Smart Cars with HWW Features that Complement Advanced Safety Systems are Set to Become New Points of Healthcare Delivery and Generate Major Revenue Opportunities
The automotive industry, already reeling under a challenging 2019, has been dealt a further blow by Coronavirus (COVID-19) , since the demand for durable goods such as new passenger cars, light commercial vehicles (LCVs), and allied mobility activities will halt for the time being and later due to a change in purchasing priority. Amidst this socio-economic calamity, there are some business verticals that are well positioned to crest a wave of new opportunities thrown up by the COVID storm.
In the process, the analyst expects the Health, Wellness, & Wellbeing (HWW) component in the Automotive Industry to surge in order to reposition focus areas and charter new growth paradigms. Healthcare digitisation, emergence of mHealth apps, and their integration in the car for clean and pathogen-free interiors, driver monitoring, and diagnosis are expected to gain strong footholds in the industry.
The entire research report has been analysed based on 3 possible routes of solution delivery by automotive companies can take: built-in, brought-in, and beamed-in.
The built-in route encompasses HWW features enabled through hardware like, for instance, sensors that are factory fit into vehicles by auto manufacturers. Brought-in HWW features will happen through devices brought in by drivers and passengers, such as smartphones, smart glasses, smart headsets, and smart watches. Finally, beamed-in solutions will basically be cloud-based and will be enabled in vehicles via secure virtual technology platforms from secured private/public databases.
In response to the recent COVID pandemic, a few automakers have already started work on redesigning their cars. Similar trends are playing out in the aftermarket with a focus on innovative products that aid in-vehicle air purification. For example, Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) has been working on advanced ultraviolet (UV) ray technology that can kill germs while Geely has already launched an SUV equipped with an N95 air-filtration system capable of purifying the air of bacteria and viruses.
Meanwhile, Droom, the aftermarket player is offering an antimicrobial surface protection shield for cars and two-wheelers which will be effective against SARS and other droplet-based viruses. Another player Gr?nlite™ utilises industry-leading UV technology and integrated smart sensors to detect when a vehicle is unoccupied and automatically emit a dose of UV-C light that disinfects the vehicle.
It is quite evident that there are opportunities for the automotive sector to connect to the medical world, enhance the user experience, and enhance the daily life of their customers. In order to integrate medical features in the automotive environment, it is of great importance the legislative landscape is known, which on the flipside is also a challenge. Declaring the vehicle as a medical device might require the whole vehicle to be certified through non-vehicle traditional channels like FDA. Then there is also the bigger problem of liability and ambiguities in privacy law. These, coupled with the mix of stakeholders involved, highlight the high probability of failure and high risk of conflicts and liability concerns.
However, with developments in the market, we expect the regulations to also evolve. With the right set of partners, we can expect HWW to grow as a separate, dedicated theme (just like safety and convenience) by 2025.
Research Highlights
This research service analyses and provides forecasts for HWW features in the automotive industry. It identifies growth opportunities and strategies for automotive OEMs. Further, it offers insights through a comparative analysis of key global OEMs’ strategies to include health monitoring features - whether built-in, brought-in, or cloud-enabled. This research also presents profiles of key HWW players. It concludes with an actionable set of recommendations. Overall, the main aspects covered as part of this study are as listed below.
- Current implemented HWW solutions and the main challenges/pain points faced by automakers
- Key drivers that will underpin market growth in the short to medium term
- Future HWW capabilities customers would want to have; and the one that is the most relevant for them
- Scope of solutions offered by different stakeholders - OEMs, technology providers, and Tier 1 & 2 suppliers - as well as understanding the shift towards the digital health marketplace
- Current technology stakeholder ecosystem, opportunities for OEMs for partnerships in the future, and the areas they should focus on
- Changed landscape as a consequence of COVID-19; automakers’ preparedness for the same, changes in their strategies, and the expected future roadmap
- Autonomous cars and the changes they will bring about in the in-cars HWW landscape
Table of Contents
Companies Mentioned (Partial List)
A selection of companies mentioned in this report includes, but is not limited to:
- Adam Cogtec
- Affectiva
- binah.ai
- Bosch
- Cerence
- Comfort Motion Global
- Continental
- Droom
- Ford
- Freerlogic
- Gr?nlite™
- Honda
- Hyundai/Kia
- Jaguar
- JLR
- Mercedes Benz
- Valeo
- Vigo
- Volvo
- Yanfeng