In recent years, the concept of the connected car has moved beyond being a technological add-on to become a structural feature of the vehicle itself. An increasing number of OEMs are designing natively connected vehicles, integrating connectivity directly at the manufacturing stage, without the need for aftermarket devices or additional solutions.
The concept of native connectivity is reshaping the way vehicles are designed and, as a result, redefining the relationship between mobility, digital services and safety.
A vehicle is considered natively connected when connectivity is embedded from the earliest design and production phases. These vehicles are equipped with communication modules (SIM or eSIM), a proprietary software platform and the ability to generate and transmit data continuously and in a structured manner. In this model, digital services are an integral part of the vehicle from the moment it enters service, including features such as diagnostics, over-the-air software updates and advanced safety and infotainment systems. Connectivity therefore becomes a foundational component of the vehicle architecture, rather than an optional feature.
The decision by OEMs to invest in natively connected vehicles reflects a long-term industrial vision. Integrating connectivity at the factory level allows manufacturers to retain direct control over vehicle data, transforming it into a strategic asset.
This approach enables new business models based on digital services, subscriptions and features that can be activated over time, while simultaneously improving the end-user experience through increasingly personalized and updatable interfaces. From an operational perspective, native connectivity supports predictive maintenance, enhances safety levels and facilitates compliance with regulatory requirements such as eCall and the ongoing evolution of ADAS systems.
Examples of OEMs Enabling Natively Connected Vehicles
Tesla
Tesla represents one of the most advanced models of natively connected vehicles. Its cars are designed according to a strongly software-centric approach, with continuous over-the-air updates that enable and enhance features related to driver assistance, infotainment and vehicle management over time.
BMW
BMW has developed a structured digital ecosystem through its ConnectedDrive platform, integrating connectivity services, intelligent navigation and vehicle diagnostics. Connectivity is a core element of the driving experience and allows vehicle functions to evolve even after purchase.
Mercedes-Benz
Mercedes-Benz is investing in a proprietary software platform, MB.OS, designed to integrate connectivity, infotainment and ADAS into a single digital environment. The goal is to deliver premium digital services that are increasingly personalized and continuously updatable.
Volkswagen Group
The Volkswagen Group is working on a shared software infrastructure across its brands, with the aim of enabling natively connected vehicles that can be updated throughout their lifecycle. Connectivity is viewed as a strategic lever for the evolution of digital services and mobility solutions.
Stellantis
Stellantis has adopted a software-defined vehicle approach, integrating connectivity and digital services at a global scale. This model supports the development of solutions dedicated to fleets, insurance and shared mobility, positioning data as a central asset.
Impacts on Insurance, Fleets and Mobility
Natively connected vehicles represent a paradigm shift for the entire mobility ecosystem. In the insurance sector, the availability of reliable and continuous data enables usage-based pricing models and increasingly data-driven claims management processes.
For fleets and rental operators, connectivity allows advanced vehicle monitoring, reduced operating costs and tangible improvements in safety. At the same time, it enables integration with smart mobility solutions and MaaS services, contributing to a more efficient and sustainable mobility ecosystem.
In this context, data quality, reliability and governance become critical factors. The growing availability of vehicle-generated data does not automatically translate into value: transforming raw data into actionable insights requires technological expertise, advanced analytics capabilities and consolidated operating models.
As natively connected vehicles become more widespread, the role of OEMs evolves but does not diminish. The increasing complexity of data flows and the need to integrate them into heterogeneous ecosystems make collaboration with telematics service providers and specialized technology partners increasingly central, ensuring neutrality, interoperability and service continuity. OEMs remain key players in vehicle design and governance, while telematics service providers play a complementary and critical role in enabling advanced data analytics, integration with insurers, fleets and mobility operators, and the development of scalable, AI-driven services.
From this perspective, native connectivity represents only the first step in a broader evolution toward vehicles that are increasingly intelligent, autonomous and integrated, where value is generated by the ability to transform data into concrete mobility solutions.
Natively connected vehicles are not a passing trend, but the new normal of the automotive industry. In this scenario, collaboration between OEMs and specialized technology partners becomes a key enabler in reshaping the entire mobility value chain, paving the way for a safer, more efficient and truly data-driven future, built on cooperation between the automotive industry and technology partners.