Telecom Lead India: Vodafone Business Services (VBS), enterprise arm of Vodafone India, will provide Machine-to-Machine (M2M) services to Mahindra e2o, an electric vehicle.
This is one of the major M2M deals in India. The increasing demand for remote monitoring & control, government initiatives, launch of 3G networks and reducing human efforts are the few factors that have spurred the Indian M2M modules market.
The Indian M2M modules market is dominated by short range M2M modules but cellular and satellite M2M modules have relatively higher CAGR of 35.32 percent and 34.44 percent, respectively from 2011-2016, said Research and Markets.
The e2o is the first and only Indian car, and among the few worldwide, to have telematics based features that enable ‘anytime, anywhere connectivity’ between our customers and their cars. Vodafone’s M2M services will offer several benefits to the e vehicle users.
Naveen Chopra – director, Vodafone Business Services, said: “Our secure telematics connectivity offering, m2m service platform and a superior network which has been tailor-made to suit unique aspects of Mahindra Reva’s product and industry processes.”
For Vodafone, M2M is a speciality business in India. According to 6Wresearch, Indian M2M modules market is expected to generate $98.38 million by 2016, with an estimated CAGR of 33.81 percent from 2011-2016.
In 2011, short range M2M modules have accounted for 49.48 percent of the market share in the overall M2M modules market; while on the other hand cellular M2M modules generated $9.15 million in 2011 and are expected to reach $41.54 million by 2016; also satellite M2M modules generated $2.43 million in 2011 and are expected to reach $10.67 million by 2016.
In the applications market, automotive, transport & logistics applications accounts for 75.9 percent of the market share in the overall modules market. However, applications such as utilities and security are expected to grow with relatively higher CAGR of 38.12 percent and 35.24 percent, respectively for the same period.
Association with Vodafone enables Mahindra’s electric vehicle users to know the state of charge in the battery of their car and how far they can travel with the available charge; remotely control its air-conditioning and set schedules to pre-heat or pre-cool the car before they use it; etc.
Chetan Maini, chief of strategy & technology, Mahindra Reva Electric Vehicles, said: “Connected car technologies will make a difference to convenience and safety, thereby making a positive impact on the way people commute and interact with their cars.”
