This meeting explores the expanded landscape of the Networked Car, moving beyond outward WiFi and cellular connections to encompass the complex internal and external communication systems from the TPMS sensor up to Low Earth Orbit. The discussion will feature topics like V2X, 5G, OTA updates, in-vehicle networks, and cybersecurity. Attendees will gain valuable knowledge on the latest trends while connecting directly with startup leaders and potential partners shaping the future of automotive technology.
Silicon Valley, California, August 15, 2025/Meeting Recap/ Autotech Council's August meeting focused on The Networked Car, bringing together experts and innovators to discuss the rapidly evolving landscape of automotive connectivity. The term "Networked Car" has expanded beyond the traditional "Connected Car" concept, which primarily relied on Wi-Fi or cellular links for electric vehicles. Today, it represents a layered stack of connections that includes vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V), vehicle-to-infrastructure (V2I), vehicle-to-grid (V2G) communications, and even networking within the car. This broader scope is reshaping the owner experience for all new vehicles, and not just EVs.
The pace of innovation in this sector is staggering, driven by a demand for enhanced safety, convenience, and new business models. Startups AND carmakers are moving at an rapid pace. For example, the Vehicle-to-Everything (V2X) market is projected to grow from $1.2 billion in 2023 to $10.1 billion by 2028, a compound annual growth rate of 52.7%, according to MarketsandMarkets. This expansion brings both immense opportunities in new services, but also challenges related to bandwidth, latency, cybersecurity, and data management. The meeting, hosted by Rohde & Schwarz in Milpitas, California, filled the room with 98 attendees.
The meeting featured key insights from a range of speakers and panelists. The day kicked off with an expert analysis from Roger Lanctot, Founder at Strategia Now, who emphasized that carmakers would benefit greatly by connecting all their future cars by default. This approach would allow them to maintain an ongoing relationship with their customers, a necessity in an era where the traditional "oil change based" relationship is being replaced by one centered on connected services. He cautioned that carmakers who lag in offering compelling services risk losing the ongoing relationship to smartphone powerhouses like Apple, Google, etc, also losing the customer relationship and business opportunities.
A fireside chat on testing the Networked Car was led by Ram Mirwani, Senior Group Manager, Business Development, Automotive at Rohde & Schwarz. A subsequent panel discussion on the Networked Car featured experts Carrie Collins (Manager, Strategy & Business Development at Ford), Irfan Khan (Principal Researcher Core Connected Technologies at Toyota), and Jim Misener (Senior Director, Product Management at Qualcomm). The panelists explored topics ranging from ad-hoc, 5G, and Wi-Fi to satellites, discussing how car-to-cloud communications (V2X) are now a given, while acknowledging that ad hoc car-to-car communications will continue to be critical for low-latency safety applications. They also highlighted that safety remains an important new value proposition for the connected car, while a separate category of value-added services is emerging to make cars more competitive and create new revenue streams.
The importance of the Networked Car in the current era cannot be overstated. As the automotive industry moves toward software-defined vehicles, connectivity is no longer an optional add-on but the tether to the nervous system of the vehicle. It enables everything from over-the-air (OTA) updates and remote diagnostics to advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS) and autonomous driving features. The connected services landscape is expanding beyond mere infotainment to encompass vehicle-to-grid (V2G) capabilities that allow electric vehicles to become part of the smart energy ecosystem. At the same time, the integration of new technologies like low-earth orbit (LEO) satellites promises to provide ubiquitous connectivity, even in remote areas. Regulatory requirements also play a role in pulling some innovations along, such as eCall systems. And our startup presentations showed that the Networked Car is not a standalone machine; it is a node within a larger, interconnected mobility ecosystem that includes smart roads, traffic management systems, and emergency services. This interconnectedness promises to improve traffic flow, reduce congestion, and ultimately save lives.
The innovators & startups addressed topics such as:
As a shared meeting between the Telecom Council’s network operator members, and the Autotech Council’s car industry members, the sessions met our objective, which is to foster business relationships and reduce the time it takes for members and innovators to get deals done. By facilitating direct connections, the Councils help move real products from the minds of innovators, through the industry, and into the hands of real customers, sooner. The insights and connections gained from events like this are invaluable for accelerating the development and deployment of next-generation automotive technologies. A sincere thank you to the hosts, Rohde & Schwarz, for welcoming the Autotech Council and Telecom Council communities to their facility. We also extend our gratitude to all the presenters and panel speakers for their invaluable contributions to a productive and insightful meeting. All of the presentations will be available in the Autotech Council and Telecom Council’s Member Library.