Automotive Telematics and ITS | Print |

Automotive Telematics and ITS
Japanese automotive manufacturers are featuring more telematics systems in their vehicles to keep them globally competitive. Wireless voice and data communications and GPS (Global Positioning System) location capabilities provide drivers with location-specific information, security and functionality-enhancing services that increase driver convenience, safety and efficiency of the transportation system.

Market
The Mitsubishi Research Institute estimated the Japanese telematics market to be 460 billion yen in 2001 and projects a growth to 945 billion yen in 2010. Because Japan is much smaller geographically than the United States, vehicle density is much higher here at 500 vehicles per square mile compared to 58 in the United States. Greater vehicle density has intensified traffic congestion and the potential for collisions. Such conditions increase the opportunities for telematics related businesses to help make driving more convenient and safer.

State of the Industry

  • Significant governmental support
    • 1996 Comprehensive Plan for Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS): led to nationwide coverage for inexpensive real-time traffic information service and non-stop collection of road tolls by 2003
    • e-Japan Strategy: sought to make Japan “the world’s most advanced IT nation” by 2006; achieved what Cisco Systems calls “the most advanced network infrastructure in the world.”
    • u-Japan Program: seeks to realize a “ubiquitous network society by 2010”
  • Advanced network infrastructure
    • KDDI, one of Japan’s leading information and communications companies, provides a robust and widespread network. For 2007, the company plans to construct an Ultra 3G network that converges all fixed and mobile service networks to create a ubiquitous network.
    • NTT DoCoMo, another leading telecom company, provides the Okutto-Keitai service, which achieves seamless and continuous reception of navigation information.
  • Advanced Safety Vehicles (ASVs)
    • Feature intelligent assistance functions, e.g., danger notifications, tire-pressure alerts, and lane-departure warnings
    • All of Japan’s leading car manufacturers (Toyota, Honda, Mitsubishi, Nissan and Mazda) have introduced ASVs
  • Leading navigation systems
    • Come in 50% of new cars and are featured in one out of every three cars on the road
    • Have achieved double-digit growth for the past eight consecutive years
    • Ministry of Construction has supported the Japan Digital Road Map Association (JDRMA) in creating a comprehensive and standardized digital road map, availability of which is often a major constraint in other navigation markets
    • Features in addition to mapping and emergency support services: real-time traffic information, route suggestions, music (even karaoke), games, e-commerce, and other internet facilitated applications

Applicable technologies, parts and businesses
The main areas of ITS and areas of opportunity for telematics companies are shown in Figure 1 below.

its1_main-areas-of-its.gif

The expansion of telematics systems increases the amount of computers and mobile communication technology used in vehicles and along roads, creating a growth of opportunities for a large number of fields (See Figure 2 below).

its2_telematics-systems.gif

Successful American companies

  • Atheros Communications Inc. – Sunnyvale, CA
    • Supplies Super AG wireless chipsets to the Japanese telematics service provider Mobilecast Telematics Inc.
    • Together, the companies are also developing VoIP technology and two-way information distribution/communications systems
  • Nuance – Menlo Park, CA
    • Supplies its speech software to Toyota to speech-enable the carmaker’s G-Book telematics system
  • Wind River Systems Inc. – Alameda, CA
    • Provided VxWorks real-time operating system and TORNADO integrated development environment for CARWINGS, the infotainment and telematics system manufactured by Japan’s Xanavi and featured in Nissan automobiles
  • Cellport Systems – Boulder, CO
    • Formed a joint venture with Japan’s Omron Corporation under which Cellport transferred its CP3000, a voice activated two-part universal hands-free system, its manufacturing processes and sourcing in order that Omron could produce a Japanese version of the system

For a more detailed report, see Feature Article: Automotive Telematics and ITS.

For more information about how your company can get involved in the Japanese automotive telematics and ITS market, please contact JETRO.