Taiwan-based Suntek Group, a car dealer and after-sales provider, opened a new Skoda showroom and service center on March 6. Ray Wu, Suntek's CEO, said the smart cockpit will be the next battlefield for automakers. More chips and GPUs have been adopted to enable the technology, which has also seen more AI applications.
"In the future, consumers will no longer ask about the driving range of an EV, but its smart cockpit features," Wu said. He expected that carmakers will focus on promoting their smart cockpit technologies and the integration of other electronics and systems three to five years from now, just like what Xiaomi has been doing. These companies will not feature vehicle range or energy efficiency anymore.
Wu also said smart cockpit technology still needs to gain momentum. Although Apple reportedly terminated its car project, it does not mean the tech giant will stop its efforts. The applications of car software and ecosystem are still promising, Wu added.
Neither Android Automotive OS (AAOS) nor Apple CarPlay has dominated the market. The operating system could play a decisive role when buying a car. Wu said the car company that gets full access to AAOS or Apple CarPlay will see a better opportunity.
Given that the new-generation Skoda EVs will be launched in Taiwan soon, Suntek's new service center, which opened on Wednesday, has two spots dedicated to EVs. The company also purchased insulated tools for EV maintenance, ensuring that mechanics can repair EVs safely and professionally.
Article translated by Peng Chen
