Peugeot Citroën prepares for in-car apps with Sierra Wireless
French car manufacturer PSA Peugeot Citroën plans to deploy device-to-cloud technology to support its connected car strategy
Vehicle manufacturer PSA Peugeot Citroën aims to extend in-car connectivity with Sierra Wireless’s Legato platform.
The service will enable Peugeot Citroën to provide customers with downloadable apps, available via the Sierra Wireless AirVantage cloud service.
According to Sierra Wireless, AirVantage provides device management application with interactive dashboards that make it easy to deploy, monitor and upgrade automotive systems and services.
Since the introduction of its in-vehicle emergency notification systems in 2003, Peugeot, Citroën vehicles have sent more than 13,000 alerts to emergency services operating in 17 European countries, the automotive manufacturer said.
The new services expand this and will be available in vehicles from 2017.
“Our long collaboration with Sierra Wireless has enabled us to offer our customers leading-edge technology that not only helps keep them safer, but now could also provide connected services that deliver additional value,” said Brigitte Courtehoux, director of the connected cars and services business unit for PSA Peugeot Citroën.
Consumers want connected cars
Sierra Wireless has provided Peugeot Citroën with wireless connectivity for its cars, together with application support and remote management. According to Courtehoux, these enable Peugeot Citroën to offer services efficiently and cost-effectively. Other manufactures that use Sierra Wireless’ AirVantage automotive products include Chrysler with uConnect Toyota (Safety Connect), Lexus (Enform), BMW (Car HotSpot), Renault (R-Link) and Volvo (OnCall).
Value-added software services, available as downloadable apps, represent a shift in car ownership and the way cars are sold and supported, a report from Telefónica found in July 2014. In a survey of drivers for the report, 70% said they were interested in connected car technologies. Connectivity to smartphones, tablets and emergency services are among the immediate benefits car makers can offer through connected car technologies.
But many car makers see an opportunity to sell additional services to car owners for the life of the vehicle, available as downloadable apps, mirroring the app stores popularised by Apple and Google.
Read more about connected cars
- IT has always tried to align with the business but, for Klas Bendrik, group CIO at Volvo Cars, it seems business has aligned with IT.
- Juniper Research study finds integrated in-vehicle connectivity and apps will become standard in new cars by the end of 2018.
- Autonomous connected vehicles will be launched on the market in 2016, the head of the Renault-Nissan Alliance tells Mobile World Congress.
One of the benefits of the internet of things (IoT) in the car is car-to-car machine-to-machine communications. Kia Motors CTO Henry Bzeih – who contributed to the report – said: "Vehicle-to-vehicle communication is going to grow very quickly in the next five years.
"The beauty of that technology is that the communication protocol can be used for a host of other services beyond vehicle communication, so it benefits the wider infrastructure."
