According to Scott Frank, VP of Airbiquity, a developer of autonomous-vehicle software solutions, all eyes are currently fixed on autonomous vehicles. However, the reality is they are still at least 10 years out from full level-5 autonomy.
Before car makers and drivers can realize the benefits of an autonomous future, the focus must be on laying the most critical foundation of the connected car ecosystem. This is accepted and noted as the next wave of technological innovation: over-the-air (OTA) software and data updates.
Research indicates OTA is projected to save automakers over $35 billion by 2022. Cost savings are only one reason automakers cannot afford to overlook OTA. An equally critical reason is relevance. For the first time in the industry, OTA enables the collection and transmission of vehicle-centric data, allowing automakers to learn and engage with the driver in ways they have yet to realize. According to Airbiquity, everything from recall mitigation to cybersecurity updates, insurance benefits, vehicle diagnostics, and connection with the smart home, just to name a few, will become common place for the driver within a couple years.
To further clarify and demonstrate the topic, Airbiquity has developed the infographic below. A video is also available.
