- • Will incorporate Samsung Electronics innovative ‘Drive Link’ technology for enhanced driver experience
- • Integrated app for navigation, smart-phone integration, Driver Information System(DIS), rear-seat entertainment, Driver assistance system and more
Tata Motors and Samsung Electronics today announced a partnership to offer innovative in-car connectivity applications in Tata Motors passenger vehicles. Based on Samsung’s ‘Drive Link app’ on MirrorLink™ technology,the innovative in-car smartphone technology is designed to offer a significant in-car access to the smartphone features and content, while ensuring no distraction to the driver, with safe use of connectivity while driving. This is geared to give Tata Motors passenger vehicle customers the freedom of listening to music, hands-free calling and navigating to a destination, all from their smartphones.
The Drivelink offering on Tata Motors passenger vehicles will include shortcuts to other useful driving applications that also comply with safety certification standards. The offering will also offer on-board diagnostics and vehicle lifecycle management information that may be incorporated in the system for an all-round seamlessly connected experience – for instance, from periodic service reminders to car behaviour, everything could be accessed real time. Tata Motors and Samsung also demonstrated future possibilities for next-generation infotainment using tablets for rear-seat passengers.
Mr. Ranjit Yadav, President, Passenger Vehicle Business Unit, Tata Motors said,“In our Horizonext journey towards great products that match customer needs, ConnectNext is one of the key “Next” pillars that offers a first-to-market product, that taps an immediate customer need to be more connected with his/her working and social world. We see technology as a key enabler and are delighted to partner with another industry leader, Samsung, to offer what our consumers, especially our young, professional consumers, demand from their vehicles. This is in line with our philosophy to offer great new features to our customers to create differentiated products features that are relevant to the present and scalable for the future”. Drivelink partnership is our first major step in this direction.
Mr Sameer Garde, Country Head – Enterprise Business, Samsung India Electronics Limited, said, “We are delighted to partner Tata Motors on their journey in building an exciting new range of passenger vehicles. Samsung’s Drive Link application on MirrorLink™ technology, for controlling nearby smartphones from the steering wheel or via dashboard buttons or touch screen, ensures users retain the core functionality of their smartphones, while making sure their experience of hands free in-vehicle services is as safe as possible. The Drive Link’s interface is clear and uncluttered, perfect for quick and intuitive use when on the move”.
Samsung’s Drive Link is an innovative application designed for using smartphone safely while on the move. With this app, listening to music, navigating to a destination and talking hands-free is easy and does not take your attention off the road. The clear and uncluttered interface, enlarged buttons along with a simple menu structure, makes navigation simple.
Besides allowing the car users to access all music libraries on the phone, they could also access internet music through other internet apps. Drive Link’s navigation functionality allows users to select preset, recent or favorite destinations, or search for a specific address. Additionally, with the Drive Link’s Text-to-Speech feature, it enables all incoming messages, emails and updates from social media websites to be automatically read via the car’s speaker system to ensure driver safety as the driver’s eyes need not be taken off the road to read the messages or updates. For instance, if a text message arrived with address information, while using the App, users could set the address as their destination with just a single click on the text.
Drive Link can also connect smartphones to a car’s In-Vehicle Infotainment system, or head unit, via MirrorLink™. MirrorLink™ is the new standard connectivity protocol between smartphone and car head units from the Car Connectivity Consortium, an industry body comprising most major smartphone and vehicle car manufacturers.
“ConnectNext” the third “Next” pillar of TATA Motors’ new Brand DNA will personify the “Connect” of our new cars with customers and their environment.
Tata Motors ConnectNext is about delivering a new level of driving experience with cars that talk, show drivers the way, steer them from harm and seamlessly connect their digital lives while on the move. The company is focused towards offering a new kind of ownership experience by unlocking new time for the users to work, talk, learn and socialize, seamlessly and safely, within and outside the realms of their car. The user, from his own smart device, can not only enjoy superior quality of entertainment, control the delivery of all ergonomics, acoustics and climatic needs, but also get access to outside world seamlessly at his wish.
The world of ConnectNext will not end with a car purchase or an offering of cloud based services but also encompasses the overall ownership experience through auto-updates and allowing the to use the device of his/her choice, freeing him/her from the long life-cycles that automotive products utilise.
With these initiatives, ConnectNext will span entire interface such as brand touch-points spanning across sales and service centres and create an emotive connect with the customers at a whole new level.
Going beyond the traditional realm of automotive business, TATA Motors has been actively working in close partnership with cutting edge technology partners like Harman, Samsung and MapMyIndia, towards anticipating and developing innovative solutions to be first in category while addressing the needs of todays and tomorrows customers.
