MG reveals iSmart connected car technology for Hector ahead of June launch

MG Motor India has revealed its iSmart connected car technology suite for its new Hector SUV at its event, Drive.in, in Delhi today. The MG Hector comes with a suite of cloud-based connected functionalities like navigation with live traffic info, real-time car health monitoring with remote diagnosis and much more. The company has partnered with various tech giants like Microsoft, Cisco, SAP, AccuWeather, and Adobe. Internet services are enabled with an eSIM that is provided by Unlimit, an Airtel company.

Here are some of the highlights of the Hector’s iSmart technology suite. 

10.4-inch display for infotainment system
The Hector will be offered with a 10.4-inch head unit, the largest in its category of cars and bigger than most tablets available in the market. The Head Unit comes with preloaded entertainment content which will be refreshed periodically over the air. The automaker has said that since consumers have now gravitated towards vertical displays, it has mounted the head unit vertically.

Connected mobility via Airtel sim
The Hector’s iSmart suite gets a built-in connectivity solution. It has an embedded Machine to Machine (M2M) eSIM. The platform is Internet Protocol Version 6 (IPV6) and 5G ready. This is the first car in the segment to be launched with such a setup.

Voice assist: hello MG
The Hector iSmart system comes with a cloud enabled, AI based Voice Assistant, enabling over 100 voice commands to control the vehicle. These include commands like open sun roof, climate control, open window, radio controls (AM, FM, DRM), inside the vehicle, search embedded songs and navigate to places. This Voice Assistant has been built for MG India by Nuance. The assistant has been trained for Indian English and accents. It has advanced AI enabled Machine Learning capability to learn and customise itself to each user over time.

OTA (Over the Air) Updates
MG India is introducing the OTA feature for the first time in India. This will make sure MG cars get updated whenever new updates are available, similar to smartphones or tablets. Thus, the system would periodically receive a new look and themes for the screen, new infotainment content and updates to maps to keep them latest always.

Privacy and Cyber Security
Data related to driver and vehicle analytics will be stored locally in the Microsoft Azure Cloud DC in India. The platform provides an impregnable defence to the system and all data is stored. MG has been working with Microsoft around the world
to ensure utmost standards of cyber security are available to our environment.

Safety and security via e-call
All MG cars would come with E-Call feature. This is an instant emergency response system. In case of a condition where airbags are deployed, E-Call is automatically triggered. A message via the connected system is transmitted, with the exact location coordinates, to a response team at Pulse Hub, MGs customer centre.

Concierge services via pulse hub - just press i-call button
The MG Hector’s iSMART enables concierge services. When the I-call is pressed, a message is sent to a customer service agent at Pulse Hub. The agent calls the owner on his phone to enquire how they may help. Customer may place a range of requests that they may have while driving on the roads.

Maps and navigation by TomTom
MG Hector iSmart comes with embedded maps and navigation solution from TomTom, the global leaders in automotive navigation. TomTom has over 600 million vehicles around the world using their solution. This solution has gained leadership because it always provides up-to-date maps and real time traffic data.

Music by Gaana
MG Hector iSmart would be pre-loaded with the Gaana App and premium account with ad-free music and download capability. This would offer owners the largest collection of latest music, smart playlists and personalised recommendations.
Weather by Accuweather
Accuweather App comes embedded in the system. It provides real time updates on weather at location. Thus, weather conditions are always available to the driver, helping them take necessary action under inclement weather.

iSMART mobile app
Every MG Hector owner would also get a downloadable iSmart App for their mobile phones. The app, when fired up, scans the car and instantly presents information on its location and whether the car is fully locked. Via the app the user can carry out a series of actions

•    Vehicle scanning to check pre-defined parameters
•    Fuel level & vehicle range
•    Lock/ unlock status
•    Lock/ unlock the vehicle remotely
•    Remotely switch on the Climate control
•    Find my car [Honking/Lights blinking/walk or drive to car]
•    Set geo fencing. Most useful when loved ones are travelling in the car.
•    Security alert
•    Abnormal tyre pressure notification
•    Vehicle Management
•    Create travel plan & Push it to vehicle
•    iSMART Smart Drive helps users to drive smartly
•    Speed Alert
•    MG Network information
•    Departure Notification

Adobe experience cloud
Adobe and Cognizant have worked close together to develop a digital experience for MG India never seen before with a cloud manufacturer in this market. The system will learn from customers and with time offer even more.

Infinte experience by SAP
MG India has collaborated with SAP, the world leader in enterprise business software, to provide a connected customer experience on SAP’s next generation front-office suite. SAP enables MG Motors stakeholders, whether it be dealers, service centres or customers to remain connected on an integrated platform. There is seamless flow of real-time data across all the processes from marketing to pre-sales to sales to post-sales service.