In the Fast Lane: How Samsung is Driving the Connected Car Trend

Your car might not be able to drive it self just yet, but the automobiles of the near future will be very different from the ones drivers are used to getting around in today. That’s because everyone from automobile manufacturers to IT companies to city planners are developing a variety of new technologies and methods that will make cars far more digitally connected. Samsung is working hard to lead this trend and showcased its connected car service, as well as its most recent partnerships at its “The Car, Connected” event at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona on February 22.

Mok Oh, Vice President of New Services, Samsung Electronics’ Enterprise Business, welcomes visitors to Samsung’s “Car, Connected” event at MWC 2016.

Safety First

Equipped with internet connectivity and software that enable drivers to stream music, look up traffic and weather conditions, prevent their teenagers from texting and even power driving-assistance services such as self-parking, the connected car is providing entirely new value to drivers.

Furthermore, utilizing driving data lowers costs to insurance and third-party service providers, disrupting the automobile market. Growing at a compound annual growth rate of 30 percent, this next generation vehicle is creating massive new business opportunities and making consumers rethink the way they drive.

Samsung’s Connect Auto service features an app that allows users to monitor their driving habits and helps them improve their driving behavior.

Samsung, too, is hoping to transform transportation with its new connected car solution, Samsung Connect Auto. Slated to launch in the second quarter of this year, starting in the US, Samsung Connect Auto uses real-time alerts to help consumers improve their driving behavior, including increased fuel efficiency, while offering a Wi-Fi hotspot and other features to create a multimedia center for the car. And what’s better is it plugs directly into the on-board diagnostics connector making it compatible with most automobiles on the road today.

Hyesung Ha, Senior Vice President of Samsung’s Enterprise Business, discusses the importance of privacy and security in the connected car industry.

Despite these benefits, some consumers are hesitant to utilize connected car technologies. Delivering the keynote speech at Samsung’s connected car event, Hyesung Ha, Senior Vice President of Samsung’s Enterprise Business, noted a McKinsey report that found two main reasons for consumers’ hesitations are privacy and safety.

“We understand our success depends on consumers’ trust in us and the products and services that we provide,” Ha explained. “The data and information of users is our top priority, and we work hard to safeguard the valuable information of our consumers.”

Samsung has taken steps to reassure hesitant consumers by securing Samsung Connect Auto with eSE (embeded Secure Element) based on Samsung KNOX, the most robust mobile security platform in the world. This essentially creates a firewall protecting hackers from accessing Samsung Connect Auto, preventing user data from falling in to the wrong hands.

Representatives of Samsung’s partner companies share their insights as automotive industry leaders on trends, challenges, benefits and the future of the connected car.

A Connected Ecosystem for a Truly Connected Car

Yet, even when armed with the technology and security needed to power a connected vehicle, the industry cannot fully thrive without a connected ecosystem. As such, Samsung is taking the reins to build a linked network of carriers, insurance companies, roadside assistance operators and maintenance networks that responds to the changing demands of current and potential automobile owners.

Representatives from Samsung’s major partner companies, including FCA Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, Willis Towers Watson, AT&T, SEAT, Cisco and Tantalum Corporation were part of a panel discussion at the event and explored how always-on automobiles have already begun to improve road safety and change driving behaviors for the better. The panel also touched on the existing challenges and potential benefits for all parties involved. Insurers, for example, can not only provide potential discounts to their current customers, but also new services to customers who are willing to opt-in and share their driving behavior data from their connected car.

By bridging the gaps between consumer electronics, IoT, and the automotive industries, Samsung is transforming the always-on automobile to be safe, secure, eco-friendly and productive.

In its establishment of valuable partner relationships, Samsung is helping to bridge the gap between the automotive, consumer electronics and IoT industries by making its products and partner services seamlessly integrated for a driving experience that is safe, secure, eco-friendly and, of course, fun.

And while this is only the beginning of the connected car era, the future of the industry is bright. With experts predicting that all cars will be connected in the not-too-distant future, there are huge opportunities for new applications and services that take advantage of this always-on connection. Samsung Connect Auto, as well as the technology leader’s efforts to build a diverse, connected ecosystem, is a step in the right direction. Through these endeavors, the company will bring the car into the already connected world of smartphones, smart homes and wearables, ultimately allowing the automobile to be the next part of the IoT revolution.