Whereas most carmakers are trying to figure out a way of synching an iPhone with their own in-car entertainment systems without losing valuable subscription fees, Toyota is taking a completely different approach to in-car telematics and connectivity.
Toyota's focus on in-car technology will include semi-autonomous vehciles to improve the mobility of elderly drivers and steering wheels that can analyze heart rate and blood pressure and send vital signs to a doctor. ©Nika Art/shutterstock.com
According to an interview with Business Insider published November 11, Zack Hicks, Toyota North America's CIO, has revealed that the company is currently developing uses for technology that will really make a difference to its customers' lives. Chief among them are a semi-autonomous vehicle designed to help elderly motorists retain their mobility, sensors in steering wheels that can measure a driver's vital signs and feed that information to a doctor, and cars that can automatically alert the emergency services if the driver's health is at risk and their illness could cause an accident.
In the interview, Hicks explains that the company's new focus on these types of technology has been made possible by outsourcing its IT needs to Microsoft so that technology experts at the company who used to spend their time dealing with in-house email and IT issues can now become part of the design and development process for future Toyota cars.
Toyota has been in the press a lot over the past few months -- and for the right reasons. As well as celebrating the production of its 25 millionth US-built vehicle on October 30, Toyota was also recently revealed to be the most reliable car maker in the US by Consumer Reports. Its Scion, Toyota and Lexus brands occupied the top three positions in the reliability league table, and its Prius C was named the most reliable new vehicle in the US.