Accelerating innovation across the connected car lifecycle

How is technology going to revolutionise the automotive industry? Find out what the future holds for the automakers…

Innovative technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning (ML) and the Internet of Things (IoT) have become a part of almost every organisation’s digital transformation journey. The automotive sector is no different, as it explores the potential of these technologies, in revolutionising the driver and passenger experience.

For the automotive industry, a critical component that these technologies depend on to enable new customer experiences and open up new revenue opportunities is seamless and secure connectivity. From driver assistance services, enhanced safety and remote diagnostics, to the delivery of different infotainment services – innovation is accelerating thanks to faster connectivity, greater processing power and new connected car platforms.

“The powerful combination of these IoT-enabled advancements is also leading to closer collaboration between vehicle manufacturers and component suppliers across the entire connected car lifecycle.”

Design 

IoT can provide a wealth of information about customers, their preferences and driving patterns to automakers, enabling them to deliver new services and better vehicle designs.

By integrating more advanced telematics into vehicles, powered by real-time connectivity, it is possible to understand how, when and even why vehicles are being used. Automakers are then able to introduce design modifications to improve both the driver and passenger experience.

Integrating in-car IoT connectivity with other IoT-enabled services, from smart city systems to smart home applications, can enhance the driver’s experience further. So, the air-conditioning or heating could switch on in your house as you get closer to home. Or, imagine not having to worry about remembering to pay for parking, as your car will take care of the payment automatically when you arrive at a parking lot or drive off.

Sales 

Anything that can help make the sales process as smooth as possible is welcome, both for automakers and for dealerships.

“When it comes to vehicle connectivity, customers do not want to have to worry about whether their car will connect to a mobile network.”

This is something that should be both seamless and secure, as well as a strong selling point.

Vehicle tracking with IoT also makes contract leasing arrangements simpler to manage. Currently, these arrangements usually apply some sort of a limit on the number of kilometres that can be driven over the period of the contract. With real-time connectivity, it is possible to track drivers’ usage more precisely, enabling smarter contracts for the benefit of both parties. There could even be reward schemes for low-usage drivers, or automated lease extensions for higher usage drivers.

This same approach can be extended to other, more customised services in areas such as insurance and in-car entertainment, which ultimately leads to enhanced customer satisfaction and brand loyalty.

Driver experience and safety  

Enhanced connectivity can make predictive maintenance more effective, with telematics data shared with local dealers so that they have the right inventory of spare parts available when a vehicle comes in for servicing.

“Predictive maintenance is all about avoiding breakdowns, but when a breakdown does happen, cellular connectivity and real-time vehicle data can be used to alert roadside assistance services, who can then identify the problem and resolve it quickly.”

In a similar way, real-time location tracking can help keep drivers safe and provide support in the case of an emergency.

Looking ahead, automakers could also generate extra revenue by using vehicle data to show drivers a breakdown of their energy costs or CO² impact.

Cyber-security

Modern vehicles have as much computer processing power as modern computers, so connected cars need to be protected in the same way as the threat of cyber-attacks continues to grow. The combination of encrypted in-car connectivity, secure over-the-air software installations & updates and a multi-layered security framework provides the protection that vehicles need.

With more and more innovative technologies being integrated into new cars to manage telematics, infotainment, vehicle safety systems and driver assistance services, there needs to be greater focus on securing the entire connected car ecosystem – not just the vehicle and the systems inside it.

The opportunities for automakers are immense, but what all the latest car innovations depend on is encrypted, seamless cellular connectivity, built-in to vehicles on the production line, using embedded SIM (eSIM) technology.

“This makes it important for automakers to work with an IoT connectivity specialist, who understands the regulatory, roaming and technical issues associated with IoT.”

As different IoT innovations are quickly becoming a must-have feature for car buyers, seamless and secure cellular connectivity helps ensure the successful delivery of different connected services during the entire vehicle lifecycle – and ultimately enhanced experiences for drivers.

Discover the pioneering tech from the motorsports’ industry, pushing the boundaries of connected car development in ‘IoT and the race for the car of the future’.