The technological advancements coupled with the internet are evolving at a brisk pace. Today, the internet connects the entire world, and cars are no exception.

In 1996, General Motors came up with the idea of connected cars along with OnStar. The connected car industry was worth $53.9 billion in 2020 globally. Experts expect this figure to reach $166 billion by 2025 at a CAGR of 25.5% from 2020 to 2025.

In the upcoming segment, we will discuss connected vehicles, their features and benefits, technology, and other aspects. Keep reading.

In simple words, vehicles you can connect to the internet through Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) are called connected cars to make your life easier. For instance, you can remotely control certain functions via smartphone applications and communicate with other products. Additionally, they help you receive real-time information, connect your car with a dealership, and alert emergency services in the event of accidents.

Also, it is crucial to know that having car insurance is mandatory if you plan to buy a car in India, as per the Motor Vehicles Act of 1988. It offers financial protection against accidents, theft, traffic fines, and damage, thus safeguarding your investment.

A connected vehicle comprises an array of innovative and convenient specifications offering a range of benefits.

• Offers access to a variety of infotainment services
• Supports navigation system via third-party apps
• Features modern safety features to ensure optimum road safety
• Advanced safety specifications keep track of the vehicle even when you are not driving
• Allow remote access to a range of functions

Such high-end safety refinements will help you avoid filing frequent claims against your car insurance policy. This way, thanks to the No Claim Bonus (NCB) facility, you can also lower your premiums.

Automobile manufacturing companies employ two systems in connected vehicles -

1. Embedded connected car technology is equipped with a chipset and built-in antenna.
2. The tethered system is equipped with hardware that helps connect the driver’s smartphone to his car.

Further, a connected motor can send information, download software updates, connect with other devices (Internet of Things), and offer the driver and passengers a WiFi internet connection. Connected technology also allows access to telematics, which has been proven to be significantly beneficial for electric cars.

Automotive and information technology work collectively to assist connected cars to support different variants of communication technologies. They are -

• Vehicle to Vehicle (V2V): It exchanges real-time data between two connected vehicles and ensures safety.
• Vehicle to Infrastructure (V2I): This connectivity is crucial to maintaining your vehicle’s security. It connects with road infrastructure and shares or receives real-time traffic information, weather forecasts, speed limits, accidents and other details.
• Vehicle to Cloud (V2C): This connectivity works via a wireless LTE network and imparts information through the cloud. The primary purpose of V2C connectivity is to download over-the-air (OTA) car updates and remote vehicle inspections or connect with any IoT devices.
• Vehicle to Pedestrians (V2P): It is the latest addition and is equipped for safety. V2P detects pedestrians and offers collision warnings beforehand.
• Vehicle to Everything (V2X): All those mentioned above are known as V2X connectivity.

Individuals planning to buy connected vehicles can go through the list below to know which models are available in the Indian automobile market.

The following segment discusses the features of the connected car.

1. Safety

Connected vehicles suggest controlled driving speeds and distances to warn against any threatening conditions. Further, in a premium connected automotive, you will find parking sensors with rearview cameras. In some models, other sensors are installed to measure air pressure and notify the driver.

2. Traffic Management

The majority of modern cars are equipped with fixed GPS devices. These devices help with real-time traffic updates to the drivers and passengers via Bluetooth or wireless internet connections. Therefore, you can avoid congestion and reach your destination on time.

3. Vehicle to Vehicle Communication

Installed with vehicle-to-vehicle connectivity technology, connected cars can communicate with one another. This shares important data like traffic movement, road conditions, and speed limits.

4. Eco-friendly

Until today, many vehicles run on fuel, increasing carbon footprints significantly. In this regard, a connected automobile is a better alternative. It gives real-time data of people travelling in your direction waiting for a ride. Therefore, you can offer them a ride to reduce the emission rate.

5. Services

Experts predict that connected cars will further offer a seamless experience. Service stations will remotely inspect your vehicles. The vehicles will inform you about nearby parking spaces. In addition, advanced driver assistance systems will lower the burdens of driving, and your motor will give you details about hotels or restaurants along your route. Also, an electric-connected car informs us about the nearest charging points.

6. Infotainment

Several applications are available to offer music, radio plays, movies, news updates, texts or WhatsApp notifications, and other data to enhance your driving experience.

Due to such high-end connectivity technology, connected cars hamper the automobile industry. More and more Indians are inclined towards this vehicle type. Experts believe connected cars will primarily lead the automobile market due to their enhanced safety features in the upcoming years. Further, the next generation of 5G connectivity will help connected cars gain immense popularity.

However, connected motors have a high chance of getting hacked. Potential hackers can control the vehicles remotely, forcing the drivers to accelerate, brake or steer unnecessarily. This will, however, affect the safety aspect of connected cars.

Also, obtaining at least third-party car insurance coverage is advisable to ensure financial security in case of any unforeseen catastrophe.