Fiat Chrysler Automobiles N.V. is taking another step forward with in-vehicle technology by launching Uconnect Market, a new in-vehicle commerce platform that gives customers the ability to order food, find the nearest gas station, save money on fuel purchases or make dinner reservations from their vehicles.
“Our customers live busy lives, and our goal with the Uconnect platform is to provide an advanced portfolio of services to make their daily drive more convenient, productive and enjoyable,” said Alan D’Agostini, Global head of Connected Services, FCA.
“This is why we are launching Uconnect Market, as we continue to ramp up our connectivity efforts around the world with the goal of having all new FCA vehicles connected by 2022,” D’Agostini said.
General Motors already offers a similar service on vehicles equipped with the MyLink Infotainment system. It’s called the GM Marketplace. The U.S. market for in-car payments is expected to reach as much as $4.2 billion by 2022, Visa Inc. forecasts. On a larger scale, the global potential could be as much as $253 billion by 2025, according to Machina Research, a unit of Gartner Inc., a Stamford, Connecticut-based research firm.
(FCA adds to electric vehicle arsenal with new agreement. Click Here for the story.)
Uconnect Market was developed in partnership with Seattle-based Xevo, recently acquired by Lear Corp. The platform will deploy in the second half of 2019 via an over-the-air update for model-year 2019 and 2020 Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep and Ram brand vehicles equipped with connected services and the latest generation of 8.4-inch touchscreens.
It also will continue as a carryover feature for future models equipped with the 8.4-inch touchscreen, FCA said.
The system will enable FCA owners will be able to skip lines and save time by ordering and paying for food and beverages, reserve a table on the way to their favorite restaurant or locate and securely authorize pump-and-pay fuel at participating locations.
(Click Here for more about GM Marketplace.)
Drivers can also locate and pay for nearby parking and schedule service appointments at FCA US dealerships, all while in the vehicle without having to reach for a physical credit card.
The line-up of brands participating in the Uconnect Market platform at launch includes Shell, Domino’s, Park Whiz and Yelp Reservations. When setting up a Uconnect Market account, vehicle owners can enroll a credit card for use with selected Uconnect Market partners.
FCA owners will have access to national Mopar service offers, the ability to locate a certified Mopar service center and schedule service appointment.
(Jaguar teaming with Shell for in-car payment system. Click Here for the story.)
The platform uses Yelp to display a list of nearby restaurants by category; consumers also have the option to make reservations at participating restaurants and pay for parking at thousands of garages across North America through ParkWhiz, FCA said.
