Toyota partners KDDI for global communications platform to support car connectivity

Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC) and KDDI Corporation (KDDI) have joined hands to set up a global communications platform. The platform will enable the operation of communications networks throughout the world to support car connectivity.

Toyota says it aims to bring greater connectivity to its vehicles throughout the world. To do so, a broad-reaching, robust communications platform and the use of a uniform data communications module (DCM) will be essential.

The Japanese carmaker will develop such globally uniform DCMs by 2019. DCMs will be the standard equipment in nearly all new Toyota and Lexus vehicles sold in Japan and the US by 2020, and will gradually be installed in a range of new vehicles in other major markets over time.

To work toward this goal, and to support communications between DCMs and Cloud services, TMC and KDDI will jointly plan and design a global communications platform which KDDI will develop and operate.

With the advent of this platform, globally uniform DCMs will be automatically connected with telecommunications carriers in different countries, based on where each car is located and used. Following a changeover of carriers ― carried out by overwriting SIM settings via communications technology ― DCMs can be connected without relying on global roaming services.

In order to maintain stable, high-quality communications globally at a lower cost, status and quality of telecommunications will be monitored in an integrated manner. While adhering to all applicable regulations in each country and region, this will allow Toyota to enhance its product-related R&D and the quality of its services by making use of vehicle data collected via DCMs.

Over a period of around 60 years, KDDI has built relationships with more than 600 telecommunications carriers all over the world. Based on such relationships, Toyota and KDDI will jointly choose and procure communications networks in each country to incorporate into the platform. The aim will be to popularize the platform by making it available to other companies upon request.

Commenting on the new initiative, Shigeki Tomoyama, senior managing officer of Toyota Motor Corporation, said:"Communications technology is essential to enhance vehicle connectivity and Toyota has been making efforts in this field for years. The joint establishment of this global communications platform with KDDI will help us offer a more stable and higher quality connectivity service to customers all over the world."

Takashi Tanaka, president of KDDI Corporation, added: "We are excited to participate in this large project which aims for a future where vehicles are connected in a variety of countries all over the world, and we are committed to doing everything possible to lead the project to success."