Global OEM Telematics Vendor Matrix

ABI Research has prepared this matrix to provide an unbiased rating on OEM factory-installed embedded telematics service offerings based on product implementation and innovation. The following individual criteria were used in determining the rating of particular OEM telematics solutions:

Innovation

  • Connected Infotainment - Ability to download and access location-based entertainment-related information, such as POIs (Point of Interest), as well as in-car Internet access.
  • Off-Board Navigation - Web-based navigation including real-time traffic information and remote send-to-car of destinations and routes.
  • Emergency Calling (eCall) - Manual and/or automatic activation of a voice call to an operator.
  • Roadside Assistance (bCall) - Manual connection to an operator for local assistance in case of vehicle breakdown.
  • Stolen Vehicle Tracking and Recovery - Ability to detect, notify, track, and recover stolen vehicles.
  • PAYD Insurance - Use of telematics functionality to reduce insurance premiums, such as PAYD (Pay-As-You-Drive) schemes.
  • Remote Control - Ability to remotely lock and unlock doors, operate the horn, and slow down or immobilize vehicles.
  • Concierge Services – Live access to operator for information and assistance.
  • Remote Diagnostics - Regular availability of detailed diagnostics reports including service request notifications.
  • External Connectivity - Ability to connect external mobile devices, such as cell phones and MP3 players.


Implementation
  • Partnerships - Number and quality of external relationships and vendor partnerships.
  • Profitability and Ability to Scale - Capability to grow and extend the telematics offering to more vehicles and countries; profitability and cost structure.
  • Subscriber Base - Number of telematics subscribers.
  • Number of Car Models - Number of models on which telematics service is available, standard or as an option.
  • Pricing - Number and diversity of service plans.
  • Overall Organizational Health - Degree to which long-term availability of service can be guaranteed.
  • Marketing, Branding, and Communication - Range, frequency, and quality of marketing and communication campaigns.
  • Standardization and Open Source Software Approach - Adherence to national or international industry standards, such as the NGTP (Next Generation Telematics Protocol); plans to adopt open source software approaches, such as those developed by the GENIVI consortium.
  • Geographical Coverage and International Presence – Number of countries and regions in which telematics is available.
  • Quality and Reliability - Overall rating of the telematics service in terms of quality and reliability under all circumstances.

Rankings



After individual scores are established for Innovation and Implementation using the above criteria, an overall company score is established using the Root Mean Square (RMS) method:




The resulting overall scores are then ranked and used for percentile comparisons.

The RMS method, in comparison with a straight summation or average of individual innovation and implementation values, rewards companies for standout performance.

For example, using this method a company with an innovation score of 9 and an implementation score of 1 would score considerably higher than a company with a score of 5 in both areas, despite the mean score being the same. ABI Research believes this is appropriate as the goal of these matrices is to highlight those companies that stand out from the others.