Connected Car App Development: Expert Advice for Automotive Businesses

In today's world, a car is no longer just a means of transportation, but a mobile smart device on wheels that can communicate with the driver, the network, and the environment. Right from his smartphone, the driver can not only start the car engine, but also monitor its performance in real-time, regulate temperature conditions, and monitor the status and health of systems. These apps are a real technological breakthrough, as they make it possible to seamlessly create new opportunities to improve customer experience, increase customer loyalty, and increase demand.

In this article, we will dive deep into the world of connected car app development, explore how to build a connected car app effectively, talk about current automobile market trends and key features of such apps. And our experienced developers will share their approach to connected car app development. Ready to get started?

🚗 What Are Connected Car Apps?

Imagine receiving notifications that you need an oil change or that you need to find the nearest battery charging location when you have a bad phone signal. Pretty convenient, isn't it?

Automobile apps are a seamless connection between the car owner and the vehicle that is revolutionizing the use of cars. These applications include those that work through handheld devices, low power IoT solutions or cloud computing, offering real-time control over vehicle systems, improving convenience, safety, and quality of service. These apps help drivers master their vehicle by integrating with on-board devices such as GPS, sensors, and infotainment solutions, which is often the driver's smartphone.

For example, consider Volvo's smartphone app, which allows you to lock or unlock your car from your phone. Or the Tesla app, which comes with additional innovations such as Smart Summon, which allows your car to navigate itself through parking lots. These innovations highlight different approaches to connected car app development, showcasing how cars are evolving from autonomous tools to integral parts of digital architecture.

Want to learn more about developing different types of vehicle applications? Check out our articles where our experienced developers share their knowledge and insights in:

• Electric Vehicles Rental App Development;
• Car Insurance App Development;
• Car Rental App Development;
• E-Scooter App Development.

📈 Benefits of Connected Car Apps for Businesses

In the previous section, we said that the automotive mobile app is a completely new technological approach to vehicles that has definitely revolutionized the industry. Let's take a closer look at the benefits of connected car apps for business:

Real-Time Vehicle Monitoring and Diagnostics

We're sure you've come across health apps that track and notify you of your sleep duration, count the number of calories you've consumed, and are even capable of measuring your heart rate and blood pressure. A smart car app is the same thing, only for the car. Thanks to connected car app development, including electric car companion app development, your customers have the opportunity to know all the necessary information about the vehicle in real-time.

For example, with IoT monitoring, the app can provide statistics on engine performance and wear, battery level or fuel efficiency, which in turn will help prevent potential problems. With this data, fleet operators can improve timely vehicle repairs to avoid large losses from vehicles that develop faults and require repairs.

Enhanced Driver and Passenger Safety

Safety is a top priority when it comes to cars, and with IoT app development driving connected car apps, it becomes even more important. Conveniences like automatic emergency alerts, blind-spot monitors, and artificial intelligence in driver protection all make traveling safer for everyone.

For example, parking with smartphone cameras is convenient to use, and it also significantly reduces accidents.

Increased Environmental Sustainability

Sustainability is no longer a choice - it is the only way to survive in this competitive undustry. Connected car apps are also used to track and manage the consumption of company resources, such as fuel. By studying and optimizing fuel consumption, encouraging efficient driving, and integrating with supply chain management systems to streamline logistics, these apps help companies achieve their environmental goals with attractive added value for increasingly high-priority customer segments.

🔑 Key Features of Connected Car Apps

While developing connected car apps you will face many challenges, because this process may include working with IoT, GPS, telemetry, as well as realization of a wide range of features from real-time monitoring to remote control of car functions.

So how to develop a connected car application in such a way that you don't forget any important features and don't add non-essential functions instead. Let's deal with it in this section:

Driver Monitoring and Alerts

If you aim to make an app for connected cars, focus on features that enhance safety and deliver real-time information support for drivers. The automobile app will instantly provide information about driving style, speed limits and possible dangers on the road, and send instant alerts. It's like a fleet manager checking fuel consumption and the most efficient routes in no time - just by looking at the app. This feature not only improves safety, but also creates responsibility on the road.

📊 Trends in Connected Car App Development

The connected car technology is the future with the integration of stylish new-age technology in the automobile industry. As report on the connected car market revealed that around the globe it will force the connected car manufacturers and developers to reshape the driving experience. Let's take a look at the trends in the automotive industry that are already revolutionizing!

The Role of IoT in Automotive Technology

IoT (Internet of Things) is a foundational technology for connected car applications, particularly those driving advancements in e-mobility. Today, cars communicate and connect with each other using automotive IoT systems such as sensors, Wi-Fi, cloud, and network platforms, often enabled by BLE app development services. For example, IoT systems provide drivers with the ability to monitor a car's fuel level, engine status, or even order services. Integration with smart home devices is actively developing, because a connected car provides the best possible living environment. Imagine your car and your home thermostat perfectly synchronized via Wi-Fi to pre-heat your living room when you pull up to the house!

AI-Powered Interfaces for Vehicles

Integrating artificial intelligence into a car's systems is a whole new level of interaction with the vehicle. It's like watching a pile of metal come to life. Every one of you has used Siri or Alexa as a voice assistant at least once, now imagine it in a car. AI listens to your commands and provides insightful commentary and guidance. Additionally, the integrated AI system can anticipate the demands of the driver, learn from experience, monitor the driver's condition and behavior, and facilitate smooth and fulfilling human-vehicle interactions.

Take a look at NIO's NOMI digital assistant, which can set personalized seat and steering wheel positions when it senses that the driver is approaching the vehicle. Users can also give NOMI verbal commands to adjust the interior temperature, open or close windows, or even take selfies in the car and display them on the radio screen.

📱 Examples of Notable Connected Car Apps

Navdy: Augmented Reality for Safer Driving

Navdy is an innovative device for drivers that combines elements of a mobile app and projection technology on the car windshield.

Key features:

• Car maintenance information including speed, RPM, and fuel level.
• Navigation and Google Maps search.
• Gesture/voice control.
• Basic phone features including calls, messages, music, notifications, and calendar.

Automatic: Driving Analytics and Coaching

Automatic is an app that literally turns your car into a smart device by connecting it to your smartphone. This app is able to look at fuel consumption, driving behavior, and even engine status. It is like having your own automobile instructor to guide when you need to shape up a better way to drive to save fuel.

Key features:

• Crash alert.
• Parking and live vehicle tracking.
• Trip logging.
• Vehicle diagnostics.
• Fill-up logging.
• Bluetooth/3G syncing.
• Third-party apps.

Dash: Comprehensive Vehicle Monitoring

Dash is a digital health manager for your car with a simple interface. As a fuel tracker or to diagnose possible problems that may arise with your engine, it has become an indispensable troubleshooting solution.

Key features:

• Driving suggestions.
• Estimates and scheduling for car repair.
• Detailed trip logs.
• Real-time car monitoring and diagnostics.
• Ability to locate the cheapest gas stations and repair shops nearby.
• Social features (social media sharing, rewards, leaderboard).

GoFar: Efficiency Tracking and Feedback

GoFar is an app that provides instant feedback on driver behavior that affects fuel efficiency. Its glowing display system is an innovative way to make environmental safety a little more fun and turn efficient driving into a game.

Key features:

• Diagnostic alerts.
• Economy display.
• Speeding alerts.
• Real-time feedback to keep new drivers safe.
• Automatically logs mileage for easy tax and expenses.

Here you can find official links to GoFar: Web, App Store, Google Play.

Zubie: Fleet Management Made Easy

For organizations with a variety of vehicles, Zubie serves as a fleet management option. Location management, driver behavior, and maintenance schedules all come together in one app. With the operational efficiencies achieved by Zubie, the tool helps fleet managers save time and reduce costs.

Key features:

• Repair estimates & shop listings.
• Real-time driving insights, tips, and alerts.
• Maintenance alerts.
• Engine diagnostics.
• Roadside assistance.
• Real-time vehicle location.
• Trip tracking.
• Motion monitor (security).
• Discounts and gas station map.

Here you can find official links to Zubie: Web, App Store, Google Play.

🛠️ Developing a Connected Car App: Key Steps for Success

Creating mobile applications for connected car also means going beyond having mobile devices control a car and connect with it. This is a critically important process that must know everything about automotive technology, user demand, and potential threats.

In this part of the article, thanks to our experienced developer Cyril Troitsky, you’ll learn how to create a profitable connected car application with a focus on the technologies, interface, and security imperatives.

Setting Clear Business Goals and Aligning with Developers

What is the purpose of your application? This is the first question you need to answer before proceeding to the rest of the development process. Does your app help drivers stay safe, allow them to drive from the comfort of their homes, or provide an integrated multimedia entertainment system? Clear goals not only guide the project but help align all stakeholders. Collaboration between business teams and connected car app developers ensures these objectives translate into tangible app features.

⚠️ Challenges in Connected Car App Development

The connected car ecosystem is an empowering area, yet creating apps for automotive market aren’t without its challenges. From safeguarding user data to ensuring compatibility with older vehicles, let’s dive into the core challenges you might face—and how to tackle them.

Managing Security Risks and Protecting User Data

Security is extremely important, because your automotive mobile app will process personal data about your car's location at any given time, your driving habits, as well as financial transactions such as app store purchases and toll payments. One slack means disaster.

To avoid this you need to use secure methods to recognize users, protect data transmission and storage, model possible attacks on your app, and use secure APIs that ensure all communications between cars, cloud platforms, and mobile apps are strictly encrypted.

Navigating Complex Regulatory Landscapes

Rules and policies are quite distinct in different areas. To date, eCall mandatory requirements impact automative software development in the EU, whereas different standards in the United States focus on cybersecurity aspects. Meanwhile, some emerging markets are just beginning to regulate connected vehicles. Staying compliant isn’t just about avoiding fines—it’s about being operationally viable globally.

What helps? At first, cooperating with several lawyers from different regions regarding compliance. When developing the app, it is possible to choose small parts or stages so the changes in them can be easily made according to the determined legislation. And also awareness of changes in the automotive regulations, such as emerging UNECE WP.29 needs.

Overcoming Technical Constraints of Older Vehicle Models

Assembling an application that can optimize operations across different generations of the vehicles in question is no easy feat regarding technological constraints. For example, earlier models may lack the sensors or a hardware necessary for implementing real time update.

We advise you to pay a lot of attention to flexible architecture, which will allow you to expand functionality depending on the capabilities of the car. Also, use external dongles or devices that bridge the gap for older cars.

Balancing Innovation with Cost-Effectiveness

Apps for connected cars accommodate a huge number of different functions - but all of them come at a cost. Whether you're a startup or a long-established company, it's never easy to innovate while controlling development costs and maintaining quality.

For example, you can start by developing only the basic features of your app to meet the needs of your users and improve the app in future versions.

💾 How to Access Connected Car Data

It is not a secret that connected car data is rather valuable and can help provide an improved driving experience as well as improve business processes. As we will see in this section, how to get information is a critical issue that includes diagnostics of vehicles, their location, or driving behavior. Starting with operation of mobile applications to integration with the cloud platforms, connected car technology gives numerous ways to access this data.

Recognizing how to navigate and capitalise on this information is the crucial factor to help make the many advantages connected car solutions offer as highly effective as they can be.

API-Based Development for Seamless Integration

The technology of choosing connected car application development relies on APIs which offer current data on car metrics, performance, and user information. Tools available with Smartcar or Salesforce’s Automotive Cloud allow connected car app developers to embed various capabilities like a remote lock, fuel gauging or maintenance notifications. Through these APIs, organizations could quickly roll out applications with less need to develop their backends and improve integration with different systems. For example, an API can be used by a ride sharing company to better track the health of its fleets leading to higher uptime and subsequently customer satisfaction.

Optimal relationships with OEMs allow offering exclusive data and additional functionalities like the update of the car software or individual cabin environment. For instance, working alongside Tesla developers can create applications that are integrated with the car’s operating system and provide personalized navigation or improved drivers’ safety. Outsourcing relationships with OEM’s necessarily involve contracts and rigid standards of acceptable data policies, but in return your app can harness unprecedented functionality that places it on another stratum.

💡 Tips for Businesses Exploring Connected Car App Development

To make connected car applications successful, businesses have to concentrate on several areas going far beyond coding, from user perspective to scalability. As the title suggests, in this section, we will be highlighting recommendations that organizations can implement while interested in connected car application development.

Partnering with an Experienced Development Team

Connected car app development is not a simple task as it combines automotive engineering with innovative solutions Integrating with an IoT and mobility development team helps. Such a team can always expect issues that are unique to the industry such as low-latency data transmission, vehicle safety features, and efficient over-the-air software updates.

Focusing on Scalability and Future-Readiness

Today’s app need to grow without any issues with new trends that are today developing like the IVC (In-vehicle commerce) and V2X (Vehicle to everything Communication). Entrepreneurs should ensure that these platforms handle additional data and grow to feature sets without requiring more extensive redevelopment. For example, an application can first with features, such as remote locking, and later add smart predictive maintenance based on artificial neural networks. It will be cost and time saving to plan for this adaptability right from the early stages.

As you can see, app development can take an average of 1,140 to 2,370 hours and cost anywhere from $68,400 to $142,200. However, this is far from the limit, as everything depends on the complexity of your project and the set of features you want to implement. The more unique and complex the solutions you plan, the higher the cost and development time will be.

🌟 Why Choose Stormotion for Connected Car App Development?

We, as an IoT development company, build innovative mobile and IoT Applications that are integrated into the connected environment to provide the best end-users experience.

👂 Takeaways

Designing and creating applications for a connected car environment is not easy and consists of challenges, opportunities, and advantages. They link people, cars and networks to make driving a better experience and open up new opportunities for business. All right, let’s bring together the most significant points that have been discussed:

• Advantages of connected car apps: It includes real-time diagnostic, safety features, compatibility with other services, and fleet optimization.
• Take into account whether it has to be connected to cars through Bluetooth or API, consider IoT, and be more security-oriented.
• The interface should be user-friendly and must correspond to the manufacturer’s brand of the car in question.
• Development challenges: The security risks mitigation, legal requirements fulfillment, and support for the older car models.
• Through APIs or OBD-II integration, the necessary and sufficient vehicle data, including diagnostics, and telematics, are available.

We hope this article has helped you better understand how connected car app development works and what are the important aspects to consider. If you still have questions or need help developing your own solution, don't hesitate to contact us. We are ready to help you bring your ideas to life!