Ericsson has entered a partnership with automotive newcomer Lynk & Co to enhance the connectivity of the brand’s vehicles.
Lynk & Co was launched entirely in the digital era and integrates extensive connected-car technology. Its parent company, Geely, also owns Volvo, which gives potential buyers confidence in the automaker’s experience and engineering capabilities.
“Our cars are built on several core technology principles, and Ericsson is a natural partner in developing our digital vehicle. The digital key solution resulted from an innovative co-creation process, and by using cloud technology we can offer entirely new services and functionality to our customers,” said Alain Visser, Chairman of Lynk & Co.
Alongside a suite of smart infotainment features, one of Lynk & Co’s most disruptive propositions is a flexible ownership model: customers can buy a vehicle outright, access it through a subscription, or share it with others.
The car-sharing option is a key area where Ericsson contributes. By integrating Ericsson’s connected vehicle cloud service with Lynk & Co’s sharing platform, users gain access to a vehicle through a secure digital key issued to their smartphone. Considering that most cars sit unused roughly 90 percent of the time, this capability helps reduce wasted parked space and improves mobility options for people who need a vehicle temporarily.
Ericsson’s digital key combined with Lynk & Co’s sharing platform lets a car owner grant remote access from a smartphone. Through the Lynk & Co app, owners can control, monitor, and share their vehicle from their phone—or manage functions directly from the car’s interface.
“By combining our expertise in IoT and cloud technology with Lynk & Co’s market insight, we jointly developed the secure and reliable platform required to fulfill their brand promise. The partnership also benefits our core business by generating additional traffic on the networks we provide,” added Charlotta Sund, Head of IoT at Ericsson.
Ericsson’s technology also helps power the vehicle’s central infotainment system, which is presented on a large in-car display and provides an integrated user experience for navigation, media, and connected services.
Do you think Lynk & Co’s connected cars show real potential? Share your thoughts in the comments.