Toyota South Africa has teamed up with Vodacom Business and Altron to deploy connectivity features and in-vehicle WiFi on all new models of Toyota and Lexus. This means that all vehicles from these two brands will come fully-connected as standard. This is the first offering of its kind in the world.
“All new Toyota and Lexus models sold in South Africa will come standard with in-car wifi including 15GB free data (which you can top up using your Banking apps) as well as a host of connectivity features and benefits courtesy of Toyota Connect, a major extension of the MyToyota App,” says Toyota South Africa Motors chief executive officer (CEO) Andrew Kirby.
The MyToyota mobile app was launched in 2014 and connects the consumer directly to the manufacturer and dealer systems, in real-time. This rollout of in-car WiFi and connectivity uses a single package across the Toyota and Lexus model ranges, allowing for easy access to the internet, navigation services and direct contact with service stations.
WiFi connectivity and access to information
Toyota and Lexus owners will also have instant access to a wide array of information, data and safety services. By partnering with Altron, Toyota has enabled its consumers to access information such as fleet management, advanced telematics and vehicle tracking services. “As Toyota transitions from being an automotive to a mobility-solutions organisation, it becomes imperative to collaborate with companies whose visions align with ours,” explains Kirby.
“The importance of telematics and telecommunications in tomorrow’s vehicles cannot be overstated – hence our partnership with global technology group Altron (through Netstar) and telecoms giant Vodacom in this project. Consumers are increasingly becoming aware of how connected technologies can enhance their lives and our task as a forward-thinking organisation is to evolve in tandem with market expectations,” he continues.
Toyota’s partners believe in the concept
“Once a customer has opted in, the data aggregated from the telematics module will provide insights to Toyota, their dealer network, customers, fleet owners and third-party service providers such as the Automobile Association (AA), providing accident and breakdown assistance,” explains Altron Group CEO Mteto Nyati.
William Mzimba, CEO at Vodacom Business agrees; “This partnership is a key part of Vodacom’s IoT (Internet of Things) strategy, and is a step closer to realising our ambition to create opportunities for innovation in South Africa as well as the broader continent, bolstered by growth in IoT. Just like smartphones, cars today will need to be connected to provide a dynamic user experience,” he says.
“We’re witnessing an increasing number of car buyers ranking in-car technology as important as vehicle performance. They want their cars to be safe, efficient, better equipped and fun,” states Mzimba. “By connecting people to platforms that will manage the complexity of streaming music from the cloud, real-time traffic information and personalised roadside assistance, we can meet these growing demands,” he adds.
Toyota Connect will change vehicle ownership
The MyToyota app and Toyota Connect will change the way in which consumers own their vehicles. Service booking reminders will be sent directly to customers when their cars are due for maintenance. A vehicle can be booked into the nearest Toyota service station directly from the app.
The technology will also create a digital logbook of the vehicle’s mileage, service history and fuel consumption. This will make it easier to sell the vehicles and to claim tax-related travel costs. The GPS will track the vehicle and store the trips in the logbook. The technology will also give stranded drivers instant access to 24-hour roadside assistance from the Automobile Association (AA).
“This is just the start of an exciting journey. We are thrilled about the imminent addition of benefits such as licence renewal, which will allow Toyota Connect users the ability to renew their vehicle licence disc via the technology and have it delivered to their address of choice,” says Kirby.
“Toyota Connect partners are also working on expanding benefits for fleet and small business owners as well as car rental support. We will share details about these exciting developments in the near future,” he concludes.
Formex Industries is a metal forming and assembly company that supplies a variety of complex products to the local automotive industry and the export market. The company is based in the Nelson Mandela Bay metropole, South Africa’s foremost region for automotive manufacturing and export.
Formex specialises in producing components for the catalytic converter industry, as well as metal components and assemblies for the various vehicles. Formex is positioned as one of the foremost suppliers for the South African automotive industry by 2035, aligning itself with the South African Automotive Masterplan (SAAM) which takes effect in 2020.
Formex is a Level 2 B-BBEE supplier with over 80% black ownership, of which more than 40% are black women. The company is owned by Deneb Investments Limited – a subsidiary of Hosken Consolidated Investments Limited (HCI) – one of South Africa’s biggest true B-BBEE companies listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE).
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