The smartphone is invading the world of cars nowadays, where the driver can currently plan the flight path with the smartphone while eating breakfast, and then send it to the car's navigation system with the click of a button.
International auto companies have become fully convinced that more services can be implemented in the future through what is known as digital ecosystems.
Mercedes Me System
The German company Mercedes has been working to integrate the digital ecosystem "Mi" in its cars since 2014, and more than 5 million users around the world have installed the application for this system on their smartphones, and car owners can log in and control many of the car's functions by phone. Intelligent.
"The Mercedes Mi system is a digital aid for everything related to the car and movement, and it aims to simplify and facilitate life tasks for customers," said Matthias Vital, responsible for the Mi System and Digital Services at Mercedes.
The German official indicated that Mercedes cars, starting from the 2002 model year, can be linked to the application through the free plug-in adapter for the on-board diagnostic system known as OBD II, and older cars cannot be equipped with this system, and the basic services for this include The system can manage maintenance and faults as well as diagnose vehicle faults remotely. The German company provides some other free services for a period of 3 years, such as traffic information and gas station prices, and the application also allows you to set an appointment for maintenance at the authorized agent.
The digital key is the future
In the future, it is expected that the smartphone will be used as a digital key for the car, in addition to the ability to book or extend services, update and upgrade the programs in the car.
Matthias Vettel added, "In the future, we will cooperate with more partners so that we can provide more other services, such as automatic payment of tolls on roads, parking spaces for parking or refueling, and a food ordering service can also be provided."
Volkswagen Wii (We)
Volkswagen has been offering its digital platform, "We-Connect," for mobility services since 2017, which provides many services besides selling cars such as car sharing, renting and renting cars. We-Connect application provides many services to the user such as parking for cars that are paid. In it cashlessly, recall the mileage, fuel tank level, and vehicle mileage.
The German company allows the user to unlock the car via a smartphone and pay the cost of charging the battery in electric cars.
"The advantage of the Volkswagen app for customers is that they learn a lot about their cars and their driving style, which helps simplify everyday tasks," said Christoph Hohmann, Director of Volkswagen Customer Care and Communication.
In addition, the Wei digital platform connects the largest possible number of cars with each other so that the driver can receive information related to the vacant places to park the car to wait in the event of storms or accidents on the road.
Moreover, the functions can be used and paid only when needed, such as activating navigation maps only when going on trips and vacations abroad.
This type of service is spread by many other international companies, such as Tesla, USA, and Volkswagen is communicating with every car produced from the factory starting this summer, in addition to that old models can be equipped with this system through a device at a cost not exceeding 40 euros. .
BMW Connected Drive
BMW is linking its cars through the "Connected Drive" system, which is considered a digital mobility aid, and this system aims to facilitate and simplify the preparation process for the trip.
"The Connected Drive system provides a connection between the car and the outside world, where the driver receives the latest information related to traffic movement, in addition to the ability to broadcast music and integrate the smartphone into the car via the Auto system," said Peter Heinrich, responsible for the system at BMW. "From Android or from Apple's Carplay. Currently, this system connects more than 14 million cars."
Peter Heinrich does not see that the digital ecosystem is necessarily related to electric cars, so although people with innovative thinking tend to prefer electric models or hybrid cars, the owners of cars equipped with internal combustion engines also care about digital services and use them, and BMW provides 4 different packages. Of digital services for a cost starting at 69 euros per year, and the size of the jobs offered depends on the model of the car.
Interface solutions
There are some current interface solutions such as Android (Auto) or Apple (Carplay), which connect the user interface in the smartphone and the car, but the smartphone remains working in the background, and these systems do not represent a profitable business model for car companies, which will only be achieved. When customers book paid services from the vehicle manufacturer.
All car companies are now forced to develop their own systems in order to facilitate the technological transformation process for electric car owners in particular.
“It is important for electric vehicle owners to find the nearest location to the battery charging station, to know if the vehicle is technically sound, and to carry out various reservations from the vehicle,” said Jan Burgard, CEO of Berylls Strategy Advisors.
Peter Heinrich, of the German company BMW, believes that there is currently a convergence between digital services and the automotive world. "The reasons for buying BMW cars are still in the design, technological aspects and driving performance, but digital services have become more important as well."