Jio’s Scalable Connected Car Solution is Turning Heads at Auto Expo 2020
The 15th edition of India’s largest automobile show, Auto Expo 2020 started recently and every car manufacturer has innovative concepts and ideas. Every year, this show witnesses the greatest minds coming together on one single platform to show the best technologies possible in the automotive world. This year is no less. From Maruti Suzuki’s Futuro-e Concept to the heavily updated Gurkha by Force motors, Auto Expo 2020 is showcasing the ideas of some of the most brilliant minds.
From vintage cars to new self-driving cars, the automotive industry has gone through a drastic change in the past century. Technology continues to become more sophisticated than before, and consumers are expecting not just superior mechanics but are also looking for digitisation, AI, and telematics included in their vehicles. There has been mounting pressure on the manufacturers to transform from mechanical-centric to software-defined vehicles. To stay up to speed with the constant change, the suppliers and manufacturers will need to implement innovative, software-driven solutions.
The manufacturers need to find a balance between quick adoption and successful execution. With this, the automotive industry is experiencing another monumental wave of change. Connected, Autonomous, Shared, and Electric (CASE) mobility services will rule the automotive market. This will offer safer, quicker, and more efficient and cost-effective transportation opportunities. It is expected that 98% of the new cars that hit the market, will be connected within the next 12 months, enhancing the experience of driving. Driver-assistance, real-time vehicle information, and better entertainment services will also be implemented.
An enabler of digital adoption across various industries, including the automobile sector, Mukesh Ambani-led Reliance Jio has been working on new technologies to redefine customer experience in all aspects. Jio is working on its goal to improve the consumer experience on an ongoing basis across these points. And now, they are showcasing their solutions at Auto Expo 2020. This demonstrates the role of connectivity, network, and technology for the vehicles of the future. The telecom giant is presenting connected vehicle solutions which will help consumers with insights into vehicle performance and other digital metrics, at the ongoing Auto Expo 2020 in New Delhi.
The connectivity solutions showcased by Jio includes components like hardware, connectivity, and platform. These digital innovations will allow scaling based on the user’s requirement while also maintaining the security of the data involved. All these components bring together the advantage of a futuristic vehicle with connectivity, device management, application enablement, and analytics.
The Cars of the Future
With connected and safe mobility solutions in the automobile market, comes Jio’s technologies that enable a connected car ecosystem. In terms of hardware, the company showcased an IoT-grade eSIM support in multi-form factor, Narrowband IoT (NbIoT) modules, and LTE-based tracking devices.
They also showcased onboard-diagnostics-compatible (OBD) telematics devices. This car solution module is further connected to a dashcam with a 360° camera that will keep an eye on both the driver and road. The device will use Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS) and cloud-based systems to carry out these operations. This service will allow users to get notifications about fuel usage, over-speeding, distraction to the driver, and help prevent accidents by applying smart emergency brakes. Apart from this, the OBD device has features like vehicle tracking and Wi-Fi connectivity inside the vehicle. It will also provide vehicle health information.
The eSIM connection will ensure that the module stays connected to the internet at all times. The data captured by the Jio solution can be accessed by the user anytime with the help of an app on their smartphone. This app will also show the vehicle’s health, which includes air intake, engine coolant, engine load, and ambient air temperatures. It will also track vehicles and provide information to the users on the location, route, and the distance travelled by the car. Users can also enjoy driving more, using content from the smartphone and display it on the car’s infotainment screen.
In addition to the OBD device, the company showcased hardware solutions that work on AIS 140 standard and include door and fuel sensors as well as a panic button to safeguard the driver and passengers.
The telco is also working on building customised solutions with private APNs, URL/IP whitelisting along with transparent and efficient connectivity management. This will be able to record and maintain SIM inventory with all the important information in one single dashboard. The users will be able to control and modify services through easily understandable UI.
With all these benefits combined, these connected car solutions could turn any car into a smart car. “Reliance Jio is ready with a car connected device that will have multiple features like immobilising car at the time of the theft, alert the owner about movement, locate the car and also provide Wi-Fi. The owner needs to use Jio SIM in the device to avail benefits,” Jio said.
Partnership with Manufacturers
With the growth in electric and hybrid vehicles, the concept of a connected car is expected to gain more momentum in the coming years. Presently in India, hardly a few cars run on this technology. With benefits like security and safety of the car, this connected technology will see many service providers shaking their hands with the automobile manufacturers. While Reliance Jio hasn’t announced any partnerships with any car manufacturer till date, we expect that such partnerships will be imminent. Jio has been developing its connected car technologies for quite some time now. They will find it beneficial to offer their connected smart car solutions to car manufacturers and bring smart driving experiences to the Indian automobile market.
A connected car will bring a lot of functionality to the users which will make driving safer and easier. The main idea is to bring together the benefits of a connected life into a vehicle, turning people’s vehicles into smart cars. Jio’s car solutions will include features like route management, driver management, driving insights, vehicle telematics and diagnostics, media & infotainment services, and multi-sensor support. With a combination of these services, Jio aims to make connected cars real and usable in India by specialising in specific use cases, such as highway driving, accident control, car safety, etc.
