M2M and its transformative effect on the automotive industry

Last updated: 26 January 2023

Earlier this week on the blog we brought you news from the ITS European Congress in Helsinki, where Gemalto demonstrated live interoperability of the Cinterion(TM) automotive Grade M2M modules to the 112-based eCall and ERA-GLONASS vehicle emergency calling system. Delegates at the conference were shown how the technology is now able to interact with both European and Russian systems, which could help to keep millions more drivers safe over the years ahead.

This is a great example of how M2M can find practical uses within the automotive industry, but it is far from the only one. In fact, one could argue that transport is the sector in which M2M technology stands to make the biggest difference in the years ahead. Here are a few more examples:

Car-sharing

We have already begun to see car-sharing or peer-to-peer car hire schemes powered by location-based apps. However, in the near future, convenience could be further enhanced by issuing users with a digital car key which is securely sent to their phone. When the user arrives at their chosen vehicle, they would simply tap the smartphone near the windshield to authenticate their identity and open the doors, before giving another tap to start up the ignition.

Usage-based insurance

Another M2M innovation which is already making its way into cars is usage-based insurance (UBI). Using M2M-enabled telematics, insurers are able to assess their drivers’ likelihood of suffering accidents based on the amount and the way that they drive.

Until very recently, UBI has been calculated based on data from on-board diagnostic ports, but drivers in some US states can now take advantage of mobile  apps which can give insurers sufficient information for some of the use cases.

En route information

Whilst en route to their destination, drivers can receive audio alerts for nearby accidents, with their navigation system then suggesting an adjusted route, which could even  include parking the car and switching to public transportation if it’s quicker.

The dawn of driverless

Despite concerns over their introduction, driverless cars really arent a long way off. Google recently showed-off its two-seater, 25 mph effort, and this will doubtless be followed by other manufacturers own attempts. Toyota, Audi and Mercedes are just a few of the big names racing to put a driverless car on the road, so the dream of being able to take your hands off the wheel and relax may only be a few short years away.

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