Automakers are increasingly creating proprietary software that can manage car-sharing and ride-sharing fleets, the customer services involved, and customer payment.
Why it matters: Automakers want to ensure they maintain control of their relationships with consumers—and more important, the data and revenue streams that can come from it—rather than relinquishing them to Uber, Lyft and other mobility-related startups with their own transportation apps.
What's happening: This week, Volkswagen's Seat division announced a concept car called The Minimó with 5G-compatible mobility technology embedded in the vehicle, which would allow it to connect wirelessly to other vehicles and city infrastructure in order to share information and advance its autonomous capabilities.
Meanwhile, other automakers are exploring mobility offerings via partnerships with tech companies.
Between the lines: This kind of mobility technology could prove crucial for automakers to implement AVs in ride-sharing and car-sharing, and for them to capitalize on those services and the data they will generate, while reaching their customers directly.
What we're watching: It's possible that automakers could eventually coalesce around a standardized platform, which could come from an automaker, a start up, or even a municipality integrating transportation options.
Sudha Jamthe is CEO of IoTDisruptions and teaches AV Business at Stanford Continuing Studies.
