Automotive industry leaders met at the annual National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) in Orlando, Florida, last week. Among the latest technology showcased was a new online in-vehicle diagnostic system. To make the project a success, major American automotive companies are calling a truce and joining forces to make one of the most important breakthroughs in automotive technology in this millennium.
The system will enable car owners to communicate with auto dealerships and automakers when they need to have their car serviced or when the dealership/company wants to inform its consumers about factory recalls. When the option becomes available, in 2003, according to industry sources, it will be cheaper than the cheapest online in-vehicle device, such as the Global Positioning System available in some cars today. GPS can cost between $1,000 and $2,000 these days. The new service and device is expected to cost between $300 and $500.
Along with IT giants IBM, Motorola, Intel and Newgen, automotive companies have teamed up to make this high-tech dream become a reality. IBM will be the system integrator while Motorola and Intel provide the wireless and online services for the device. Newgen will act as the electronic liaison that consumers will use to communicate with their respective dealerships/companies.
Let's say you want to embark on a long-distance trip. Before you leave, you want to make sure that the car is up to task. With your in-vehicle system, you will be able to do an instant check-up on your car. With a few swift button presses, and within seconds, the computer will have checked all car parts. The system will give a detailed report, such as: "The radiator is malfunctioning. If you do not get it serviced within the next 50 miles, it could be severely damaged. Would you like me to check what the nearest service stations are?"
If you choose yes, the car would give you a readout within seconds. Select one service station, and the computer begins making the appointment and giving you directions on how to get there. Welcome, New Age Drivers.
Of course, the dealers will only install the service stations they want as options, and that's the catch. Independent dealers and stations will be left out.
Obviously, many parties have to merge their respective services in order for this service to work. So what brings about this automotive merger of sorts? A third party that is slowly becoming more of a threat to independent dealerships. That third party happens to be online dotcom auto dealers. Online dealer websites have gotten so popular that they are moving out of simply being auto-selling services to also maintaining servicing for automobiles as well. In order to root out this threat, it seems that the major companies have decided to gang together to get rid of their new technological foe.
In the hyper-consumer culture of the West, the main gain from this marriage of technology and automotive industries is to provide a medium for direct, constant contact between dealers and customers. The in-vehicle device is a mixed blessing, making maintenance easier in some respects but also allowing dealers to be in contact with consumers at any time and any place.
Consumers will be able to check their auto updates/messages that may have been sent from their respective dealerships from anyplace because the cars are always connected to the Internet. That means people will be able to use their personal computers, Palm Pilots, office computers, and other gadgets in their cars as well.
The potential of the invention coupled with its low price will make the on-line system the next must-have car trend of the future.
Automotive industry leaders met at the annual National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) in Orlando, Florida, last week. Among the latest technology showcased was a new online in-vehicle diagnostic system. To make the project a success, major American automotive companies are calling a truce and joining forces to make one of the most important breakthroughs in automotive technology in this millennium.