Cars are becoming fully networked computers on wheels

adminonApril 29, 2022February 11, 2022Leave a Comment

networking and the increasingly sophisticated processing of data is part of our everyday lives. In the automotive world, we are still relatively far at the beginning, but the perspective is clear: the car of the future will move through an environment that is fully networked with it, and the passengers will have the same access to the Internet in the car as they do with their smartphone or computer. This also has advantages for dealers.

Driving in twenty years will not be comparable to driving today, predicts chad morley, vice president, automotive& transportation from electronics company jabil: it will be a comprehensive, digitally fully integrated and individualized experience that will fundamentally change our understanding of driving a car.

Despite the change in tempo, some good things are worth more than others. Smart studies, useful tips, usable tools and best cases. That’s why we present you the best timeless articles from etailment in loose succession.

Vehicles become smart devices

the awareness that in the internet of things vehicles could become the smartest end devices has long since reached the automotive industry. "Many fear the demise of the auto industry, but a new billion-dollar market is emerging, and the key to this party is software.", The Suddeutsche Zeitung quoted Dieter Zetsche in March.
The statement by the then still acting head of daimler is indirectly confirmed by herbert diess, head of the VW group "the cars of the future will be more and more differentiated by their software capabilities." – and backed up by mckinsey: in the future, software will account for 30% of a vehicle’s value (today 10%); electronic and electrical components another 25%.

How companies are driving into the future

The range of apps and services for mobility is almost unmanageable – and that’s just the beginning! The following overview shows how this can save time and money in everyday work. Read more

When cars talk to each other

In order to link real-time data from vehicle electronics with the spaces we have just traversed, we need faster mobile networks than we have at the moment. And even 5G will be too slow when it comes to correlating movement data from different vehicles about lane conditions, traffic density in real time.

Another area of application is the optimization of parking space searches. In a connected world, infrastructure informs vehicles about available spaces. The parking joint venture of BMW and Daimler is one of the companies working on this, and in europe the brands park now, parkline, parkmobile and ringgo are bundled under its umbrella.

Optimizing the search for parking spaces

The examples indicate the change: data services will be part of the core business of car manufacturers in the future, software will become as important as the powertrain. The 2018 connected car innovation study finds that many original equipment manufacturers (dt. OEMs) have now firmly integrated connectivity solutions into their innovation portfolios and the task now is to bring the solutions to technological maturity.

Large budgets are being made available for this, as horizont reported in May: in the next three years, the industry plans to invest around 60 billion euros in e-mobility, digitization, and connected and autonomous driving alone.

Money well spent, mckinsey consultants are certain . They predict that the data generated by vehicles alone will make a decisive contribution to generating new revenues, reducing costs and increasing safety. The value created by 2030 is estimated to be between 450 and 750 billion US dollars worldwide.

In order to be able to manage a transformation of this magnitude, manufacturers are entering into targeted partnerships, and competitors are also pulling in the same direction. In february, BMW and daimler merged their mobility offerings and, in addition to the aforementioned joint venture park now, established four other joint cooperations (reach now, charge now, free now and share now).

Defying data supremacy from silicon valley

But of course the big data-driven groups are way ahead of the automotive manufacturers in terms of data generation and analysis. The acquisition of the former nokia subsidiary HERE by audi, BMW and daimler was an attempt to defy the data supremacy of silicon valley.

Where know-how cannot be accessed directly, the tools of the big players are used, the Suddeutsche Zeitung has just reported: microsoft, amazon and google have enriched their cloud platforms with digital toolkits that developers could use to implement new functions in just a few weeks- artificial intelligence included. These will also be used, for example by renault-nissan. On the other hand, there is always the danger of becoming dependent on platform companies.

In the world of data, security is by far one of the biggest challenges. The more computers are used in a vehicle, the more interfaces there are, the greater the surface for hackers to attack. Guido dornbusch, vice president product management of the technology company laird, in a guest article for next-mobility.News invokes the potential of firmware over-the-air (FOTA): this way, weak points can be patched continuously and quickly, new functions can be integrated, and cryptographic processes can be modernized.

Connectivity is a standard feature

And what about practical applications in the present day?

Connectivity is a standard feature in many models from many brands. The range of services, however, differs considerably. In the luxury class, concierge services are offered, cinema and concert tickets can be reserved; in other models, smartphones can be connected via USB interface or bluetooth at most.
Connectivity solutions are also offered in vehicles for small and medium-sized enterprises: example mercedes pro: the new brand from mercedes-benz vans combines the offerings and digital services of mercedes-benz vans on one platform.

5G and the future of connected cars

Mercedes pro launches with connectivity and fleet services and is to be expanded step by step. The connectivity and fleet solution mercedes PRO connect is offered, which, according to mercedes, intelligently links fleet manager, driver and vehicle, simplifies trip management with digitalized records and ensures that workshop visits can be better planned, downtimes reduced and thus the utilization and reliability of the fleet improved.
Mercedes PRO connect is initially available for the vito, evito and the sprinter. The "internet of things gets going faster and faster.

MORE ON THIS TOPIC:

Who benefits from the counterattack against tesla – and who it harms

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What3words – 3 words navigate the world

The British start-up what3words has divided the world into 57 billion squares and is creating geographic coordinates in three words. Mercedes-benz has already joined the start-up. chris sheldrick, founder of the company, explains in an interview why a world in three-meter squares with 3-word addresses helps online retailers and delivery services. Read more

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With the birth of their third or fourth child, at the latest, parents will be faced with the question of how they want to transport their large family from A to B in the future – we would suggest the vito tourer family. Because a "normal" a car is no longer an option if you want to load your beloved offspring with a stroller, provisions, toys, etc. for daily use. Üwe don’t even want to talk about the space consumption during a short or long trip.

Why the vito tourer family is the perfect car for the family

Now we need a van in which everything can be stowed comfortably, the family is comfortable and safe, and it shouldn’t be too expensive either. How about the vito tourer family from mercedes-benz?? For all seekers we have collected the most important reasons that make the vito tourer family the perfect van for a large family.

Vito tourer family offers enough space for 5-8 persons

The vito tourer family offers space for five people as standard. However, if you don’t want to finalize your family planning with three children, you can expand the Vito to either six or up to eight seats. The variable seating of the vito tourer makes it possible. Child seats can be easily installed and removed with the isofix fastening system. With the sliding door on the right and optionally also on the left, it is possible for all passers-by to enter the vehicle comfortably and it is also possible to load the various items of luggage conveniently. wrangling and quarrels about the "best" one but there will still be space. 😉

Flexibly expandable cargo space for strollers and co

Compact, long or extra long? The vito tourer family is available in three lengths from 4.9 m to 5.4 m. No matter which vito you choose, it has plenty of cargo space. A stroller plus weekend groceries can easily be stowed in the rear of the vito. But also a purchase at ikea or in the hardware store finds its place. the rows of seats in the mercedes vito can be easily moved along a continuous anchoring rail. Even individual seats can be folded forward with a flick of the wrist to create even more storage space.

Comfortable interior

„When will we finally get there?“ how often have parents heard this phrase from their little ones during a long car trip?? We can’t guarantee that your children will never grumble in the vito tourer family again, but at least it can’t be because of the comfort. thanks to generous legroom and high-quality materials in the interior, this is a given. And the driver can also choose the best sitting position for driving thanks to the steering wheel with adjustable tilt and height. We would also like to mention the standard air conditioning system, which helps all passengers keep a cool head during long car journeys on vacation.

The vito tourer family offers safety for the whole family

Safety, of course, plays an important role when choosing a family van. The vito tourer family offers leading safety features, as you would expect from mercedes-benz. With its safety systems, the vito tourer not only increases safety for its occupants, but also for other road users with the standard side wind assistant and attention assistant as well as the latest generation of the electronic stability program adaptive ESP.

Unique in its class, the vito also offers collision prevention assist. It constantly monitors the distance to the vehicle in front, warns the driver acoustically and visually before a possible collision, automatically increases the braking force in the event of danger and can thus help to avoid rear-end collisions. Up to six airbags, including window and thorax-pelvis sidebags for driver and front passenger, provide protection in the event of a collision.

Economical consumption

The older children have to go to soccer practice, the younger one has violin lessons and the youngest is invited to a birthday party. Some days, you have to travel quite a distance by car to get your offspring to all your social engagements. With its economical consumption, the mercedes vito ensures that this does not become too expensive. On average, you save 20% on fuel and get as little as 5.8 l per 100 km on the road.

Before a bank in germany grants you a loan, it usually wants to know how your payment history has been in the past. For this, it looks at what the credit agency schufa has stored about you.

If you have not paid your credit instalments or other payment obligations on time, your schufa report can schufa information contain a negative entry, which often remains stored for several years.

In order to get a loan in such a case, there is the possibility to get a so-called credit without schufa or better said: a credit despite (negative) schufa. Cooperate in the process credit broker usually with foreign banks, often from switzerland or liechtenstein. However, not all offers are serious.

In this article we explain what you should look out for when taking out a loan without a credit reference (schufa).

Who can get a credit without schufa?

a credit without schufa does not mean that the (foreign) bank will grant you a credit in any case. A reputable bank will want to know your financial situation – and whether you are likely to be able to repay the loan. For this is actually always a regular income necessary (and the proof of it).

No credit is usually given to someone who is

If you are unemployed or looking for work
has an income that is too low (e.g. only a few hundred euros per month) or
In a private insolvency.

Young people under 18 or people over 65 who live off their state pension are also often rejected as borrowers.

What documents and information are required?

Expect that you will have to provide current proof of income and that the intermediary (or. The bank itself) will also ask questions about your personal situation, including whether you have children and, if so, whether you have a credit history. How much alimony you have to pay. Some providers also ask for your monthly fixed costs such as rent, electricity or insurance.

Let’s take the comparison portal financheck as an example.De as a reference. In order to receive an offer for a loan without schufa, you must answer the following questions, among others,

Whether you take out the loan alone or as a couple,
Whether you are single, married, divorced, etc. Are,
How many adults and children live in your household,
Whether you live in rented accommodation or own your own home,
How much is your rent,
How you are insured,
Whether you own a car or a motorcycle,
Whether you have a girocard (formerly EC card) and/or a credit card
Whether you are employed,
How much you earn net monthly,
Whether your income has been constant in the past three months,
Whether you have a part-time job or a car. You have other income at your disposal

How to recognize a reputable provider?

There are several criteria that indicate that a provider is reputable.

A credit without schufa is no bargain
the conditions are "too good to be true" – 10.000 euro for 2% p.A. – It is likely that fraudsters are behind the credit offer. Instead, the interest rate for a loan without schufa should be based on a normal installment loan.

As our analysis of the best installment loans shows, german banks charge customers with a lower credit rating effective annual interest rates of around 8%. a credit without schufa probably costs a little more. Many foreign banks charge a risk surcharge – and the intermediary fee can also make the loan somewhat more expensive.

The liechtenstein-based sigma kreditbank, with which numerous credit brokers cooperate according to our internet research, can serve as a reference. The bank charges an effective annual interest rate of a good 11% for three different loan amounts.

Fixed credit amounts, credit amount often limited
a normal installment loan can amount to a five-digit sum, often the loan can be taken out over several years – up to 10. Not with credit without schufa. Here, the credit amount is often limited, for example to 7.500 euro. The terms are also fixed and shorter: at sigma kreditbank, for example, all loans run for 40 months. special repayment is often not possible.

How to recognize dubious offers

If you come across an offer that applies to several of the following points, you should be careful:

You are not asked about income or property.
You are supposed to pay a fixed processing fee in advance.
You are supposed to sign another contract (e.g.B. A subscription).
You have to agree that the provider collects undefined amounts from your account.
You must agree to your data being used for advertising purposes.
You are promised that the contract documents will be delivered to you personally.
You have to take out a so-called residual debt insurance – in case you can no longer service your installments.

Beware of conspicuous advertising or advance payments
"dubious offers are advertised on the websites as ‘fair’, ‘transparent’ or ‘allocation-proof’ and are often equipped with false evaluations and seals of approval," warns the verbraucherzentrale bundesverband (consumer association). Sometimes customers would receive a bill for a prepaid credit card or an expensive subscription instead of the credit. It is just as dubious if you are asked to make a payment before the loan is concluded.

Alternatives to credit without schufa

Loans despite a negative schufa entry are usually more expensive than a normal installment loan. Consider, therefore, whether such a loan is really the only option for you. Very important: do not take out an expensive loan without schufa in order to pay off another loan – because this could be the beginning of over-indebtedness.

If, for example, you find yourself in a situation where you can no longer pay the installments on a current consumer loan, the first thing you should do is contact your bank. Sometimes the latter grants a free deferral of payment. Alternatively, the rates can often be lowered. You then pay off longer and bear more interest costs – but the monthly installments are lower. Maybe you can change your expensive loan to a cheaper one.

Sometimes it can also be a possibility to take out a loan from private sources – e.g. from family or acquaintances. If you consider this, make a contract with the person and agree with him on regular installments. The person may, however, accommodate you with the interest rates.

You can also make a free appointment with a debt counselor. The experts help you to assess your financial situation and show you ways to get out of debt.

It is generally recommended never to take out a loan for consumption or fun purposes, e.g. for consumer electronics or a fast car. The situation is different if, for example, you cannot afford an urgently needed washing machine or repairs to the family car. In such cases, a loan may be necessary.

When to get a negative schufa entry?

You will always get a negative entry at schufa if you have not fulfilled your payment obligations in the past, e.g. if you have not serviced your credit installments or paid other bills. According to the credit check company bonify, the "soft" negative features include

Due, reminded and unpaid debts
Misuse of an account after a ban on use
Ongoing debt collection proceedings
Extrajudicial collection procedures
Dunning notice
Enforcement notice
Foreclosure

These characteristics are usually stored for a certain period of time at schufa. You should check your schufa data and have false entries deleted. schufa is obliged to remove false data. However, it is not possible to have a negative entry deleted before the deadline, i.e. prematurely.

If you have failed to pay a bill once and then do so again, you must assume that the entry will remain stored for the time being – by default for three years after you have paid the debt.

Sara is a graduate economist and expert on investment, retirement and credit issues. In 2013, she graduated from the georg von holtzbrinck school for business journalists, and since then she can no longer ignore the topic of consumer finance. It explains the complicated seeming world of the finances simply and clearly. after working for handelsblatt and finanztip, sara now heads the editorial team of forbes advisor germany.