Continental and Cisco to jointly develop innovative solutions for connected vehicles

Traverse City, USA, August 7, 2013: Vehicle manufacturers and suppliers worldwide are looking to put future automotive innovative functions in their vehicle to help enhance the experience of owning and driving a vehicle. From drivers receiving real time traffic and navigation guidance, to passengers viewing movies via cloud-based infotainment, to manufacturers keeping vehicle software updated over-the-air, to automated and driverless automobiles, the future vehicle will need to communicate with the outside world via seamless access to the Internet over wireless networks.

Continental and Cisco are showcasing a proof-of-concept connected vehicle at the Center for Automotive Research Management Briefing Seminars. This joint proof-of-concept connected vehicle is equipped with the secure and seamless network technology to meet the growing demands for connected vehicles. While Continental will lay the foundation for added innovative automobile functions and benefits to passengers to make connectivity to the digital world outside a moving vehicle a secure, reliable and enjoyable experience, Cisco enterprise-grade, seamless wireless network switching technology is highly secure and will connect passengers to the right network based on their location on the road and their user preference.

Based on this initial proof of concept solution, Continental and Cisco are also planning to work together to develop innovative solutions that leverage ubiquitous connectivity of moving vehicles.

High speed and reliable network connectivity: As a vehicle moves, it needs to prioritise critical needs of drivers and passengers for network connectivity. The Cisco on-board software solution seamlessly switches between available 3G, 4G and other wireless networks based on cost and quality of service preferences.

Enhanced security: The Cisco and Continental proof-of-concept car shows how auto manufacturers can provide the same amount of network security that is available at home or in the office. Cisco provides one secure software gateway that delivers Cisco’s core networking capabilities and optimises all communication links and mobility services to and from the vehicle. Security against cyber attacks will become more important as more connected functions are brought to vehicles.

Commenting on the initiative, Elmar Degenhart, CEO, Continental, said: “At Continental we believe that the internet does not just come into the car, but that the car becomes a part of the internet. This opens up so many exciting opportunities for shaping the mobility of the future through innovation and creativity. We think the best way to unlock the opportunities of the connected vehicle is to look for collaborations, where we bring together areas of expertise and allow breakthrough technology to be imagined, developed and brought to market.”

Guido Jouret, VP and general manager, Internet of Things group at Cisco, added, “We are now seeing a glimpse of how the combination of automotive and networking expertise can help overcome challenges in next-generation connectivity and security. We look forward to working with the automobile industry to unlock the tremendous value of connecting cars to the Internet of Everything.”

Ralf Lenninger, head of innovation and strategy at Continental’s Interior Division, concluded: “Connected vehicles are opening up a vast field of opportunities for services to make driving safer, more efficient and more comfortable. This is why we are looking at ways to connect the moving vehicle in a highly secure, fast and reliable way. By cooperating with Cisco, we can combine their expertise in software and network knowledge, with our knowhow in automotive hardware, embedded software and systems integration in order to create solutions for the connected vehicle of the future.”