Tag: Mercedes Benz

Gemalto gives Mercs smartphone keys

4550a36b2d1a5bc005e1abbfeafa461cDigital security outfit Gemalto is providing its Trusted Services Hub (TSH) to support Daimler AG’s new smartphone-based ‘digital vehicle key’ for the Mercedes-Benz E-Class range.

The premium car maker’s “innovative solution” gives drivers the freedom to lock/unlock and start their vehicles using their NFC smartphone. Gemalto’s TSH enables seamless and secure over-the-air deployment of the digital keys to any type of phone that supports the solution.

Drivers can lock/unlock their cars by simply placing the smartphone against the door handle. The engine can also be turned on with the phone in the charging tray of the dashboard and pressing the start button. It works even if the phone battery is drained and means you don’t need keys – unless your phone is out of battery, or stolen.

The Secure Element is a tamper resistant hardware platform, capable of securely hosting applications and storing confidential and cryptographic data. It can be found in a SIM provided by a Mobile Network Operator and/or an eSE (embedded Secure Element) built into phone handset by OEMs, the company claims.

The idea is part of the ‘Mercedes me connect’ programme.

Christine Caviglioli, vice president New Mobility Solutions at Gemalto said that digitalisation demands that companies harness their expertise to make friends and influence people with all stakeholders within the connected car ecosystems.

“For Daimler AG, this aim is supported by our solutions, which enable it to offer customers innovative services through their preferred device, without compromising security.”

Your car will be watching you

bigbrotherBy 2019 shipments of factory installed driver monitoring systems (DMS) with inward facing cameras will reach 6.7 million in number.

The systems include eye tracking technology which analyses the movements of your eyelids and the direction you’re gazing in and allows for personalisation in your vehicle, security, health tracking, distraction and detection of fatigue, according to market research firm ABI Research.

Mercedes-Benz, Volvo and Volkswagen already have some of these features but Toyota has deployed advanced eye tracking systems in its Lexus brand and both Volvo and General Motors will install similar systems in the future.

And in a further twist, chip companies Nvidia and Intel ears are perking up as they sense business headed their way.

It’s not just cars that will deploy such systems, however.  ABI Research said in its report that companies SmartDrive and Lynx are targeting commercial vehicle fleets.

Mercedes & pals fined for market fixing

mercMercedes-Benz and three of its commercial dealers have been  slapped with fines after being found guilty of infringing competition law.

The brand, along with Ciceley, Road Range and Enza have been ordered to pay a total fine of £2.6 million after the watchdog found the quartet had been in cahoots over market sharing, price coordination and exchange of commercially sensitive information.

Despite admitting to joining in with the other four, dealer Northside was spared a fine for sucking up to the OFT.

The dealer was said to have come forward to “provide valuable” evidence of collusion in return for immunity from penalty under the OFT’s leniency policy.

The cartel were found guilty of cosying up in relation to the distribution of vans.

Between 15 January 2008 and 26 January 2010 Ciceley and Northside were said to have got together to manipulate the distribution of vans, while between 1 February 2008 and 26 January 2010  Ciceley and Road Range were found guilty.

Between 8 December 2009 and 26 January 2010 Ciceley, Enza, Mercedes-Benz and Road Range, were found to have manipulated the market when it came to the distribution of trucks.

Ali Nikpay, OFT Senior Director of Cartels, said the action showed that the watchdog would penalise companies that colluded to “deny customers the benefit of fair competition regardless of the size of the firms involved” – although a couple of million is arguably chump change for the group.

She added that the case also showed the watchdog could sniff out cartels regardless of whether someone grassed them up or not.