Telecommunications and information technology company Allied Electronics’ (Altron’s) Netstar subsidiary has stepped up its Internet of Things (IoT) ambitions, with plans in place to bring about a unique “connected” vehicle solution in partnership with automaker Toyota South Africa.

Following the launch of its award-winning collision- avoidance proximity system, which helps mitigate accidents involving mine fleets, Netstar has teamed up with Toyota South Africa and Vodacom to deploy connected devices on scale within an original equipment manufacture framework and across all its verticals.

At a recent Altron Capital Markets Day, Netstar MD Pierre Bruwer said 600 000 connected Toyota vehicles would be built in South Africa over the next five years and, from September, every new Toyota available would be fitted with the Netstar device.

The parties are planning a September launch.

“We have been an enabler for the connected Toyota [in South Africa],” Bruwer said, noting that the team developed a device that synergises with, and enables, the newly revamped mobile application, MyToyota App.

This also provides Toyota with an opportunity to engage customers as connectivity becomes increasingly important.

The MyToyota application, initially introduced in 2014, has been revamped to include connected car capabilities.

Toyota programme manager Sandeep Sundaran explains that the mobile application includes a connected car feature, which will “talk” to the connected device.

With a standard host of always-on features, the application, to which multiple vehicles can be connected, also boasts a ‘find my car’ feature, showing a live location of the consumer’s vehicles, as well as boasting the capability to show the location of the consumer.

Consumers will be able to explore a range of connected services on every trip, along with the on-board provision of WiFi.

A gamified ‘driver score’ can also be enabled to monitor harsh breaking, harsh acceleration and speeding, with the option of setting goal-based driving scores.

The device logs mileage, with the ability to set a ringfenced area or zone around work and home to have trips automatically classified as either private or business related.

Alerts can also be set for speeding, ‘ignition on’ and harsh acceleration.

A second phase of the project will see the addition of more value-added services, including licence renewals.

The device will also eventually be made available as a part that can be fitted into older models.

“The Netstar approach to the IoT revolution is very calculated,” says Bruwer, noting that the company reviews customer requirements and builds solutions around these needs.

He cites projects such as the recent partnership with cleaning and security solutions provider Red Alert Service Solutions to bring a saddle tracking solution to the South African equestrian market.

“Theft in horse tack rooms has become a growing trend in recent years. With some saddles costing anywhere from R20 000 to above R100 000, the loss of these assets has a marked impact on owners’ pockets,” Bruwer says.

“To this end, we continually invest in research and development to create solutions that go beyond just vehicle tracking,” he concludes.