Maruti Suzuki has launched an ‘advanced telematics solution’ for some of its cars today. Called Suzuki Connect, it is a subscription-based solution exclusively for NEXA customers through which owners can use their smartphones to connect to their cars to find out a variety of essential information.
To start using the solution, a NEXA customer will have to register for the subscription, which costs Rs 9,999 for a period of three years. Once registered, their car will be fitted with a Telematics Control Unit, which will exchange information with a centralized server connected to NEXA customer care through a cellular network. Maruti has planned to use Vodafone India as its network provider.
Suzuki Connect features
- Emergency alerts in case of an accident. The TCU automatically sends vehicle details including GPS coordinates to any five user-selected members in case it detects that the airbags in the car have been deployed.
- Preventive function alert -The TCU will prompt a Maruti Suzuki customer care executive to get in touch with the car owner in case it detects a malfunction in the car around areas including engine oil pressure, engine coolant temperature, the transaxle, and battery charging.
- A geo-fencing feature- alerts the user in case a preset distance radius (or ‘fence’ area) on the map is breached. What it means is that the user could set a fence distance of say, 35 kilometers on the map around their home and be alerted if the driver of the car strays any farther than that. A tow-away alert feature alerts the user in case it senses the car is being towed away.
- Check live status of essential components in the car remotely, such as odometer reading, fuel level, status of the air conditioner and seat belts. Apart from regular service reminders, alerts for low fuel and overspeeding can be enabled too.
Currently, Suzuki Connect is available exclusively for NEXA customers, which includes owners of Baleno, Baleno RS, S-Cross, Ciaz, Ciaz S, and Ignis models. There’s no word yet on whether Maruti Suzuki will roll out this solution to other non-NEXA models in its stable or keep it a NEXA exclusive.
