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Smart wheels: From connected cars to internet cars
By: Vikram Chaudhary
Published: July 25, 2019 1:59:46 AM
Today, almost every new car model launched in India has basic connectivity features (Bluetooth), but some are taking connectivity to
previously unheard of levels
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10/23/2019 Smart wheels: From connected cars to internet cars - The Financial Express
‘Connected’ is a term defined loosely—it can be as simple as Bluetooth connectivity, to as complex as a car connected to the infrastructure, which itself has to be
smart.
While some of us may have experienced the Internet of Things (IoT) in everyday lives—such as automatic lighting in some modern
homes and smart refrigerators—a ‘connected car’ is the most noticeable IoT device. But what does being ‘connected’ mean? After all,
there is no automotive definition of the same.
‘Connected’ is a term defined loosely—it can be as simple as Bluetooth connectivity, to as complex as a car connected to the
infrastructure, which itself has to be smart. Today, almost every new car launched in India has Bluetooth connectivity, some have
telematics solutions (factoryfitted or by using a dongle), and then some have taken connectivity to previously unheard of levels—
Hyundai Venue and MG Motor Hector. The latter, in fact, doesn’t even call itself a connected car, but as India’s first ‘internet car’.
Rajeev Chaba, president and MD, MG Motor India, says there’s a reason for branding the Hector as the ‘internet car’, and it’s not
merely a marketing gimmick. “The Hector has the capability to ‘talk’ to another similarlyequipped car, in real time; it can interact with
the infrastructure (provided there are smart traffic signals). You can make payments for accessing incar services and this car is
capable of having its own WiFi hotspot,” he says. (Currently, Indian regulations do not permit the latter two functions.)
Similarly, the Venue lets you operate incar functions remotely. For example, you can start the engine and turn on the AC sitting in
your office, using an app on your smartphone. The car can also be tracked in realtime, in case someone else is driving it or if it gets
stolen. Ji Hong Baek, MD, Hyundai Motor India Engineering, says that realtime connectivity is ensured courtesy an inbuilt eSIM
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powered by VodafoneIdea. The feature that makes this connectivity possible is called the BlueLink—it provides safety, convenience
and vehicle management relationship services.
Both these cars also sport three crucial connectivity features: bCall, iCall and eCall.
* bCall is short for breakdown call, which allows drivers to call for 24hour roadside assistance in the event the car breaks down;
* iCall is short for information call, which provides AIbased support, such as driving route and information on places of interest;
* eCall is short for emergency call, which calls emergency services in the event of an accident. In the Hector, the eCall happens
automatically (in case airbags deploy), and in the Venue you need to physically press the SOS button to activate this feature.
Developing and deploying such technologies in a vehicle can be a complex task, and requires collaboration. The iSMART Next Gen
that powers the Hector has been developed by MG Motor in partnership with Microsoft, Adobe, Unlimit, SAP, Cisco, Gaana, TomTom
and Nuance. “The brain of the iSMART is housed in a 10.4inch head unit. The screen is designed with a vertical interface, unlike
horizontal in most cars. It replicates a smartphone we are so used to, and has both touch and voice command features,” adds Chaba.
The Hector also has an embedded MachinetoMachine SIM—the solution has been developed by Unlimit (a Reliance Group
company for IoT services), in partnership with Cisco Jasper and Airtel. The seamless connectivity, Chaba says, enables the user to
receive realtime software, entertainment content and app updates. “The Hector is the first car in India that is capable of doing over
theair software updates; these happen every three months. And right now while the Hector understands only English, perhaps in 69
months we will add regional languages, too.”
He adds that, with the Hector, the company has a firstmover advantage. “Agreed, many cars in India are in one way or the other
connected, but we have a distinct advantage. By way of analogy, consider a walkietalkie versus a smartphone — both devices are
used for communication, but how you communicate is vastly different,” he explains.
Other carmakers
While Hyundai and MG Motor have started this socalled connected car trend, all other carmakers will soon follow suit. The first is Kia
Motors of South Korea. Its first car for the Indian market, the Seltos (to be launched on August 22), has Venuelike connectivity
features. It gets a technology called the UVO that has 37 smart features under five categories: navigation, safety and security, vehicle
management, remote control, and convenience.
Later this year, Audi India might introduce a payperuse service for incar features, with the etron, its first electric car. Subject to
regulations, one can upgrade, say, the LED headlights to Matrix LED headlights, or from conventional turn signals to dynamic turn
signals (these are the features that don’t require hardware change). There will be an option to purchase these for varying periods—
monthly, annually or permanently—and all this will be possible from within the car, without connecting it to an external smart device.
The integration of internet with cars is opening up a gamut of possibilities. Since these systems have Artificial Intelligence and
machine learning capabilities to learn and improve user experiences over time, soon a car will cease to be a mere mobility device, and
turn into a whole new experience in connected mobility.
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(While most cars, going forward, will get advanced connectivity features, these make cars expensive, and in a pricedriven market
such as India these will remain optional buys for quite some time.)
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