Is the car the next IoT device?

In Australia, there are currently one million connected cars on the road.

By 2030, this number is expected to grow to over 10M – that’s a dramatic increase in just eight short years.

Let’s start by explaining what a ‘connected car’ is.

In a nutshell, they are cars which have a built-in modem that connects directly to the internet.

This allows cars to observe, learn and get smarter over time, ultimately using this data to enable cars to become safer overtime, too.

Connected cars are usually connected via WLAN (Wireless Local Area Network) and are able to access the internet with other devices both inside and outside the car.

And while autonomous vehicles are widely thought to be the future of mobility, it’s clear that connected cars are here and now.

Connected cars allow manufacturers to gather data, observe, and monitor cars to make them safer over time.

Once this data is collected, cars of the future will become smarter and safer, perhaps ultimately leading to autonomous vehicle use.

In Australia alone, connected cars being released in 2021/2022 include the Ford Everest, Mitsubishi Outlander and Toyota Yaris Cross.

So, what can a connected car offer?

● Security: Connected cars can provide real-time location tracking, emergency 000 calls in case of emergency and roadside assistance.

● Mechanic health check: Car diagnostics and maintenance information, including warning lights, overall health report and scheduled service notifications.

● Entertainment: Multiple pre-loaded entertainment services or apps, internet radio, music, and connecting your smartphone to your car’s infotainment system.

● Smartphone app to car connectivity: Car manufacturers now provide a dedicated smartphone app that can connect to your car through a wireless network. This works in multiple ways, including: locking / unlocking the car, engine start / stop, and climate control. It can even help to locate your car via the GPS.

● ‘Curfew alert’: This alerts owners if their car is being driven after a set ‘curfew time’, allowing for added peace of mind. For example: parents of teenage children will be notified if their car is driven without their permission.

The connected car future is coming, arguably it’s already here.

Will you get onboard?

Andrew Wong is the founder of Koba Insurance.