SEMA Staff and Members to Participate in Aftermarket Telematics Session

By SEMA Staff

	John Waraniak, SEMA vice president of vehicle technology, will moderate a panel of experts at Telematics Detroit. The panel will discuss accelerating the deployment of connected vehicle technology aftermarket products and services in the 250 million vehicles on the roads in the United States.

John Waraniak, SEMA vice president of vehicle technology, will moderate a panel of experts at Telematics Detroit, June 5, in Novi, Michigan. Ted Cardenas, vice president of marketing at Pioneer Car Electronics; David Pio, engineering partner at Facebook; and Zoran Lazovski, solution delivery director at Covisint will analyze the aftermarket's critical role in enhancing the driver and passenger experience. They will also discuss accelerating the deployment of connected vehicle technology aftermarket products and services in the 250 million vehicles on the roads in the United States.

In this session, attendees will learn how to:

• Work with new non-automotive players offering aftermarket solutions to ensure innovative new systems, functions and apps are optimized for safe in-vehicle use.
• Increase telematics purchases among Gen-Y and Gen-O drivers by harnessing the aftermarket to offer the personalized social driving experience demanded by this key demographic.
• Utilize aftermarket solutions to create a telematics business case for the entire vehicle by empowering the passenger with connected entertainment content and applications.

SEMA members planning to attend can receive a $100 discount by registering at the Telematics Detroit website and entering code: 2231SEMA.

Connected-vehicles are quickly becoming part of the contemporary driving experience and social graph. Next-generation technologies and innovations are coming from both automotive and consumer electronics companies, as well as the aftermarket and new, nonendemic players. The challenge remains on how effectively new systems, features, functions and apps get installed, upgraded and integrated into vehicles and consumer lifestyles. Design and social thinking, combined with the Aftermarket X-Factor and collaborative business models, are rapidly democratizing traditional product development as well as marketing and branding strategies. The aftermarket X-factor can play a critical role in retrofitting many of the 250 million vehicles on U.S. roads and optimizing the connected vehicle experience.

Young car buyers want to extend their digital lifestyles into their vehicles and prefer vehicles packed with safety and connectivity technology. Nearly three-quarters of Gen-Y drivers prefer touchscreens, and nearly as many rate smartphone applications as highly desirable. Most Millennials also want to be able to customize and personalize their vehicle's interior with telematics accessories and upgrades after purchase. Technology is the game-changer for leading designers—it is the trump card for making the active interface the reason consumers will buy a car in the future. Within Gen-Y, there is also a new cohort called Generation-O. This is the generation of 10- to 29-year-olds known as optimizers. Gen-O was born online and raised on technology. They will be the generation that shows the telematics industry the way forward in how new technologies, systems, apps, products and vehicles will be used to optimize the customer experience and make connectivity cool.

This panel will provide valuable insights and new ideas for automotive OEM and supplier executives, mobile application developers and aftermarket entrepreneurs focusing on enhancing the driver experience and accelerating the deployment of connected vehicle technologies.