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                                         According to Walthart,   connectivity were all once   World Economic Forum
                                        “We  see  the  same  demand   considered technologies of   report, India stands at the
                                        of connectivity in India   the distant future. As they   61st position in terms of
                                        like in Europe, China or   rapidly become a reality, Kia   global road quality. Lastly,
                                        US. Therefore, we plan to   is exploring how to deploy   with sensitive data at stake,
                                        introduce ‘Mercedes me’ also   these new technologies for   there is an urgent need of
                                        in India in 2019/20.”     its customers. Our strategy   defined law enforcement that
                                         Speaking on the general   and vision for future mobility   is  policies  and  regulations,
                                        relationship   between    is demonstrated by a range of   before these next gen cars roll
                                        telematics   companies    interactive displays, showing   out on thestreets.
                                        and OEMs evolving in the   what our customers can look   Indeed, the hurdles make
                                        coming years. Walthart said,   forward to,” said Woong-chul   connected cars a farfetched
                                        “The relationship between   Yang, Vice Chairman and   dream for the Indian market
                                        telematics  companies  and   Head of Kia R&D Center.  as of now. The market is not
                                        OEM is already very strong.   Road Ahead             yet luxury driven and there is
                                        As  you see  in  our service                         a considerable demand for
                                        portfolio we send data to   No change comes without   “value for money”. Also, the
                                        telematics companies and we   its set of hurdles. Connected   connectivity offerings in India
                                        receive data from them. So,   Cars have their roadblocks to   are mostly app based, it is the
                                        there is a strong relationship   cross that may be more in case   need of the hour to focus on
                                        so serve good services to our   of India, which is a developing   more pressing issues such as
                                        customers with a big value.   country. The foremost concern   safety and security in auto
                                                                  is the lack of infrastructure. To
                                         “For each market, we have   implement OEM in connected   space.  This  in  turn  demands
                                        to find collaborations with   cars, there is a requirement of   for a physical and technical
                                        local  partners  and  also  each   basic infrastructure. The Indian   infrastructure up gradation.
                                        market has some specific   market is quite complex with   The industry players justify
                                        demands.  For  example,  in   frequent reforms amendment.   this lack of progress to no
                                        India we will offer the service   This in turn affects the pricing   real demand and not finding
                                        “remote engine start” so the   of vehicles and thus, the   enough reasons to make heavy
                                        customer can start the engine   buying patterns. To run a   investments.  The  telematics
                                        the ‘Mercedes me’ app to start   connected car, Internet is as   market is an unexplored arena
                                        the climate control before   important as fuel. The basic   in  India.  The  focus  is  now
                                        entering the car. This demand   requirement of Internet for a   shifting from cheap imported
                                        is not requested in Europe.                          hardware to quality of user
                                                                  connected car is 4G network,
                                         Korean car manufacturer   also known as LTE. However,   experience. This market has a
                                        Kia has also unveiled plans   in India most of the places   massive potential which when
                                        to introduce an entire range   have 2G network, especially   unlocked will benefit all who
                                        of connected car models by   the highways and rural areas.   are a part of the connected
                                        2030. By 2025, Kia will adopt   This slow connectivity can pose   car ecosystem.
                                        connected car technologies   a major hindrance for smooth   The Government has a key
                                        across every vehicle segment,   functioning of connected   role in evolution of Connected
                                        and by 2030 the aim is to   cars. India as of now lacks   Vehicle Technology. Advanced
                                        make every single model a   infrastructure that is required   connectivity features to enable
                                        connected car.            for connected cars. A serious   vehicle to infrastructure
                                         “Kia’s connected cars    lack of proper road markings   communication or Vehicle to
                                        will be both boundless and   and proper sensor networks   traffic system communication
                                        connected and offer a new   positioning is a primary   or autonomous driving will
                                        kind of mobility experience.   hurdle in the implementation   reach its true potential with
                                        Virtual reality, self-driving cars,   of  technologies like  V2X.   the advent of 5G.
                                        and ‘vehicle-to-everything’   According to 2015-2016              Preeti Swaminathan




              www.trafficinfratech-com-500653.hostingersite.com                                                             April - May ’19 / TrafficInfraTech  25
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