Developing Mobile Apps for the Automotive Industry

The automotive industry is on a thrilling ride, thanks to the advent of mobile apps. These apps are transforming how we interact with our vehicles, making them smarter, more efficient, and a lot more fun.

The automotive industry is going to be fuelled by mobile applications and IoT (Internet of Things). In a stunning forecast, a recent report by GlobeNewswire predicts that the automotive IoT market will balloon to a staggering $541.73 billion by 2025, fueled by a CAGR of 16.4% from 2019 to 2025. 

What's exciting is how these apps are opening doors to new possibilities. Imagine controlling your car's functions from your smartphone or getting real-time alerts about your vehicle's condition. The blend of IoT with automotive technology is making this a reality.

Apart from automated safety, features like assisted driving, in-vehicle networks, connected cars, syncing driving data with your smartphone, and cloud-based music services are going to dominate this market.

The automotive world is rapidly evolving, and at the heart of this transformation are mobile apps. They're not just changing how we drive, but also how we interact with our vehicles.

Mobile Apps for the Automotive Industry

Mobile apps for the automotive industry offer huge benefits. You can use apps in real-time to monitor the vehicles, as well as to boost the vehicle’s in-built technologies.

Current Trends in Automotive Mobile Apps

In the world of automotive mobile apps, several trends are making waves. 

• Firstly, there's a surge in apps focused on enhancing driver experience. These apps offer everything from navigation assistance to real-time traffic updates, making journeys smoother and more efficient.

• Another trend is the integration of IoT (Internet of Things) in vehicles. Apps now can control car functions remotely – think starting your car or adjusting the air conditioning before you even get in.

• We're also seeing a rise in apps dedicated to vehicle safety and maintenance. These apps provide timely alerts for maintenance checks and monitor vehicle health, ensuring that your car is always in top condition.

• Lastly, the concept of connected cars is gaining traction. These apps allow vehicles to communicate with each other and with road infrastructure, paving the way for a smarter, safer driving environment.

Each of these trends points towards a future where our cars are more than just vehicles – they're smart companions on the road.

Opportunities in Automotive App Development

Automotive app development gives mobile app developers the chance to monetize their apps. The automotive app has a larger scope and implications for the future. Also, collaboration with providers of third-party tools means that you can leverage the ecosystem and be one of the first market leaders in this very lucrative industry.

The automotive sector is embracing diversity with open arms, especially in its app offerings. From diagnostics to vehicle control, the range is impressive and ever-expanding.

Developing automotive manufacturing applications involves creating a variety of apps that are revolutionizing the industry. These apps can provide users with valuable information, diagnostic tools, and a range of other features to enhance their driving experience and vehicle maintenance. Let’s delve deeper into this.

You can develop apps to get real-time vehicle tracking and parking, fuel usage, crash alerts, engine performance data, vehicle notification, the condition of accelerators and brakes, and more. A lot of this information gathering relates to the security of the car, maintenance, and other estimates.

In other words, the apps for automotive verticals will send all this information from the car to your app.

Apart from this, some apps control your car. IoT is changing the way we use our gadgets, cars, and appliances. With these mobile apps, you can manage your car’s essential functions by using your mobile phone. 

Diagnostic and Monitoring Apps

Diagnostic and monitoring apps are like the health monitors for your car. They keep a vigilant eye on your vehicle's performance, alerting you about anything from engine health to tire pressure. It's like having a mechanic in your pocket, ensuring your car stays in peak condition.

The Chevy-connected car phone app helps you locate and track your vehicle and other geo-tracking facilities. Mobile app development is going to take you to exciting places!

Apps For Vehicle Control

Vehicle control apps are revolutionizing how we interact with our cars. Imagine starting your car or adjusting the temperature from your phone – that's the magic of IoT integration. These apps blend convenience with innovation, making your car not just a mode of transport, but a smart device on wheels.

You can open or lock doors and activate emergency lights. Hyundai’s new digital key, for instance, can be downloaded on a smartphone application and you can swipe your phone to open or close the car. Hyundai developed the app by using Near Field Communication technology.

Smart cars will be the designs of the future! IoT is not just about connecting your car to your smartphone but also relates to third-party tools. Driverless cars are going to play a huge role in the coming years. 

Technologies for calling and moving a self-driving car by using an app that operates on voice are already underway, and cloud-based apps that use over-the-air software are also going to make a huge impact when it comes to web apps for the manufacturing industry.

Emerging Trend: The Connected Car

The connected car market, in particular, is expected to explode in the coming years. These are cars that are connected to the Internet, and through data sharing, you can access information on the car on your app, self-diagnose car faults, and you can even park your car! With not too many dedicated players in this market, companies that want to target it stand to make a lot of profits.

Building a ‘Brain’ for the Car

Building a ‘brain’ for the car takes a lot of effort and synchronization with app makers. You need to embed code in the car systems to integrate hardware and software. The data gathering to enable a smart car begins as early as the production floor of the car when the manufacturer gathers and analyses the data. 

Smart cars operate at such a high level of functioning that they can even calculate your insurance based on your behavior and usage of the car! This level of complexity is the same for all mobile apps in the automotive industry. 

There are so many moving parts to developing mobile apps for the automotive industry that you need to make sure all your capabilities and the thought processes of your clients are aligned. 

For example, any developer can build a simple app for a car but facilitating hardware and software connectivity or enabling connection to third-party APIs requires very skilled developers who can build apps that work alongside the cars' in-built systems and all the accompanying software.

Let’s explore other key factors that should be considered while developing an application for the automotive industry.

1. Technological and Market Research

It is important to research and understand both the technical and market specifications of your product and for this, it’s good to get your teams brainstorming right from the start. It is for this reason that automotive research and development is important.  

For example, are you going to use Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, or a traditional mobile network to power your app connectivity? 

In terms of ROI and the best bang for your buck, which requirements will add value and ensure a maximum profit? What technical roadblocks would you run into and what are your limitations? Does your client have the resources to add new hardware capabilities? 

Keeping a tab on the recent trends in the automotive industry can give you first-hand knowledge of customer preferences and needs. 

2. The Right Developers

Look for automotive mobile app developers who have relevant user experience in developing apps for the automotive manufacturing industry. From IoT and design to voice services and technologies that are controlled by voice and gestures, the developer and designers should bring cross-functional talents and relevant experience to the table.

Experience in AI integration also helps, in particular in using this technological capability to inspect automotive components, parts, and products, and identify defects.

Suggested Read: 15 Top IoT App Development Companies in 2024

3. The Right Mobile Technology Stack

Firstly, the automotive industry has specific needs ranging from app usage, and integration with third-party APIs, to the utilization of IoT platforms. Additionally, there's the aspect of incorporating particular hardware and Bluetooth devices in vehicles. 

Secondly, it's crucial to identify the target audience for your app. Are they predominantly Android, iOS, or hybrid platform users? This distinction is essential for tailoring your app's development and functionality.

4. App Security, Development, And Testing

.Alongside these manufacturing mobile applications, there is also an emphasis on the importance of security, and that opens an entirely new section of automotive apps.

When you connect hardware with software, many glitches can unfold, so you need to have your mobile app testing firmly in place. Will you customize apps or use off-the-shelf platforms? Remember that IoT is changing this market drastically, and interconnectedness between hardware and software is everything. 

Manufacturer-backed mobile app development is continually changing the automotive industry. In fact, with hacking into the vehicle being cited as an important concern, these apps need more features and a lot more work. 

Many automakers have been sharing information on how to solve these issues, and much research is being done on these challenges. Blockchain is being considered a game-changing technology in the mobility industry, and the demand for apps for manufacturers in the industry will only keep snowballing.

If you're venturing into this exciting and evolving field, you'll need a partner who understands the nuances of automotive app development. Toobler stands out with its expertise and experience, ready to help you develop innovative, cutting-edge automotive apps. Get in touch with our technology experts now.