Vehicle technologies continue to shape the specialty-equipment industry with the breakthrough of advanced products. SEMA’s most recent completed webinar, “Telematics: Vehicle Technology That Will Impact Your Business,” presented by Derek Kaufman, president of C3 Network Inc., explores telematics and how it could affect the way your business moves forward in a technologically advancing industry.
“Derek walks us through the robust applications in vehicle Wi-Fi, green driving and planning, advanced GPS and how telematics could change the way we buy and own cars and, ultimately, how this new technology is going to impact your business,” said Nathan Ridnouer, SEMA senior director of member services.
Kaufman defines telematics in automotive terms—the ability to establish two-way connection with a moving vehicle. Telematics is applied in GPS tracking, GPS navigation, GPS stolen vehicle tracking, green commuting, DSRC traffic and road conditions, entertainment, vehicle-to-vehicle communication and a number of additional applications.
The presentation identifies the following tips and trends regarding telematics in the near future:
- Smart OEMs will offer a “wired-for-telematics” option
- Connect your product to a vehicle’s value
- Connect to rising fuel prices
- Meet a hacker
- Think partnership, not empire
- Go open source
- Expand the notion of CSI
“From a business case standpoint, we obviously see smart OEMs beginning to do a wired-for-telematics type of option,” said Kaufman. “We think that longer term, if you are connecting your product to a vehicle’s value so that you can do a real-time Kelley Blue Book on the car for what you have added to it, that is very interesting."
SEMA's Next Webinar
The automotive industry is undergoing one of the most rapid and significant structural changes in decades. "The Specialty Equipment Supplier of the Future," the final report for Phase I of the SEMA Center for Automotive Research (CAR) Research Program, highlights several important insights expected to shape the specialty-equipment industry in the next three to seven years, including body and chassis electronics integration, OEM-aftermarket collaboration and new customization opportunities with more models produced from fewer platforms.
Tune into the "Specialty Equipment Automotive Company of the Future: Guideposts for Strategic Planning (Phase I)" webinar to learn more about the trends, challenges and solutions facing your industry.
When: Thursday, January 15, 2009, 10:00 a.m.—11:00 a.m. (PST)
Presenter: Brett Smith, CAR Assistant Director, Manufacturing, Engineering and Technology, and Richard Wallace, CAR Senior Project Manager.
Moderator: John Waraniak, SEMA Vice President of Vehicle Technology
To register: Click Here