Skip to main content
Sister Publication Links
  • Automotive News
  • Automobilwoche
  • Automotive News Canada
  • Automotive News China
Subscribe
  • Subscribe
  • Newsletters
  • Login
  • HOME
    • Latest news
    • Automakers
    • Suppliers
    • New Product
    • Environment/Emissions
    • Sales By Market
    • On The Move
    • Auto Shows
    • Munich Auto Show
    • Geneva Auto Show
    • Paris Auto Show
    • Beijing Auto Show
    • Shanghai Auto Show
  • Features
    • Long Read
    • Interview of the Month
    • Focus on Electrification
    • Focus on Technology
    • Segment Analysis
    • Cars & Concepts
    • Supplier Spotlight
    • Europe By The Numbers
  • Opinion
    • Blogs
    • Commentary
    • Guest columnists
  • Photos
    • Photo Galleries
    • Geneva Photo Gallery
    • Beijing Photo Gallery
    • Frankfurt Photo Gallery
    • Paris Photo Gallery
    • Shanghai Photo Gallery
  • Podcasts
  • Car Cutaways
  • EVENTS
    • ANE Congress
    • ANE Rising Stars
    • ANE Eurostars
    • Browse photos from the 2021 awards ceremony
  • More
    • Publishing Partners
    • Social Media
    • Contact Us
    • Media Kit
    • About Us
    • Capgemini: Securing the industry's future through a radical rethink
    • Capgemini: Succeeding with the automated driving journey through AI
    • HEXAGON: Plugging into data is the only way to make winning EVs
    • TUV Rheinland: Battery testing center for large battery packs and more
    • TUV Rheinland: Ideas, services and certifications for smart mobility
    • TUV Rheinland: Testing of automated and autonomous vehicles on test tracks
    • Toyota Europe
    • UFI Filters
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • LinkedIn
    • Twitter
MENU
Breadcrumb
  1. Home
  2. Automotive News Europe
June 12, 2015 01:00 AM

JLR invests millions to make entire fleet connected

Olive Keogh
  • Tweet
  • Share
  • Share
  • Email
  • More
    Print

    Mike Bell was appointed to the newly created position of global connected car director at Jaguar Land Rover in 2012 when interest was just starting to develop in the sector. Times have changed fast. Bell says Jaguar Land Rover aims to have all its new vehicles connected by the end of this year. He recently spoke with Automotive News Europe Correspondent Olive Keogh.

    How long has Jaguar Land Rover been working on connected car technology?

    About five years ago we started looking at levels of customer interest -- which were quite low at the time -- but we could see there was a demand coming. We set up a dedicated unit in 2012. The level of interest has really risen in the last couple of years in terms of the questions being asked in dealerships.

    How will JLR roll out the technology?

    Our aim is to have 100 percent of our vehicles connected by year-end. Every vehicle now being manufactured in the UK is connected so we have built-in telematics in all of our vehicles. It is an “opt in” technology so if you don’t want to use it you don’t have to. We expect the vast majority of our customers to take it up and to benefit from safety and security features. For example, emergency call (private in our case at the moment) and roadside assistance, where data is passed from the vehicle to the assistance provider to enable them to optimize the recovery.

    Connected car boss

    NAME: Mike Bell

    TITLE: Jaguar Land Rover Global Connected Car Director

    AGE: 44

    MAIN CHALLENGES: Coping with the effect of privacy requirements on connected car services; integrating the latest Internet and consumer electronics technologies in an agile way.

    Mike Bell, 43, is global connected car director at Jaguar Land Rover.
    AUTOMOTIVE NEWS EUROPE E-MAGAZINE

    This story is from the current issue of the Automotive News Europe monthly e-magazine, which is also available to read on our iPhone and iPad apps.You can download the new issue as well as past issues by clicking here.

    Is it fair to say JLR is investing millions or even 100s of millions in this?

    Over the last five years we have invested 10 billion pounds globally and more than 3 billion pounds in this financial year in product creation. Connected car is a key part of our product creation and one of our priority areas. We’re including connected car as standard on our vehicles so there is significant investment both in the actual development process and what we’re putting into our vehicles.

    What are the biggest challenges?

    The biggest challenges are related to connectivity and the availability of high-speed data. Mobile networks tend to be centered on population centers rather than roads and different countries have different levels of coverage. Europe has sufficient coverage to deliver basic telematics services, but I think we’re some way off from delivering a consistent experience for full streaming multimedia.

    What is needed to make these systems work?

    Good mobile connectivity on roads. For telematics you need 2G and above. For infotainment services, you need 3G and above.

    How is the move toward connected cars changing the industry?

    There is a particular focus on having connectivity around the driver. The question is whether that’s built in or brought in. Built in would use a telematics unit. Brought in is through smartphone integration, such as we have with our InControl Apps.

    Consortiums are being formed. Who is Jaguar Land Rover working with?

    Jaguar Land Rover is part of a number of groups including Genivi, Automotive Grade Linux and W3C Automotive. Genivi is defining standards in entertainment for connected cars while W3C Automotive sets standards around web technologies. With automotive, the consortia tend to be local rather than global. We also work with the major technology providers.

    Are all of the company’s customers interested in connectivity or only the younger ones?

    It’s not that black and white. A Jaguar XJ or a Range Rover customer who is still working is likely to be at a senior level within an organization, they are often early adopters when it comes to technology. We have some people who say this is not for me, but generally it’s a minority. Clearly there is more traction with younger people, but I don’t see it as black and white in terms of age.

     

    What features are people finding the most helpful?

    That depends on the market. Up-to-date maps and traffic data are features most in demand.

     

    How would you describe the overall feedback you have been getting?

    Very positive from the majority of users. I think some people are amazed that you can do all this in a car. InControl Apps have been a surprise and a delight for many customers who were frustrated that they couldn’t use their apps while driving. The apps we support are driver-centric – no Angry Birds!

    RECOMMENDED FOR YOU
    Hyundai marketing VP Andreas-Christoph Hofmann to speak at Automotive News Europe Congress
    Recommended for You
    Andreas-Christoph Hofmann 2021 Eurostars
    Hyundai marketing VP Andreas-Christoph Hofmann to speak at Automotive News Europe Congress
    Monica Perez Lobo Toyota 2022
    Toyota Europe ESG director Monica Perez Lobo to speak at Automotive News Europe Congress
    Philippe Houchois, managing director of Jefferies Group
    Jefferies analyst Philippe Houchois to speak at Automotive News Europe Congress
    Sign up for free newsletters
    EMAIL ADDRESS

    Please enter a valid email address.

    Please enter your email address.

    Please verify captcha.

    Please select at least one newsletter to subscribe.

    You can unsubscribe at any time through links in these emails. For more information, see our Privacy Policy.

    Get Free Newsletters

    Sign up and get the best of Automotive News Europe delivered straight to your email inbox, free of charge. Choose your news – we will deliver.

    You can unsubscribe at any time through links in these emails. For more information, see our Privacy Policy.

    SUBSCRIBE TODAY

    Get 24/7 access to in-depth, authoritative coverage of the auto industry from a global team of reporters and editors covering the news that’s vital to your business.

    SUBSCRIBE NOW
    Connect with Us
    • Twitter
    • Facebook
    • LinkedIn
    • Instagram

    Founded in 1996, Automotive News Europe is the preferred information source for decision-makers and opinion leaders operating in Europe.

    Contact Us

    1155 Gratiot Avenue
    Detroit MI  48207-2997
    Tel: +1 877-812-1584

    Email Us

    ISSN 2643-6590 (print)
    ISSN 2643-6604 (online)

     

    Resources
    • About us
    • Contact Us
    • Advertise with us
    • Advertise with Us
    • Ad Choices Ad Choices
    • Sitemap
    Awards
    • Rising Stars
    • Eurostars
    • Leading Women
    Legal
    • Terms and Conditions
    • Privacy Policy
    • Privacy Request
    Automotive News Europe
    Copyright © 1996-2022. Crain Communications, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
    • HOME
      • Latest news
      • Automakers
      • Suppliers
      • New Product
      • Environment/Emissions
      • Sales By Market
      • On The Move
      • Auto Shows
        • Munich Auto Show
        • Geneva Auto Show
        • Paris Auto Show
        • Beijing Auto Show
        • Shanghai Auto Show
    • Features
      • Long Read
      • Interview of the Month
      • Focus on Electrification
      • Focus on Technology
      • Segment Analysis
      • Cars & Concepts
      • Supplier Spotlight
      • Europe By The Numbers
    • Opinion
      • Blogs
      • Commentary
      • Guest columnists
    • Photos
      • Photo Galleries
      • Geneva Photo Gallery
      • Beijing Photo Gallery
      • Frankfurt Photo Gallery
      • Paris Photo Gallery
      • Shanghai Photo Gallery
    • Podcasts
    • Car Cutaways
    • EVENTS
      • ANE Congress
      • ANE Rising Stars
      • ANE Eurostars
        • Browse photos from the 2021 awards ceremony
    • More
      • Publishing Partners
        • Capgemini: Securing the industry's future through a radical rethink
        • Capgemini: Succeeding with the automated driving journey through AI
        • HEXAGON: Plugging into data is the only way to make winning EVs
        • TUV Rheinland: Battery testing center for large battery packs and more
        • TUV Rheinland: Ideas, services and certifications for smart mobility
        • TUV Rheinland: Testing of automated and autonomous vehicles on test tracks
        • Toyota Europe
        • UFI Filters
      • Social Media
        • Facebook
        • Instagram
        • LinkedIn
        • Twitter
      • Contact Us
      • Media Kit
      • About Us