When it comes to navigation and automotive innovation, the expectations and wishes of consumers play a central role. What good is it to develop the most beautiful technology or come up with the most creative ad-on if there is a lack of enthusiasm on the part of the user and the new tool simply doesn’t take off? The members of the NDS Association are committed to usability and user centricity. Developers and real-life application scenarios are essential for the further development of NDS.Live.
Reason enough to look at current consumer expectations in terms of navigation, connected cars, autonomous driving and more.
Connected cars are gaining in importance
Many experts believe that linking the automotive industry with connectivity technologies has great growth potential; manufacturers of the corresponding hardware and software solutions are likely to benefit from this development. The most widely used app integration platforms at the moment come from US tech companies Apple and Google but there are other players who are picking up speed and want a slice of the success pie. The market volume in vehicle-based connected services is set to increase noticeably by 2030. This growth will be strongest in China. The market volume is expected to grow from 700 million US dollars in 2017 to around 40 billion US dollars in 2030.
Overall, the willingness to switch car brands for connected car services has increased during the past years. If the built-in solutions for navigation and entertainment do not meet expectations, loyalty to the actual preferred car brand suffers massively. 30 to 40 percent of people in Europe and the USA would even change car manufacturers just to satisfy their infotainment needs on the road. When it comes to connected services, German drivers attach particular importance to traffic information and help in the event of a breakdown.
A study by data service provider J.D. Power shows just how important the ease of use of infotainment and navigation systems has become. According to the study, the satisfaction of car buyers in the USA has fallen significantly for the first time in three decades. One of the main reasons: the operation of infotainment and navigation systems had become too complex for car owners.
No way around software and autonomous driving
Recent autonomous vehicle forecasts call for sales of more than 30 million autonomous vehicles in 2040. The sharpest gains are expected to occur after 2030 compared to one million in 2025. With the ever-increasing focus on software and artificial intelligence in vehicles, the biggest competitors to automotive companies are now increasingly coming from the technology sector. The electrical and electronic (E/E) vehicle architecture is increasingly based on trends from the computer industry. While previous generations of vehicles often used separate small control units from different suppliers for each new function, in future, powerful vehicle computers will increasingly be used on which the individual functions are implemented as pure software modules.
Reliable partnerships and solid data concepts are needed
According to a study by NTT Group and tecknowlogy / PAC almost half of all drivers state that new and innovative connected car services matter more in their choice of brand than traditional criteria such as engine power. But there are also data protection concerns: While 89 percent are comfortable with sharing their vehicle diagnostic data, almost the same percentage (86 percent) of consumers are deeply concerned about the prospect of their personal data being shared with third parties. A reliable data standard is needed. NTT recommends: “Digital services are a possibility for an OEM to differentiate with own added-value services. Finding out when to leverage partnerships to be able to concentrate on core competencies in the connected services landscape is one key to customer experience.”
What matters now: integration of navigation and infotainment systems
The integration of navigation and infotainment systems into a single solution is therefore becoming increasingly important. A single system not only offers a consistent user interface, which makes it easier to use and minimizes distractions. Seamless integration also reduces the need to switch between different systems, which improves efficiency and the user experience.
Data integration is also a major advantage. A common system can share and process data more efficiently, for example, using traffic information to integrate arrival times into calendar entries. Such systems can also better implement advanced functions such as taking personal preferences into account or optimizing routes based on real-time data.
Safety aspects also play a major role. An integrated system can link safety-related information directly to the navigation system, thus improving the driver’s response times. Automated notifications that prioritize safety alerts and other relevant information are also possible.
Technological developments, such as the increasing connectivity and proliferation of the Internet of Things (IoT), require closer integration of systems to realize the full potential of these technologies. Vehicles of the future, especially autonomous vehicles, will require seamless integration of navigation and infotainment systems to function efficiently and safely. Linking these systems will thus lead to an improved user experience, increased safety and better utilization of the available technologies.
NDS.Live offers you these advantages
In the NDS.Live Developer Portal you can find out more about the possibilities and functions of NDS.Live.
Back to news →