Supplier Opportunities in the Connected Car Sector

As smartphones become more prevalent and consumers look for greater interconnectivity between their ‘devices’ and their cars, its solutions from suppliers and OEMs that will drive real change

The number of global users of telematics smartphone applications will increase from 3.2 million in 2011 to 129 million in 2016 according to figures from ABI Research.  With virtually all automakers launching new telematics products within the past 12 months, the pace of the industry is rapidly expanding, fuelled by an increased consumer understanding of applications and a simplified purchase value chain through established Apple and Android application stores.  This article considers where the opportunities for suppliers lie, where the strategic areas for R&D are switching to, the shifting structure of the value chain and the triggers for change.