Connected Vehicles 2024 Exclusive Content

In this interview, Nitish Sundarasan, Head of Connected Cockpit at Automobili Pininfarina, explains how super-luxury OEMs are redefining connected vehicle strategies to meet high customer expectations and drive profitability.

Discussion Highlights:

• Strategic considerations for prioritising connected vehicle features and services in the super-luxury automotive segment.
• Importance of delivering high-value, customer-centric features to meet luxury customer expectations.
• Unique challenges faced by luxury car manufacturers in translating connectivity investments into measurable business outcomes.
• Role of industry collaboration in overcoming obstacles and enhancing connectivity offerings.
• Strategies for OEMs to effectively manage costs while maintaining profitability.
• Criteria for selecting connectivity solutions that promise the highest return on investment.
• The significance of understanding customer needs and feedback to develop and refine features that genuinely enhance the luxury driving experience.

In an era where the number of connected services available in vehicles is rapidly expanding, Nayuta Yamasaki Manager - Connected Services Engineering at Nissan Technical Centre Europe, sheds light on the current landscape and future directions. In this interview, Yamasaki discusses the diverse range of connected services offered by European OEMs, including information services, remote control capabilities, and advanced security features. He highlights the growing focus on cloud-based solutions and Feature-on-Demand services as key areas for future development.

Yamasaki also explores how European OEMs are prioritising the integration of these services to balance revenue generation with enhancing customer experience. He outlines the factors influencing the monetisation of connected services, including customer needs, competitive pressures, and cost considerations. Furthermore, he touches on emerging themes such as autonomy and drive assistance, the role of tech companies and big data in shaping service strategies, and the evolving dynamics between subscription models and one-time payments. This conversation offers valuable insights into how the automotive industry is adapting to the evolving demands of connected technology.

In this exclusive interview with Ahsan Qamar and Rajesh Vijayan Balaji at Ford Motor Company and Automotive IQ, the pair delve into the transformative era of software-defined vehicles (SDVs) and connected vehicle technology. With their answers combined, Ahsan and Rajesh share insights into the profound impact of SDVs on in-vehicle architecture, emphasising the shift towards a software focused and connected vehicle framework.

Exploring the strategies and methodologies employed by OEMs to adapt to this paradigm shift, they shed light on the future trends and advancements in the integration of connected vehicle technology within the software-defined vehicle ecosystem.

From the abstraction of hardware to the crucial role of connectivity, this interview offers a comprehensive look into the evolution of automotive engineering and how Ford Motor Company is strategically positioning itself in this rapidly evolving market.