Honda Malaysia has officially launched the Honda Connect telematics system in Malaysia, which will first be available with the RS e:HEV variant of the latest City. With Honda Connect, owners will be able to access a variety of functions via a dedicated smartphone app available for both Android and iOS devices.
These features are categorized in three functions - safety, security and convenience – and allow for owners to remain connected to their cars anywhere and anytime. Automatic collision detection is included in the safety and security categories, and in the case of an emergency, the driver receives immediate assistance from Honda Malaysia's 24-hour roadside assistance call centre.
If the vehicle is involved in an accident or the airbags deploy, a call will be sent to the call centre, and the appropriate emergency services will be sent to the location. If an accident is detected, a notification will be sent to the Honda Connect app, keeping owners informed whenever they lend their car to someone else.
The suite also provides security alarm detection, which sends a notification to both the owner and the call centre in the event of a forced entrance into the vehicle, whether through the doors, trunk, or bonnet. On a repetitive basis, the my car feature’s function helps users to identify their vehicle on a map more quickly, which is helpful in the case of real robbery even if you forget where you parked.
Those that intend to hand over the keys of their Honda will be able to use the speed and geo-fencing alert features, which notify the owner when the car is driven outside of a designated driving range or exceeds a certain speed limit. An emergency call feature has been added to this, allowing drivers to easily access vital contacts in the case of an emergency.
Remote vehicle control allows owners to lock or unlock their car right from the app. With the support of the call centre, owners can also request to have their vehicle unlocked remotely if they accidentally left the car keys inside. Other remote functions include the ability to start or stop the car engine, switch on or off the air-conditioning and turn on the lights to make the car easier to locate at night.
Checking on the status of your car through the app’s vehicle dashboard, which shows the state of the door locks, battery voltage and airbags. The dashboard also provides access to driving behaviour and trip logs to track and record driving styles with driving data from the connected vehicle, with the ability to share them on social media.
A service reminder is included to ensure that owners are aware of all previous service details and are reminded of upcoming routine maintenance, the latter of which is followed by a parts list, an estimated cost, and a list of authorised Honda dealers to arrange a service appointment. The app will also notify you that it's time to upgrade your policy and pay your monthly road fee.