We all have a connection with our cars –some people even name them, but now we can get truly connected. Audi and other luxury Manufacturers have had connected apps for a while but now we are seeing it enter the mainstream with Ford launching their FordPass Connect into New Zealand, initially on new Ranger, Everest and Transit models. In the connected systems the vehicles have a built-in modem and simcard. In the case of Ford, it is a global sim, so works across both Spark and Vodafone networks. With the appropriate FordPass app on an iOS or Android phone, the driver can lock and unlock the vehicle, remote start the engine (if an automatic), check various levels including fuel, tyre pressure (if the car has tyre pressure monitoring), find the car and see traffic alerts via the car’s satnav system. They can also book a service, read the owner’s manual and do more. Additional features can be added from the server end over time.

These are early days for the technology and I am sure the car companies will come up with more features to add over time. What might we see? Could we one day download footage from the dashcam to recreate the last journey, maybe also download the trip data from the gps, and reprogram some of the car’s settings from the couch (maybe limit the speed for when your child is driving!). Apple has recently set up a vehicle key system on the iPhone (currently just with BMW) where your phone becomes the key – one less thing to carry. If we add features like Tesla’s remote summon, where the car comes to you, the connection to our car may be the only relationship we need.

Cathy