Is Japan the Telematics Leader?
MINNEAPOLIS--Dec. 4, 2001--The Japanese auto manufacturers have been notably absent in telematics efforts in the USA and Europe. Hence, there is an assumption that the Japanese auto manufacturers are behind the curve in telematics. "This assumption is wrong," says Phil Magney, co-founder and principal analyst with Telematics Research Group. "In Japan, the major auto companies have numerous ongoing telematics programs and they are leaders in experimenting and developing future telematics systems. Furthermore, the Japanese auto manufacturers are leveraging the strengths Japan has in consumer electronics and IP-based cell phone deployment," adds Magney.Current automotive telematics efforts in Japan are mostly focused on navigation and real-time routing, according to Concept Telematics, a new report published by Telematics Research Group. "Navigation and real-time traffic are the most useful telematics applications in Japan due to the high density of autos," says Dr. Egil Juliussen, co-founder and principal technology analyst with Telematics Research Group. "Japan has 500 autos [in-use] per square mile versus 58 per square mile in the USA. This higher density is a primary factor in the country's deployment and use of navigation and traffic information," adds Juliussen.
The following table is a summary of current and near-term telematics-related efforts in Japan
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Table 1: Current Telematics Systems in Japan
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Company Telematics Focus
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Toyota Monet Navigation & traffic, email, web &
information, Internet portal
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Toyota G-Book Improved Monet system (Mid 2002 launch)
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Toyota & NTT Helpnet SOS service, Safety & security
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Nissan CompassLink Navigation & traffic, concierge. To be
enhanced in near-term.
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Honda Inter-Navi TSP & Internet portal
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Mazda Telematics Center Navigation & traffic, safety & security
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Sony MobileLink Navigation & traffic
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Daimler-Benz ITGS Navigation & traffic, news, weather & flight
information
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Japan Government VICS Traffic & routing info via radio, radio
beacons & infrared beacons
(Auto needs VICS receiver)
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Japan's VICS (Vehicle Information & Communications System) is a government-backed traffic information system that started 10 years ago. VICS is at the low-end of the telematics scale, but the VICS information is a killer application for telematics in Japan where there are over 3M VICS-enabled vehicles in use. Meanwhile, the number of telematics-enabled vehicles in Japan used for other types of content (i.e. Internet, live operator) has topped 0.5M, and surpasses 4M when all navigation systems are included.
At the 2001 Tokyo Motor Show last month, a significant number of concept vehicles were focused on telematics or included advanced telematics functionality. The next table is a summary of concept vehicles with telematics systems that were shown at the Tokyo Motor Show.
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Table 2: Japanese Concept Telematics Systems
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Concept Vehicle Focus
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Toyota Will VC G-Book service, ITS initiatives, Internet
portal, m-commerce
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Toyota POD Current telematics services, adaptive
functions, X-by-wire
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Daihatsu Town Use IT Telematics & auto function integration,
auto-specific TM
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Nissan Ideo (Nissan's Integrated auto control, telematics,
"Human Net Vehicle") navigation & web functions on panoramic
display
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Nissan ITS 2003i Advanced navigation, user IF, display & LBS
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Nissan Nails Advanced cell phone docking station
(3G phones)
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Nissan Crossbow 3D navigation, TM & auto function
integration, 4 mobile GPS devices
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Honda Dualnote Integrated auto control, telematics,
navigation & web functions on 3 displays
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Honda Unibox CCD cameras, radar, heads-up display,
rear-view mirror/display
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Mazda Secret Hideout Entertainment content via Bluetooth linked
Futuristic concept auto cell phone
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Suzuki Covie Navigation & traffic, web, email, content &
link to home/office PCs, personal ID
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Mitsubishi Space Liner X-by-wire, instrument display, drop-down
notebook PC
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Mitsubishi SUP PDA w/camera & key-chain PDA
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Mitsubishi CZ2/CZ3 Tarmac Radical instrument cluster
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Subaru WX-01 Navigation, email & web content
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Subaru HM-01 Full function telematics features
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GM/Suzuki e-Cruze OnStar brand, telematics functionality, PDA
synchronization
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These telematics concept vehicles demonstrate how important the Japanese auto companies view telematics technology. Here are some key points about Japan from Telematics Research Group:
| -- | Japan's OEMs lead the industry in the conceptualization, and design prototypes of their telematics systems. |
| -- | Japan's OEMs and suppliers have introduced creative user interfaces and devices used to control and communicate with their vehicles. |
| -- | Japan's OEM's have established branded Internet portals providing navigation, travel and lifestyle content to users. |
| -- | Navigation and routing are still the "killer app" for telematics in Japan but the boundaries are expanding to content services. |
| -- | Japan's cell phone industry is influencing vehicle telematics through the promotion of personalized (i.e. mobile phone-based) telematics. |
More information and detailed profiles are available in Telematics Research Group's new report called "Concept Telematics--Japan 2001". The report is available for $695. For more information go to www.telematicsresearch.com.