Connected car tech to become more 'sophisticated' next year, report says

While we're on the subject of 2017 connected car predictions this week, The Economist Intelligence Unit has also released some interesting numbers that provide some food for thought next year. 

In its newly published Industries in 2017 report, the researchers take a look at the key trends in the automotive sector for next year and find that combined car sales in the 60 biggest markets will rise by 2.4% in 2017.

This may be slower...

By Rachael Power, 29 November 2016, 0 comments. Categories: Connectivity.

2017 connected car predictions: Seeing the forest for the trees

(c)iStock/LDProd

As 2016 winds down, the connected car industry is ramping up for another interesting year.

We’ve seen several innovative initiatives such as Uber testing autonomous ride sharing in Pittsburgh to Hyundai giving Blue Link users the ability to start their car by talking into their watches. Well, 2017 will be no different.

That being said; not all ideas will succeed.  

Prediction: UBI subscriptions will stall

As new technology continues to alter the driving experience as we know it,...

By Timothy Evavold, 29 November 2016, 0 comments. Categories: Connectivity.

US asks drivers to put down their smartphones

(c)Geber86

Using devices while on the road is something truly connected cars could actually combat. One of the causes of the rising number of fatalities on the road around the world is driver distraction, and part of the blame perhaps rests with smartphones.

This is why the US has released new, voluntary guidelines to help address the issue cause by mobiles and electronic devices in vehicles.

The US Department of Transportation’s (DOT) National Highway Traffic...

By Rachael Power, 25 November 2016, 0 comments. Categories: Connectivity.

Springworks launches connected car platform in Sweden

A new connected car platform for mobile operaters and service providers has gone live in Sweden.

Springworks AB's SPARK platform will be used by Nordic and Baltics mobile network operator Teila Company.

The platform will allow the company and its automotive service provider partners to launch a host of new subscription-based connected car services for drivers.

These services will include 4G, in-car Wi-Fi, service warning alerts, parking information and warnings, tyre change notifications, eco driving...

By Rachael Power, 23 November 2016, 0 comments. Categories: Connectivity.

Connectivity is key in preparing for driverless cars

The recent driverless car trial in Milton Keynes, the first of its kind in the UK, suggests that the future of transport is quickly coming upon us – one half-mile loop at a time.

Filling the nation’s garages and motorways with automated vehicles would mark a giant leap towards the efficiency, convenience and luxury of the “tech utopias” chronicled by countless science-fiction writers and envisioned by startups from Silicon Valley to Soho.

However, before we make the final stop,...

By Hakan Ekmen, 21 November 2016, 0 comments. Categories: Connectivity.

Volvo trials app concierge service in US

Car connectivity has a lot of benefits. Soon, it could even eliminate the need for you to bring your car for a service, fill it up with fuel or giving it a wash.

That is, at least, the focus on Volvo's pilot programme in the US. It's trialling a concierge service with 300 of its customers starting from this month, who will have access to services via an app.  

This isn't an idea they have pulled out of thin air, though. Volvo's digital innovation labs in the US, Germany and China have been looking at the...

By Rachael Power, 18 November 2016, 0 comments. Categories: Connectivity.

Germany trials 5G motorway project with Ericsson and BMW

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Cars in Germany are set to become a whole lot more connected in the future, with a cross-industry consortium being set up to strengthen 5G research and development in the country.

Members include Ericsson, BMW Group, Deutsche Bahn, Deutsche Telekom, Telefónica Deutschland and Vodafone, the TU Dresden 5G Lab Germany, the Federal Highway Research Institute (BASt) and the Federal Regulatory Agency (BNetzA).

The Federal Ministry of Transport and Digital Infrastructure and the Bavarian...

By Rachael Power, 17 November 2016, 0 comments. Categories: Connectivity.

Jaguar previews its first ever electric car

(c)Jaguar

Jaguar has released details of its first ever purpose-built electric vehicle. The Jaguar I-PACE Concept is due out in 2018, with the production version to be released next year.

The five-seater sports car is a first real electric alternative to a traditional premium SUV, the company said.

The car will have a cab-forward, sporting driving position, with no tailpipe...

By Rachael Power, 15 November 2016, 0 comments. Categories: Connectivity.

Samsung set to snap up connected car firm Harman for $8bn

(c)iStock/George Clerk

Samsung is set to make a significant advancement in car technology, as it looks set to acquire connected car tech firm Harman International Industries.

Automotive technologies are an area that have been on Samsung’s strategic radar for some time now, and last year it set up an Automotive Electronics Business Team to identify opportunities in the car tech sector.

The deal, which is expected to close mid next year, is said to be worth up to $8bn in value.

Partnerships and scale are...

By Rachael Power, 14 November 2016, 0 comments. Categories: Connectivity.

Volkswagen unveils most connected Golf yet for 2017

Volkswagen has just released info on its new Golf, and connected car enthusiasts everywhere will be pretty happy with some of the advances in technology within the new model. 

From 2017, new VW Golf cars will have a next-gen infotainment system as well as city emergency braking with a pedestrian monitoring function and traffic jam assist. 

Over 33 million Volkswagen Golf cars have been sold around the world to date, making it easily the most successful model in the company's...

By Rachael Power, 10 November 2016, 0 comments. Categories: Connectivity.

T-Mobile reveals SyncUP Drive connected car device for US

(c)T-Mobile

T-Mobile has launched a device in the US that allows more cars to make use of connected features.

The SyncUP Drive goes on sale in late November at $149.99 or free if you sign up to a two-year, no-ost finance agreement with a 2GB or more internet plan. It’s unclear if the company will release the device in the UK, or when.

The SyncUP Drive turns your car into a Wi-Fi hotspot and includes vehicle...

By Rachael Power, 10 November 2016, 0 comments. Categories: Connectivity.

Ford expanding driver-assist technologies with next-gen features

(c)iStock/BraunS  

Ford has announced it is expanding its driver assist technology, with a range of next-generation features to make avoiding crashes, parking and detecting objects in the road easier.

New features it is developing at its research and development centre in Aachen, Germany, include a cross-traffic alert system, with braking technology designed to detect people and objects about to pass behind the car,...

By Rachael Power, 03 November 2016, 0 comments. Categories: Connectivity.

Former Cisco connected car execs join RideCell

Fleet automation software company RideCell has hired two former Cisco connected car executives. 

Mark Thomas joins the San Francisco based company as vice president of marketing, and Paul Drysch joins as vice president of business development, as well as general manager of APAC.

RideCell's automation platform can integrate ride-sharing, car-sharing, and fixed route services. The company powers new mobility businesses from end to end, from consumer apps to day-to-day fleet management, demand and supply...

By Rachael Power, 02 November 2016, 0 comments. Categories: Connectivity.

Connected car startup Otonomo raises $12m

A tech startup that helps connected car makers to monetise their data has raised $12m in Series A funding. 

Otonomo, based in Israel, has added to its previous $3m funding round to develop its cloud-based SaaS platform, which worls to "disrupt the connected and autonomous car arenas" and monitor customer experience.

The company integrates servies, analytics and a new software layer based on open APIs and real time information into cars. The platform can work with any car manufacturer or third-party app...

By Rachael Power, 02 November 2016, 0 comments. Categories: Connectivity.

LYNK & CO launches, announcing a new connected car

Chinese car manufacturer Geely has launched a new car brand, LYNK & CO, last week, announcing more details of its highly connected car. 

The marketing around the launch centres on how Geely - who also owns Volvo - became tired with the "sluggish evolution" of the auto indsustry and has so decided to do something about it. 

But as they say, the proof will be in the pudding, and whether the car can stand up to...

By Rachael Power, 24 October 2016, 0 comments. Categories: Connectivity.

Lynk & Co 'most connected car to date' set to launch

(c)LYNK & CO 

Geely is preparing to launch what they claim to be “the most connected car to date” this week, teasing the public with a blog post revealing some detail.

The company, which has owned Volvo since 2010, will apparently launch a car built on an open digital platform, which collaborates with several ‘world-leading’ tech...

By , 19 October 2016, 0 comments. Categories: Connectivity.

BMW announces semi-driverless 2017 5 Series Sedan, including Apple CarPlay

(c)BMW 

BMW has announced its new 5 Series Sedan this week, including a raft of new connected car features.

BMW is also apparently the first car maker to feature wireless Apple CarPlay, which connects a supported iPhone and allows a user to get directions, make calls, etc, in a safer manner.

But that’s certainly not the most impressive connected feature of the 5 Series Sedan, which will arrive on the market in February 2017.

The...

By Rachael Power, 14 October 2016, 0 comments. Categories: Connectivity.

Bentley and Filld collaborate for US online petrol-ordering service

(c)iStock.com/Sjoerd van der Wal

Filld, an on-demand petrol startup which currently delivers anywhere between San Francisco and San Jose, has partnered with Bentley Motors to offer high-quality petrol via professionally-trained commercially-licensed drivers in DOT-certified safe trucks.

Now, Bentley customers will get gas delivered directly to their vehicles with the help of their mobile phones. All they will have to do is, place an order through a mobile app available on Android and iOS.

A background of this...

By Connected CarTech, 07 October 2016, 0 comments. Categories: Connectivity, Contextual data.