Mobile Magazine November 2020 | Page 53

INTERNAL CONNECTIVITY
53
INTERNAL CONNECTIVITY
The idea of the connected car has been around since 1996 , when General Motors and Motorola launched OnStar as a way of reliably alerting roadside assistance when an airbag was deployed . It was simple , effective , and connected a car with an external entity . However , the definition of a connected car hasn ’ t remained so clear cut .
As modern vehicles become increasingly digital , a connected car can contain dozens of intelligent systems that need to be connected to one another in a functional ecosystem just as much as they require a connection to the world beyond the vehicle . “ There are more lines of software code in a modern car than in a commercial airplane – from pollution avoidance solutions , through comfort and safety features , to in-car entertainment and satellite navigation ,” notes Warburton .
Andreas Minatti , Head of Business Development , Business Unit Mobility , at Swiss auto parts manufacturer Datwyler , agrees . “ As the automotive industry moves away from internal combustion engines to new electric and hybrid vehicles , creating seamless
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