Connected Car News: Porsche, Hyundai, Toyota, Aperia, TTTECh, mimik, SmartEye & Rightware

In connected car news are Porsche, Hyundai, Toyota, Aperia, TTTECh, mimik, SmartEye and Rightware.

More Porsche Connect Partner Servcies PCPS

With Porsche Connect Partner Services (PCPS), Porsche is creating further added value for its customers. The sports car manufacturer is enabling Porsche drivers to improve their personal digital experience using new services from third-party providers – including the use of personalised car data.

The customer has the option to turn their Porsche into a platform for innovative data-based services that make day-to-day driving easier, for example with a digital logbook or an insurance tariff based on the kilometres actually driven. Smart charging applications are also available for electric cars.

Porsche Connect Partner Services focusses on carefully selected partner services from the fields of insurance, smart charging, and on-demand services. Porsche is continually working on expanding these services in order to offer Porsche drivers bespoke data-based digital services. The following services can be used by Porsche customers right now:

Porsche Financial Services in co-operation with the HDI insurance company is offering the Porsche CarPolicy Flex insurance tariff. With this data-based insurance tariff, the insurance premium is calculated based on the kilometres actually driven. Billing is monthly, and termination is also possible on a monthly basis. This differentiates the tariff from many others on the market, providing control over ongoing car insurance costs at all times. The mileage is transmitted directly from the vehicle to the partner via an interface, with no additional hardware required. No information on driving behaviour or other data is transmitted to the partner.

The term smart charging applies to charging innovations enabled by the exchange of data between the car, the grid operator and the service provider. This includes, for example, adjusting the charging capacity to the current grid usage in order to avoid load peaks. It is already possible to control the charging process based on electricity tariffs that vary depending on the time. Providers make adjustments hourly based on the rates on the electricity exchanges. This means that the electric car is always charging at the best price. This smart charging application, which is already available, lowers the charging costs and makes an active contribution to the energy transition, because low electricity prices on the electricity exchange are mainly the result of a high proportion of green electricity in the grid. Porsche is currently working on co-operations that enable Porsche drivers to use dynamic smart charging tariffs. For example, Porsche is currently working on a co-operation with Kaluza. In future, the Kaluza platform will control the charging for Porsche drivers intelligently, starting the charging process when the cheapest and most environmentally friendly energy is available.

Additional on-demand services that make day-to-day driving easier are available to Porsche drivers. These include an overview of charging costs and a connection to the driver’s smartphone. Another application is the automatic creation of an electronic logbook. Via a direct interface, this data can be reported to the tax office if desired, which in turn facilitates tax calculation.

Porsche Connect Partner Services offers connections via the following partners:

  • Tronity (digital logbook and transparency of charging processes)
  • EEVEE (cost tracking for charging sessions)
  • Autologg (electronic logbook including copy for tax return)
  • A Better Route Planner (route planning for electric cars)

Porsche is continually working on extending its partner network. Porsche Connect Partner Services is currently available in the European Union and the US.

Bespoke applications and products that can provide a new digital customer experience based on car data are the prerequisite for these and many other services. The Porsche Taycan is already able to transmit car data approved by the customer directly to third parties. This data is available live and in real time in these third-party applications, significantly improving the quality of data-based services.

Porsche provides third parties with personalized car data via a special PCPS interface. This is carried out under strict compliance with the highest data protection standards. The customer always retains sovereignty over their data and decides which service providers receive access to specific vehicle data and for what purpose. This consent must be given explicitly and can be withdrawn at any time.

“Data protection that focuses on the digital self-determination of our customers is, in our view, the prerequisite for our customers to trust the diverse data-based services they can use in our vehicles. That’s why our customers’ data sovereignty is our top priority,” says Christian Völkel, Chief Privacy Officer at Porsche AG.

Hyundai Pay in Kona

Hyundai Motor America is bringing in-vehicle payments to customers with the introduction of Hyundai Payi. The Hyundai Pay system allows customers to find and pay for things with their vehicle’s touchscreen using securely stored credit card information. Hyundai has partnered with Parkopedia to launch Hyundai Pay’s first service, a new parking payment system. This system enables U.S. drivers to locate, reserve and pay for parking at 6,000 locations – all from inside their vehicle, after an initial set-up. Hyundai Pay launches with the all-new 2024 Hyundai Kona available in dealerships this fall. An additional nine Hyundai models will get Hyundai Pay via model year changes or over-the-air updates and include Parkopedia parking payment services. In the future, the Hyundai Pay platform will also have additional features and electric vehicle related use cases.

Hyundai Pay Platform Highlights

  • Offers customers features via the vehicle’s touchscreen and the Bluelink connected car system to enhance the driving experience
  • The scalable in-car payments system will expand to include other uses and selected scenarios that are part of daily drives and longer trips
  • Offering this level of convenience is part of Hyundai’s ongoing effort to create best-in-class digital ownership experiences
  • Offering easy-to-use payment options as part of navigation will simplify the driving experience
  • Payments are kept secure using tokenization (replacing card account details with a unique digital identifier, or token, that keeps data from being compromised)

Aperia New HQ

Aperia Technologies, Inc., a global leader in tire management solutions that improve the safety and efficiency of commercial vehicles, is pleased to announce the unveiling of its new company headquarters, a testament to its remarkable growth and commitment to pioneering innovation.

Strategically located in the heart of Silicon Valley, the move to the larger, state-of-the-art facility reinforces Aperia’s commitment to innovation and sustainability, and will accommodate the company’s rapid growth.

Aperia’s new headquarters doubles its footprint and will serve as the nerve center for consolidating all operations under one roof, facilitating seamless coordination and enhanced efficiency across various departments. Embodying Aperia’s commitment to sustainability, the facility boasts modern and eco-friendly design elements such as electric vehicle charging stations, skylights for energy efficiency, reduced waste through recycling initiatives, and an overall greener operational footprint.

TTTECh & mimik

TTTech Auto, the leading provider of automotive safety software, and mimik Technology Inc., the pioneer in hybrid edge cloud (HEC) solutions, are pleased to announce an exciting new partnership aimed at enhancing safety and transforming the driving experience of next-generation cars. Through the integration of mimik’s cutting-edge platform with TTTech Auto’s proven safety solutions, this collaboration will pave the way for unprecedented advancements in Software Defined Vehicle (SDV), driver assistance, and autonomous mobility.

TTTech Auto specializes in delivering state-of-the-art software, hardware, and services for future vehicle generations and the shift towards software-defined vehicles. Their innovative technology has been successfully deployed in millions of vehicles worldwide, making them a trusted partner for car manufacturers and automotive system integrators. TTTech Auto’s software solution centers around effectively handling the complexity inherent in SDVs through cutting-edge orchestration, communication, and safety frameworks. The MotionWise Safety Middleware is a proven solution deployed in over 2 million vehicles, with an additional secure pipeline for 9 million cars. Furthermore, Zetta Auto offers a unified solution for in-vehicle and V2X communication, leveraging Data Distribution Service (DDS), Time Sensitive Networking (TSN), and Zenoh protocol to ensure reliable end-to-end communication properties.

mimik is renowned for its innovative HEC platform and edgeEngine, which provide API gateways and a powerful continuous runtime environment. These tools are designed to deploy and run standard microservices on top of any operating system, including Android Auto and QNX. This capability makes it easy to decouple hardware from OS and application logic to achieve SDV. This innovation creates a seamless and efficient ecosystem for developers and automakers alike, allowing every aspect of automotive functions and mobility to be transformed into a function-as-a-service. The mimik edgeEngine allows for the exposure of compute resources, functions, and data through standard APIs, effectively creating a homogeneous view of otherwise fragmented silos of computing and OS. This integration occurs both within and outside the vehicle, allowing functions to interact and exchange knowledge seamlessly amongst themselves and with any cloud providers, therefore addressing interoperability challenges.

Development speed, coupled with safety, real-time capabilities, security, and system integrity, is a pivotal factor in realizing the promises of Software Defined Vehicles (SDVs). The collaboration between the companies aims to leverage the strengths of both companies’ technologies, striving to unveil an unparalleled development lifecycle. This is achieved while upholding the critical attributes of safety, security, real-time performance, and comprehensive end-to-end system properties at the E/E level. Furthermore, the partnership will focus on the exploration of mimik HEC in combination with MotionWise to provide edge-to-cloud technologies, facilitating seamless workload transition between the cloud and edge environments.

SmartEye Integrates AIS

Smart Eye, a leading developer of Driver Monitoring System (DMS) technology to the automotive industry, announced the integration of AIS – the company’s standalone hardware and software DMS for fleets – with Geotab’s industry-leading fleet management platform. This integration makes Smart Eye’s AIS available on the Geotab Marketplace, offering fleet customers a comprehensive solution for enhancing driver safety and performance.

Geotab is a global leader in connected transportation solutions, connecting over 3.7 million vehicles and processing more than 55 billion data points daily. With Geotab’s open platform, fleet managers gain near real-time vehicle data, in-vehicle driver coaching, fuel efficiency monitoring, predictive maintenance, fleet compliance tools and more. With the integration of Smart Eye’s AIS, customers can further optimize their fleet operations and improve driver safety.

AIS is Smart Eye’s comprehensive hardware and software driver monitoring system for fleet aftermarket installation. The AI-based algorithms analyze subtle changes in a driver’s head movements, eye gaze, and facial expressions to detect early signs of drowsiness and distraction in real-time. The system then alerts drivers at the earliest possible point, helping to reduce the likelihood of a potentially hazardous situation. AIS consists of a standalone camera unit and an Electronic Control Unit (ECU) with wireless connectivity, seamlessly integrating with fleet management systems. It uses Smart Eye’s proven automotive grade DMS software, built with state-of-the-art machine learning techniques and already successfully implemented in over 1,000,000 vehicles on the road.

AIS is compliant with Euro NCAP and GSR standards, ensuring its reliability. Moreover, it is a flexible and scalable AI-powered cabin safety system that can be effortlessly installed in minutes. Designed to reduce road accidents, AIS helps drivers perform to the best of their ability.

“We are excited to partner with Geotab and integrate our AIS driver monitoring system with their fleet management platform,” said Magnus Brunzell, VP of Applied AI Systems (AIS) at Smart Eye. “This collaboration allows us to bring our market leading DMS solution to Geotab’s extensive customer base, providing them with advanced driver monitoring capabilities that enhance safety and performance.”

“The Geotab Marketplace is designed to provide our customers with the power of choice. Smart Eye’s AIS DMS provides customers with a proven solution that promotes driver safety and helps optimize their operations,” said Robin Kinsey, Senior Manager, Geotab Marketplace. “The combination of Geotab’s industry-leading telematics and Smart Eye’s advanced DMS technology offers a powerful tool for fleet managers seeking to maximize safety and efficiency.”

Rightware Partners with Toyota

Rightware announced it has entered into an agreement with Toyota Motor Corporation for the use of its Kanzi One HMI software to create in-vehicle experiences for global models of the Toyota and Lexus brands.

As proven by the current generation of Toyota vehicles around the globe, the combination of Kanzi One and the unmatched automotive experience of the Kanzi Services team gives Toyota the flexibility and design capabilities to enhance their brand and delight drivers.

Rightware has a long history of focusing on the unique challenges of the automotive industry. With Kanzi One, Toyota was able to achieve the best possible graphics performance on cost-effective hardware platforms. Further, Toyota was able to create and maintain distinct UI modules, mixing and matching them to create instrument clusters for vehicle variants and models across diverse markets. This highly efficient workflow means reduced effort and faster time-to-market.

“Toyota is one of the world’s most iconic brands, and it is a tremendous honor for us to be part of that. Together, Rightware and Toyota deliver brilliant cockpit experiences for millions of drivers,” said Freddie Geier, CEO of Rightware. “The powerful combination of Kanzi One and the Kanzi Services team delivers competitive advantages to Toyota, taming the growing complexity of automotive design and development. We look forward to our continued collaboration with Toyota.”