Telefonica announced an agreement with Tesla Motors to provide Machine-To-Machine (M2M) connectivity for the Tesla Model S in Europe.
Telefonica and its M2M World Alliance partners will provide connectivity for Model S across multiple countries in Europe, including in Germany and the United Kingdom on Telefonica’s O2 network, in Spain on Movistar, and in the Netherlands on KPN.
Telefonica’s global M2M solution – powered by Jasper – will enable connectivity for Tesla’s industry-leading in-car infotainment telematics including navigation, online music, and internet browsing, and remote vehicle diagnostics that relay information about the car’s safety, security and performance to the driver and Tesla service in real time.
The agreement, which establishes Telefonica as Tesla’s largest European connectivity partner, is supported by KPN in the Netherlands and Belgium as part of the M2M World Alliance, simplifying Tesla’s deployment of connected cars.
With its proven M2M technology, Telefonica’s services offer flexible and reliable connectivity solutions for Model S customers across Europe. The ability of Telefonica and KPN to work together locally will further improve the customer experience by maintaining a smaller pool of suppliers with a common M2M service.
Jose Luis Gamo, CEO at Telefonica Multinational Solutions, said: “As we accelerate our transformation into a digital telco we see lots of opportunities to empower consumers. Connected cars that provide drivers with more information and a better and safer driving experience is a perfect example of this. Tesla is one of the world’s most forward thinking and exciting businesses. We share their passion for innovation and are thrilled to be working with them to deliver a superb connected in-car experience to Tesla drivers across Europe.”
David Plumb, Digital Director at Telefonica UK commented: “The innovation and technology behind the Tesla Model S is unique in the market and showcases Tesla’s leadership worldwide. Being able to partner with one of the most disruptive global brands, by providing a connectivity solution for its Tesla Model S in Europe, supports the natural evolution of Telefonica to become a Digital Services Provider. It also demonstrates leadership in the telecommunications space, as we continue to develop innovative products and services, which will enable us to partner with brands across multiple industries.”
Peter Carlsson, Vice President of Supply Chain at Tesla said: “The full Model S experience requires reliable and flexible connectivity solution. Tesla looks forward to our partnership with Telefonica to provide our European customers with a whole new class of connected car.”
The Connected Car market will achieve mass-market penetration in the next few years. The number of vehicles with built-in connectivity will increase from 10 percent of the overall market today to 90 percent by 2020, according to the Telefonica Connected Car Industry 2013 report, which features contributions from eight of the world’s largest car manufacturers.
