Valeo and Japan's NTT Docomo partner to develop connected car services

NTT Docomo, Japan's mobile operator, and Valeo have agreed on a partnership to jointly develop and offer next-generation connected-cars and mobility services.

The two companies will launch the initiative to develop and deploy services from April 13th.

Docomo works for the wide usage and promotion of the Internet of Things (IoT) in the automotive domain, among others, through the 5G mobile communication network planned for commercial use in 2020 and mobile networks such as IoT. Valeo is an automotive supplier developing technologies at the heart of the three revolutions shaping today's automotive industry: electrification, autonomous and connected vehicles, and digital mobility.

Under the agreement, Valeo and Docomo will combine their respective expertise and solutions to offer telecommunication services and on-board equipment for connected cars, including next-generation mobility services in the era of 5G/V2X ( V2X means "Vehicle to everything": vehicles can communicate with everything, such as equipment in the vehicles or on the roads, or pedestrians with smartphones, through telecommunication services installed in the vehicle.), digital services for cars using smart phones, and enhanced controls for on-board equipment.

The two companies will jointly develop innovative products and solutions and will gradually offer new mobility services for connected cars, in order to create a further enhanced life on-board.