Connected cars “could adapt based on driver’s health”
One of the world’s leading experts on connected cars is suggesting that vehicles may adapt based on how tired the driver is, or even stop if they detect ill health. Forbes.com says Harman X executive Tim VanGoethem believes cars are “morphing” into the largest device we own, mirroring how we use smartwatches, phones and computers. […]
Ford makes connected services standard in Europe
Ford has announced it’s making a range of connected vehicle services complimentary to European customers, enabling drivers to control and monitor key features in their cars from their smartphone. Drivers access connected vehicle features using the FordPass app which enables a variety of remote services, including checking on vehicle health, fuel level and oil levels, […]
BMW supports Apple digital key
BMW drivers are to be the first in the world to be able to use their iPhone as a car key. The company says that in the future customers will be able to set up a key on a compatible phone and share it with up to five friends. Users set the system up by […]
Alexa now has an in-car version
Amazon’s Alexa is a fixture in many homes, but is now available in car too. The Echo Auto is now on sale on the company’s website, offering drivers a full list of voice commands from changing music to taking phone calls and checking their diary. It connects via an audio jack or Bluetooth plugs into […]
Otonomo and Fiat working on increasing connected car data
The Israeli automotive data company Otonomo is teaming up with Fiat Chrysler Autos to get anonymous aggregated data from connected vehicles in Europe. The idea is to deliver new use cases such as advanced mapping, traffic management and planning as well as smart city applications. Overall the partnership is intended to reduce congestion and improve […]
Cyberattacks on cars double in a year
A new report into the cyber security of connected cars suggests that the number of attacks on vehicles doubled in the year to 2019, and were up seven-fold compared with 2016. The research by U Switch suggests that two-thirds of new cars are now connected, with all cars expected to be online by 2026. It […]
Skoda merges connected car apps into single solution
The Czech carmaker Skoda has improved its smartphone app experience by putting the functionality of two different ones into one. Up until now, the Skoda Connect app provided online services such as remote locking or unlocking of the doors, or displaying the current position of the parked vehicle. Meanwhile the Skoda OneApp used SmartLink+ technology […]
Porsche invests in “simulated sense of touch” solution
Carmaker Porsche is taking a minority stake in Israeli technology company Tactile Mobility which has a solution to artificially give a car “a sense of touch”. The solution simulates touch by using an algorithm to process data that is provided by existing sensors and is used to, for example, improve assessment of friction coefficient between […]
Questions over connected vehicle data privacy policies
It’s being reported that some vehicle manufacturers are failing to wipe replaced components from their cars, meaning people’s personal data can be found on second-hand kit. TechHQ reports that so-called “white hacker” (someone who hacks things to show problems and not for nefarious purposes) GreenTheOnly has found people who have their car retrofitted with new […]
Predictive maintenance could cut breakdowns by 70% – IBM
A new study suggests that connected vehicles which constantly assess the condition of your vehicle to anticipate when things might fail could mean a huge reduction of breakdowns on the road. Motley Fool reports that IBM has worked out so called predictive maintenance, which warns of problems and informs your mechanic about them could also […]