Auburn Hills’ Fiat Chrysler Automobiles today announced it will use HARMAN (Samsung) and Google technologies to deliver a new global “ecosystem” that will enhance the connected life of FCA vehicle owners.
“By selecting industry leaders such as Samsung and Google, we are making an efficient and responsible utilization of capital to provide advanced technological solutions to our customers worldwide,” says Harald Wester, chief technical officer at FCA. “In collaboration with HARMAN-Samsung and Google, we have developed a flexible, easy-to-use and connected ‘ecosystem’ that not only deploys today’s technology, but is also ready to integrate upcoming innovations.”
The system is designed to manage in-vehicle and additional data using an architecture based on the HARMAN Ignite cloud-based platform. FCA says it will deliver an enhanced user experience that will assist owners by predicting maintenance needs, locating fuel and charging stations, receiving traffic prompts and restaurant offers, and providing live customer-care assistance at the push of a button.
Vehicles also can receive over-the-air software updates, ensuring owners benefit from new capabilities and the latest software applications.
The global platform will offer owners 4G network connectivity and support the evolution to 5G, is homologated for all regions, and will integrate with any service provider around the world. The off-board system also has the capability to interact with future smart cities’ infrastructure, as well as household devices via Samsung’s Smart Things platform.
Dealers, fleet operators, and service providers also will benefit from the features delivered through the new cloud-based connectivity.
The new system will be powered by Android, offering an app-based environment that provides fresh content via OTA updates, fast interaction, and seamless wireless integration with the customer’s mobile devices. It also will be expandable, allowing for new capabilities in autonomous driving initiatives, electrification, and connected services.
The automaker says key components of the system will start to rollout in phases across global regions during the second half of 2019. All-new FCA vehicles will be connected by 2022.
FCA and Guangzhou Automobile Group (GAC) also today announced that their manufacturing and sales joint venture companies in China will be operated as a single unit as of May 1, with Massimiliano Trantini as president and Zhang Zongsheng as executive vice president.