The ?IT-ization? of the auto industry (whereby there is an increasing technology content mix and the potential for autos to be viewed as IT products) is beginning to blur the lines between autos and consumer electronics, and is creating opportunities for non-traditional auto players.
For example, automotive infotainment (eg, navigation, entertainment and traffic detection systems) has increasingly become a standard requirement for mainstream auto consumers. The surge in smart devices in the past five years has given rise to the need for better integration of the user entertainment experience within cars. Furthermore, the concept of an Internet of Vehicles (IOV) could ultimately transform a vehicle into an ?IT gadget? that could be controlled and monitored remotely. These trends, in our view, represent huge opportunities for consumer IT companies.
