Well, if we talk about the statistics of 2019, it was recorded that Americans’ driving time jumped to 8% and reached 70 billion hours per annum. Altogether, Americans drive, approximately, 11,498 miles every year, and they spend about a hundred hours driving. This has made the automotive market quite productive for connected car app development. Additionally, it’s expected that by the end of 2025, the market size of connected cars will reach $166 billion.Connected Cars Top Five IoT Apps

So, today, we are here with a post where we will introduce you to some of the widely accepted connected car apps and will showcase some best car apps that are available in the market today. This will help you in making a powerful entry into the automotive industry and strengthen your base. Let’s start.

What Are Connected Cars?

Connected cars are part of the IoT, which refers to everyday items that are connected to the internet with the target of making our lives easier.

A connected car is connected to the Internet, via a wireless local area network (WLAN) that facilitates the car to share data and internet access with other devices that exist inside and outside the car.

Moreover, connected cars come with varied communication possibilities as compared to other connected devices. Also, such cars permit the users to get real-time access to all types of information and enable the connection between the dealership and car. Moreover, they alert the emergency services in case you get met with an accident.

Besides, a connected car can also help with a wide range of possibly useful functions.

Interchange Of Data Works On Five Levels

Let’s check out the working of data interchange that takes place on five levels.

1. V2I (Vehicle To Infrastructure)

As the term indicates, on this level, communication is set between a car and its surroundings which assists in getting information about the real accidents, the situation of the road, parking places, road construction, and more.

2. V2V (Vehicle To Vehicle)

Next, on this level, the cars communicate with each other about their current location to avoid accidents and traffic jams.

3. V2C (Vehicle To Cloud)

So, at this level data interchanging takes place between vehicle and cloud analytics platforms. The sensors of the car accumulate data and send it ahead for processing to the cloud. Then, the cloud-based analytics platform offers the driver many insights from essential real-time data to predictive maintenance analytics.

4. V2P (Vehicle To Pedestrians)

This sort of data exchange assists in protecting the pedestrians by tracking them on the road and lets other drivers be informed about their presence with the help of smartphone notifications.

5. V2X (Vehicle To Everything)

At this level, a car and other objects on the road interchange data about the road markings, traffic lights, and traffic signs.

Hire mobile app developers

Benefits Of IoT Automotive Apps

Well, there are varied advantages of having IoT Automotive applications. Let’s check out a few.

1. Offer Real-Time Vehicle Monitoring Assistance and Avoid Breakdown

Well, if you use a Vehicle to Cloud (V2C) connection, your smart car app will receive instant notifications related to the condition of your car’s core system and take action to avoid malfunctions. One of the chief benefits of your connected cars is the timely access to data as this assists in lowering down the maintenance costs dramatically.

2. Increases Car Safety & Efficiency

Through real-time monitoring, the drivers get more control as they get updates on their vehicle state. Here, the data-driven approach permits them to schedule repairs and prevent unexpected breakdowns.

For example – Handling a fleet of vehicles becomes more efficient and easier when managers are permitted to track the location of various cars and checks which of them is demanding maintenance.

3. Enhances In-Built Abilities Of Vehicles With Third-Party Tools

Well, in-car entertainment systems, avoiding traffic jams, locating free parking spaces, AI-driven security, advanced navigation systems, and spotting pedestrians leads to an improved driving experience. Connected car app users can get benefits by receiving discounts and cashback for services that are available through 3rd-party integrations.

4. Provides Safe Driving Experience

Smart cars stay well-informed about the nearest surroundings and the road infrastructure by V2V, V2I, and V2X connections. And next, they adjust their speed and route automatically as per the real-time data. This lowers down the number of accidents, diminishes congestion, and crafts a safer and better traffic situation.

5. Lays Positive Impact On Community & Environment

Safer and predictable driving permits an increasing number of people to carpool that, ahead, may lead to more vehicles running on the roads. The caliber of smart routing allows drivers to rapidly and more efficiently reach their destination that will assist in reducing car exhaust emissions. Above that, specially-abled people will become capable of using connected cars, this way driving will become more accessible.

6. Cost-Effectiveness

At last, one more benefit of connected cars that will support transforming our lives is enhanced cost-effectiveness. However, a connected car is not at all cheap, also the usage of an automotive app charges an amount. Well, the entire time-saving and fuel effectiveness that comes from automotive app solutions are hard to underrate.

Top Five Car Apps

Let’s check out the top 5 car applications that are in demand and widely accepted in the market today.

1. Zubie

zubie mobile appPlatform: Google Play, App Store, Web
Product Type: Automotive maintenance app, IoT
Hardware: Custom device (arrives in two variations: with cellular service only, and with cellular along with in-car Wi-Fi hotspot)

Key Features:

  • Real-time driving insights
  • Maintenance alerts
  • Roadside assistance
  • Shop listings
  • Repair estimates
  • Real-time vehicle location
  • Trip tracking
  • Engine diagnostic
  • Motion monitor (security)
  • Tips, and alerts
  • Discounts
  • Gas station map

Optional: in-car Wi-Fi hotspot.
Third-Party Integrations: Connects to various third-party apps and services.

2. GoFar

gofar appPlatform: Google Play, App Store, Web
Product Type: Bluetooth OBD2 Connected Car Adapter
Hardware: GOFAR Ray (dashboard device), Bluetooth OBD2 Connected Car Adapter

Key Features:

  • Economy display
  • Automatically logs mileage for easy tax and expenses
  • Diagnostic alerts
  • Speeding alerts
  • Real-time feedback for the safety of new drivers

Third-party Integrations: Export data to CSV

3. Navdy

Navdy appPlatform: Google Play, App Store, Web
Product Type: Driving Apps, IoT, augmented reality, and driver-assist technology.
Hardware: Custom device (Navdy portable head-up display and Navdy Dial remote control button)

Key Features:

  • Basic phone features including messages, calls, music, calendar, and notifications
  • Gesture/voice control
  • Car maintenance information including RPM, speed, and fuel level
  • Navigation and Google Maps search.

Third-party Integrations: None.

The application accesses the basic features of your mobile like Music, Maps, Messages, Calls, Notifications, etc. (via Pandora, Apple Music, and Spotify).

4. Dash

dashPlatform: Google Play, App Store, Web
Product Type: Automotive maintenance app, IoT
Hardware: Preferred device and various supported third-party Bluetooth-enabled OBD devices

Key Features:

  • Real-time car monitoring and diagnostics
  • Detailed trip logs
  • Caliber to locate the nearby cheapest gas stations along with the repair shops
  • Social features (rewards, social media sharing, leaderboard)
  • Driving suggestions
  • Estimates & scheduling for car repair

Third-party Integrations: Integrates with other applications using IFTTT recipes.

5. Automatic

Platform: Google Play, App Store, Web
Product Type: Automotive maintenance app, IoT
Hardware: Custom car adapters (Automatic Lite and Pro)

Key Features:

  • Vehicle diagnostics
  • Trip logging
  • Fill-up logging
  • Crash alert
  • Parking and live vehicle tracking
  • Bluetooth/3G syncing
  • Third-party apps (Lite plan has limited features)

Third-party Integrations: Large portfolio of applications and services to enhance the core app features.

Wrapping Up

Today, the automotive market is experiencing the same situation as smartphones were witnessing in 2010. The automotive industry is just molding its shape right now, still, we need to wait for some time to see it flying high.

So, it’s the right time now, in fact, time is just now to grab the opportunity for your business and find a way in this emerging market and make your business up and growing.

Avatar photo
Author

CTO at Emizentech and a member of the Forbes technology council, Amit Samsukha, is acknowledged by the Indian tech world as an innovator and community builder. He has a well-established vocation with 12+ years of progressive experience in the technology industry. He directs all product initiatives, worldwide sales and marketing, and business enablement. He has spearheaded the journey in the e-commerce landscape for various businesses in India and the U.S.

whatsapp