and are designed to work interchangeably. This convergence is particularly valuable for automotive manufacturers, who can now deploy a single security platform across multiple vehicle subsystems — including infotainment, telematics, and headless computing architectures — while dramatically reducing engineering fragmentation and development timelines.
## SGP.32 Version 1.3: Enhancements Tailored for Connected Vehicles
Kigen’s implementation incorporates the key enhancements introduced in SGP.32 version 1.3, which was published in May 2026. These enhancements include capabilities for both direct and indirect profile downloads, digital activation codes for streamlined onboarding, and emergency profile handling mechanisms that are directly relevant to the automotive use case.
By gaining early access to and implementing these specification updates, automakers and connectivity operators can future-proof their architectures. Vehicles that are engineered and qualified today using this platform will be better positioned to remain operationally relevant across extended product lifecycles, avoiding the risk of becoming obsolete as connectivity standards evolve.
## Preparing for Post-Quantum Threats in Long-Lived Vehicles
Connected vehicles present a unique security challenge: unlike consumer devices that are frequently replaced, automobiles are expected to operate safely and securely for many years. This longevity makes hardware-level security upgrades impractical, which is why forward-looking cryptographic strategies are essential.
Post-quantum cryptography (PQC) addresses the threat posed by future quantum computers that could potentially break current encryption methods. While PQC is not yet formally integrated into GSMA specifications, Kigen’s platform is designed to accommodate hybrid key encapsulation schemes that combine classical encryption algorithms with quantum-resistant alternatives on the same hardware. OEMs can begin testing end-to-end PQC-resistant communication channels now using Kigen’s C-SDK development suite and evaluation eSIM samples, ensuring their vehicles are prepared for emerging quantum threats well before they become a practical concern.
## Regulatory Alignment and Compliance
This latest certification adds to a growing body of assurance that Kigen has built across its product lines. The company’s IoT eSIMs and Consumer eSIMs have previously received eSA certification, and the eSIM operating system has been updated with security features designed to help customers comply with the EU Cyber Resilience Act (CRA). The automotive variant now extends this compliance-ready architecture into the vehicle domain.
## Ecosystem Partnerships and Global Reach
Kigen’s full-stack assurance framework spans GSMA SAS-UP certification for manufacturing, SAS-SM certification for subscription management, and a hosted remote management platform called Kigen eIM. The Automotive eSIMs are interoperable with more than 20 network providers that are ready for digital activation, and they work alongside more than 60 “Secure with Kigen” IoT modules. Global connectivity partnerships, including with China Mobile International, help OEMs simplify deployment across international vehicle markets.
China Mobile International’s head of IoT and automotive industry highlighted the importance of this development, noting that the partnership with Kigen will help bring SGP.32-based security solutions to Chinese automakers while supporting global deployment, CRA-aligned processes, and reliable connectivity for vehicles engineered for extended service lives.
Kigen is also scheduled to participate in GSMA interoperability testing in October with its certified IoT eSIMs and eIM management solution. The Automotive eSIMs will be made available for OEM sampling in the ETSI MFF2 form factor starting in October 2026.
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## Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
**What is GSMA eUICC Security Assurance (eSA) certification?**
eSA certification is a GSMA program that verifies that an eSIM product meets stringent security standards for manufacturing and lifecycle management. It ensures that the eSIM hardware, operating system, and management infrastructure comply with GSMA specifications and provide a trusted foundation for connected devices.
**Why is SGP.32 v1.3 important for the automotive industry?**
SGP.32 is GSMA’s IoT-specific eSIM specification. Version 1.3 introduced enhancements such as direct and indirect profile downloads, digital activation codes, and emergency profile handling — all of which address the unique connectivity and security needs of connected vehicles that must be provisioned, updated, and managed at scale over long service periods.
**What makes the TEGRION SLI22 chip family significant?**
The TEGRION SLI22 is Infineon’s automotive-grade security controller, designed to withstand the harsh conditions inside a vehicle while providing hardware-rooted trust. When paired with Kigen’s eSIM OS, it creates a secure execution environment that protects cryptographic keys and enables secure remote management throughout the vehicle’s lifetime.
**How does the three-product portfolio benefit OEMs?**
By sharing a common OS, hardware platform, development tools, and management stack across Automotive, Consumer, and Industrial IoT products, OEMs can reduce duplicated engineering effort, simplify supply chains, and extend their security platform across multiple product lines — from passenger vehicles to industrial machinery.
**What is post-quantum cryptography, and why does it matter for connected vehicles?**
Post-quantum cryptography refers to encryption algorithms designed to resist attacks from quantum computers. Because vehicles are long-lived products that cannot be easily retrofitted with new security hardware, having a platform that supports hybrid classical and quantum-safe encryption allows OEMs to future-proof their security architecture years before quantum threats become practical.
**What is the EU Cyber Resilience Act, and how does Kigen address it?**
The EU Cyber Resilience Act sets requirements for the cybersecurity of products with digital elements sold in the European Union. Kigen’s eSIM operating system includes secure update mechanisms and security features designed to help customers meet CRA requirements, and the automotive eSIM extends this compliance capability into the vehicle segment.
**When will Kigen Automotive eSIMs be available for sampling?**
Kigen Automotive eSIMs will be available for OEM sampling in the ETSI MFF2 package starting in October 2026. A starter kit is also available for evaluation purposes.
**How many network providers and modules are compatible?**
The Automotive eSIMs interoperate with over 20 network providers ready for digital activation and work with more than 60 “Secure with Kigen” IoT modules across global markets.
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## Conclusion
Kigen’s achievement of the industry’s first GSMA eSA certification for SGP.32 v1.3-compliant automotive eSIMs represents a significant leap forward in securing the connected vehicles of tomorrow. By combining a unified hardware and software platform with forward-looking cryptographic readiness and deep regulatory alignment, Kigen has given automakers and their supply chains a practical, scalable path to building connectivity trust anchors that can endure across a vehicle’s entire service life. As the automotive industry continues its transformation toward software-defined, intelligent mobility, platforms like Kigen’s will play a critical role in ensuring that security keeps pace with innovation.
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