Asian car manufacturers: Ready for the EU? 

While modern vehicles are increasingly turning towards domain and central computing architectures, which leads to a reduction in the number of control units, there is still variance in product design. Even though many customer functions are implemented via software in the context of Software-Defined-Vehicles (SDV), the different versions and software levels are still a major challenge.

An example: If an Asian vehicle must be prepared for the European market, it is necessary to update the software of all control and computing units, depending on the hardware version installed.

Another scenario is the replacement of a defective control unit that causes  the lighting control  system to fail and the customer can no longer operate the vehicle safely. In this case, the control unit not only needs to be replaced by a local service partner, but also completely reprogrammed for the specific vehicle model, equipment variant, and market-requirements.

The tasks of the Connectivity-Suite and its integrated software logistics are to automatically manage programming tasks. It is also the base for every update process that the customer can run over-the-air on their vehicle themselves.

From an IT perspective, the software logistics of the Connectivity-Suite is a backend- or cloud-based structure, which ensures the European compliance for operating a connectivity cloud.

In the live demonstration at Auto Shanghai, visitors can select a new vehicle software for the European target market through the management menus of the Connectivity-Suite. The software logistics then selects the specific vehicle configuration and automatically installs the EU-compliant software on all control units of the demo vehicle.

Some of the well-known requirements include Articles 44 to 50 of the GDPR, which must be fulfilled for the transfer of personal data. This includes that personal data of EU citizens must be processed and stored in accordance with EU data protection standards. These regulations can be addressed by hosting the cloud services (or parts of them) within the European Economic Area (EEA). Our Connectivity-Suite solves these challenges.

The NIS Directive (Network and Information Systems Security Directive) outlines mandatory security measures for the operation of digital services, including processes for handling potential security incidents. These processes are difficult to manage from a third country, in the event of an attack and especially within the required time limits. We demonstrate how this can be executed directly in the EU.

The Connectivity-Suite not only reads and interprets error messages from the vehicle, it can also identify the most likely cause of the error in combination with the environmental data relating to the error. Data analytics in the backend also makes it possible to generate a concrete suggestion on how the issue can be resolved most quickly and cost-effectively— extremely helpful information for every service partner, who can then start with the troubleshooting process and component replacement on-site.

To support the service partner, the Connectivity-Suite not only generates individual repair instructions, but also provides training and instructional videos. These videos help service staff, especially when dealing with special interventions on the vehicle, by offering visual guidance and support until the repair is safely completed.

The Connectivity-Suite from Cognizant Mobility includes an integrated Charging Monitor. This tracking and management tool provides a graphical overview of the current error messages and customer complaints across the charging network, based on the network partners who are participating. This makes it possible to transparently identify which errors occur in combination with the vehicle type, charging station, electricity provider and payment provider.

The Connectivity-Suite identifies common compatibility problems between components and providers. Cognizant Mobility plays a major role as an interoperability partner by testing a functional end-to-end solution between the components and operators in advance.

Using a virtual development process, components and operator solutions can be selected and tested for their technical functionality. Additionally, Cognizant Mobility develops missing interfaces (APIs) and ensures their performance during operation.

EU member states are obligated to create a “sufficient” network of charging points for electric vehicles in order to reduce range anxiety and promote the acceptance of electric vehicles.

To achieve this, energy mix targets (RED II), charging efficiency requirements (EU 2019/631), bidirectional charging options, and data transmission security while charging (ISO 15118) are defined. This is the only way to secure the legal and confidential exchange of data regarding charging status, charging power, and billing information.

Cognizant Mobility acts as a technical mediator between Asian OEMs, charging providers, and infrastructure operators and monitors the relevant interfaces.

The strategic partnership with GAS, an independent network of over 450 qualified workshops across Europe, completes the service package of the Connectivity-Suite. With experience in handling high-voltage electric vehicles, modern connectivity equipment and traditional workshop operations, Cognizant Mobility and GAS have already supported numerous international vehicle manufacturers, including Asian OEMs.

By adapting after-sales repair processes precisely to the manufacturer's specifications and implementing brand-specific service concepts, Cognizant Mobility and GAS operate as an extended arm of the vehicle manufacturers.

The EU regulation on electronic identity and trust services (eIDAS Regulation) defines requirements for trusted services that must be implemented for the identification and authentication of users. It plays a key role for enabling authorized third parties, such as workshops or service providers, to access vehicle data. This is crucial for maintenance and repair work on vehicles. In this context, the communication protocols used for vehicle diagnostics must follow ISO 14229, ensuring that vehicles and diagnostic devices can be connected during a workshop visit. This is a big challenge in after-sales when dealing with multiple different service providers.