Breno Kamei says that Uconnect is an important step in a larger project that will bring more connectivity to the consumer.
The consumer is increasingly becoming digital and wants smarter vehicles. “We are very clear about the challenge of reframing the car as an open development platform, as is already the case with mobile devices. More than mobility, the connected car will be the starting point for new solutions that will enable relevant changes in the consumer's journey, simplifying everyday tasks in a fluid way. We already know some of the solutions and others we have yet to know. Therefore, we need to foster innovation”, says Breno Kamei, director of Portfolio, Research and Competitive Intelligence at FCA for Latin America.
For Breno, connectivity is one of the strengths of FCA teams in Brazil. In 2020, FCA launched the new generation of the Uconnect multimedia center, which has already debuted on the Fiat Toro and Nova Strada. Developed in Brazil, the technology will be applied to vehicles of different FCA brands in the world. “Brazilians are constantly online and are demanding users. We not only have the technical capacity, but the experience of a very connected consumer as well”, he says.
Uconnect is the first multimedia center in the Brazilian market to offer wireless connection for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, in addition to having tools for personalized use. "Uconnect is the first step, and a fundamental step, for building a project that is much bigger", explains Breno.
Leadership and recognition
All this work on planning and implementing initiatives focused on innovation has gained recognition. In September, FCA was among “The 100+ Innovators in the Use of IT”, according to a survey carried out by the IT Mídia group. The company was also included in the list of the 100 leading open innovation companies in Brazil, in the TOP 100 Open Corps ranking. Recently, the company was considered the most innovative car manufacturer in Brazil, according to Valor Econômico's 2020 Innovation Yearbook, which evaluated 214 companies from 23 economic sectors.
Awards like these show that FCA stands out inside and outside the automotive sector, overcoming existing challenges for large companies inserted in a heated innovation ecosystem, in which startups and technology companies move with agility and grow exponentially. “At FCA, our view is more qualitative than quantitative. For that, it is necessary to search, find the strategic opportunity, based on a value proposal that can stand out from countless others, with a team that has the appropriate skills for the challenge ”, says Gustavo Delgado.
Words: Luiza Lages
Pictures: Marketing