Automotive connectivity sector 'set to thrive in years to come'
Monday, 28 March 2011 11:44
Firms that specialise in automotive electronic design are set to witness a boom in the wireless car market in the next few years.
This is the view of independent telecoms analyst Jeff Kagan, who told the Economist that the vehicle Wi-Fi industry is "going to grow into a vibrant sector".
More and more car manufacturers are now offering advancements in wireless technology within their new models.
Ford has had a form of wireless connectivity in its vehicles since last year and competitors such as BMW and General Motors have also started to develop similar systems.
According to a study by iSuppli, only 174,000 motor Wi-Fi systems were shipped in 2010, but increased demand will see this figure rise to 7.2 million by 2017.
The establishment of the Car Connectivity Consortium earlier this month could also be a catalyst for even more rapid technological developments in the area.
This group was formed in an attempt to speed up the process of finding ways to incorporate new technology such as near field communication into a car.
