There is a new movement among Japanese automakers regarding the "connected car", a car that can connect to the Internet and constantly communicate with the outside world.
Eight Japanese manufacturers, including Toyota Motor Corporation, have signed a contract with an American company to pay royalties for the patented technology necessary for "connected cars."
In the automotive industry, the development of "connected cars" that connect the car to the Internet and constantly communicate with the outside for smooth autonomous driving and software updates is progressing.
Under these circumstances, the American company "Avanci", which is in charge of negotiating patent technology for "connected cars" of major telecommunications companies in various countries, signed a contract with eight Japanese automakers including Toyota, Honda, and Nissan on the 21st. announced.
The companies will pay Avanci a license fee of $15 to $20 per car in exchange for using the patented technology for "connected cars."
"Avansi" has contracts with manufacturers in various countries such as Volkswagen in Germany, GM = General Motors in the United States, and Hyundai Motors in South Korea one after another, and "Avansi" has more than 80 cars in the world with this contract. More than 100 million vehicles of the brand will be eligible for usage fees.
This contract shows that Japanese automakers are emphasizing the development of "connected cars", and the development competition in this field where automobiles and telecommunications converge is likely to intensify.