Will these in-car innovations forever change commuting as we know it?
Imagine cruising down the highway in a vehicle that effortlessly maintains a safe distance from the car ahead while traffic updates stream directly to your dashboard. As you get closer to home, your in-car assistant prepares it for your arrival, adjusting the thermostat and switching on the lights.
This scenario, seen only in movies just a few years ago, is becoming an everyday reality thanks to advancements in connected driving technology.
By integrating high-speed internet connectivity with advanced sensors and AI, connected vehicles are transforming how we interact with our cars and the road, promising a safer, more efficient and more integrated driving experience.
To gain deeper insight into these innovations, we spoke to Ronak Amin, Global Product Marketing Manager at HERE, who helped us understand which connected driving features are set to define the industry in 2025.
#1: Real-time traffic management
Navigating busy roads is a challenge every driver faces. With real-time traffic management systems, it’s about to get a lot easier.
These systems use live traffic data to provide drivers with the most efficient routes, helping them avoid congestion and reach their destinations faster.
A good example of such a system is HERE Real-Time Traffic, which harnesses real-time data from millions of sources, including sensors and connected vehicles to deliver up-to-the-minute traffic information.
This allows drivers to seamlessly navigate their journeys with intelligent route suggestions and accurate ETA predictions, effortlessly avoiding delays and optimizing travel routes.
#2: Advanced parking solutions
Finding parking in crowded urban areas is quite a nightmare for most drivers.
This is where advanced parking solutions come in. These systems utilize real-time data from sensors and cameras to guide drivers to open spots, significantly reducing the stress and time spent searching for parking.
Leveraging data from sources such as sensors, parking meters and connected vehicles can minimize the frustration of looking for a free spot. It's good for the environment too, since less circling means reduced congestion and emissions in densely populated areas.
#3: Electric vehicle charge points
With the rise of electric vehicles, having information about the access and availability of charge points is crucial.
EV charge point data in vehicle navigation systems make it easy for drivers to find nearby charging stations and have real-time information on their availability and charging speed.
HERE EV Charge Points is a service that provides information on nearby charging stations and assesses their availability directly through the navigation systems, thanks to data from a wide network of charging providers that ensure real-time accuracy in waiting times.
This knowledge helps drivers plan routes efficiently with all the necessary charging stops.
And the best part? It reduces the biggest barrier to EV adoption — range anxiety, contributing to a stress-free experience for electric vehicle owners.Â
#4: Advanced driver assistance systems
When it comes to driving, safety is always a priority. This is why advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) are crucial for the future of connected driving.
Thanks to a combination of sensors, cameras and radars, these systems provide real-time feedback and assistance to the driver to reduce human error and respond to various driving conditions.
Features like automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping assistance and blind-spot monitoring help prevent accidents by intervening or alerting the driver to potential dangers.
HERE ADAS delivers critical road infrastructure information, including speed limits, road curvature and slope, enabling vehicles to anticipate changes in driving conditions by understanding the road ahead.
These capabilities are especially impactful when visualized. In such a situation, the vehicle's ADAS can be rendered onto the map, providing a visual representation to the driver without causing any distraction.
This helps carmakers maintain high safety standards and improve overall driving confidence on the roads.