Page 33 - Traffic Infra Tech Magazine

INTERVIEW

of cutting-edge, industry-first features perspective, at least – is about drastic
that promise to deliver safe, connected, changes at all. In fact, I feel the
and fun experiences to MG customers. entire point of connected mobility
The Hector’s 10.4-inch touchscreen is the added seamlessness, comfort, Our aim is to integrate
is the largest in the industry and is and convenience that cutting-edge MG’s European design
designed for unmatched seamlessness technology can deliver to enhance the
and intuitiveness. Users can access all in-car driving experience for customers. philosophy with the
the critical vehicle information – such As far as establishing MG Motor in specific personal mobility
as tyre pressure, door lock status, air the Indian market goes, we already
conditioner, driver analytics etc. – at a have a long and illustrious history requirements of our
glance and can even manage all vehicle in the country as a marquee British Indian customers. In
settings with just one touch. carmaker. What we are doing right
Similarly, the next-generation now is building on this legacy by using essence, we are designing
iSMART technology, which serves as technology as our key differentiator. cars for Indians, by
the nerve centre of the Hector, ensures Since our relaunch in India in 2017, Indians. This end-to-end
that the car is always connected, even technological innovation has been one
under low-signal conditions. Through of the key areas of focus in our quest approach has helped us
the iSMART mobile app, customers can to become the automotive brand of
also remotely check the vehicle status, the future. in establishing MG Motor
geo-fence their vehicle, start ignition MG Hector, for instance, comes as a domain-leading
and pre-heat, and open the sunroof equipped with 50+ innovative tech
and tailgate. features, including 19 exclusive features automotive brand within
The Hector also features the ‘IQ that haven’t been seen before in the a short time since its
Maps’ feature powered by TomTom. Indian market. We have also partnered relaunch in India.
Considered the most advanced online with Adobe for its entire suite of Adobe
and offline voice-activated navigation Experience Cloud solutions, becoming
system, it provides accurate traffic and the first automotive player in India to
travel time calculations in real-time. do so. Through this digital integration, What are the unique factors
While users can search for their desired we are facilitating a seamless, end- incorporated in this car which will
destinations through either text-based to-end customer journey across all redefine industry standards on
inputs or a simple voice search, ‘IQ touchpoints – including the revamped safety?
Maps’ leverages its intuitive search MG brand website, dealer websites,
logic to simplify searches in cases and digital screens – and amplifying The iSMART technology has been
where users misspell a query. our customer outreach. developed by Unlimit in partnership
Then we have pre-loaded On the production front, we have with Cisco on its Jasper platform with
infotainment and weather apps such invested more than INR 2,200 crore Airtel as the telecom partner. This IoT-
as Gaana and Accuweather to provide in our Halol manufacturing unit to set based connectivity solution acts as the
customers with access to in-car music up a brand-new assembly line, press Hector’s centralised hub for all smart
and weather forecasts. All of this shop, body shop, and parts distribution operations and automatically switches
is backed by the revolutionary OTA centre, as well as a testing track and between available networks to facilitate
technology, which enables users to a state-of-the-art training facility. We seamless connectivity at all times.
seamlessly update software/firmware, have also set up a captive vendor park This, combined with the ‘IQ Maps’,
features, themes, and infotainment at the facility with a view of introducing ensures that MG customers are never
content in real-time. deeper localisation for our existing lost, regardless of where they are.
How do you plan to establish a and upcoming India-centric products, The iSMART mobile app also comes
new car brand in a market like including the Hector. equipped with a geo-fencing feature
India where you have established Although we are always open to that allows customers to define an
players? various business opportunities, we area beyond which the vehicle cannot
Despite the revolution that they are do not intend to create such revenue be moved without the owner’s
heralding in the automotive space, I streams at present. We are currently authorisation.
don’t feel that the advent of internet focused on providing the best We have also factored in the
cars in India – from the end-user’s experience to our customers in India. growing risk posed by cyber threats

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