Toyota Created New Connected Solution Company
Toyota has setup a new connected solution company in partnership with Microsoft. The new collaborative partnership will offer data analytics and connected car services. Located in Plano, Texas, the data science centre will offer integrated connected car services to Toyota drivers and using cutting-edge data analytics to provide feedback into product development for Toyota at large. According to Toyota, Toyota Connected will leverage the power of data science through Microsoft’s Azure cloud technology to develop predictive, contextual, and intuitive services that help to humanize the driving experience while pushing the technology into the background.
“From telematics services that learn from your habits and preferences, to use-based insurance pricing models that respond to actual driving patterns, to connected vehicle networks that can share road condition and traffic information, our goal is to deliver services that make lives easier,” said Zack Hicks, Chief Executive Officer of Toyota Connected and Chief Information Officer at Toyota Motor North America.
Toyota Connected will build on Toyota’s existing partnership with Microsoft to accelerate research and development efforts to deliver new connected car solutions and elevated customer experiences. Microsoft engineers will work with Toyota Connected in their new facility, providing continuous support across technology areas and leveraging a broad range of data analytics and mobile programs.
Apart from Microsoft Azure platform Toyota didn't mentioned any other Microsoft solutions they will be using. I can only assume that Toyota will be leveraging Microsoft Health platform for some of the services they plan to offer. The use of the Cortana backend solution would also be a benefit to the connected platform, although Toyota already has a partnership with QNX.
Toyota Connected’s structure builds on Toyota Motor Corporation’s global re-organization into product-based companies, and will focus on expanding Toyota’s work in connected and data science technologies. The structure will allow Toyota Connected to centralize company initiatives across a broad range of emerging technology fields, ensuring that the common focus of all of them is the customer.
Program areas will include home/IoT connectivity; personalization; safety; smart city integration; and a broad range data services for Toyota affiliates such as dealers.