Nokia has joined the likes of Apple, Google and Intel in spending millions on the connected and smart automobile market, which includes self-driving cars. The Finnish mobile phone company just launched a $100m (£59m) fund to invest in firms specialising in this growing market of the car market.
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Mapping services is one of three crucial service areas in the connected and smart automobile market that Nokia plans to target and the fund, which will be managed by Nokia growth Partners (NGP), will support the market’s development. Nokia has already well established itself in this market with its here sat-nav mapping service for connected automobiles – a smartphone navigation app that can be used while driving.
A major function of connected and smart automobiles allows motorists to control apps installed on a smartphone or tablet from their vehicle’s dashboard. as well as making driving a lot more practical, connected and smart automobiles would, in theory, make driving safer because they can sense or collect data on nearby cars or objects that are a potential hazard. 
Paul Asel, partner at NGP, said: “”For the last few years there has been a surge in advancement that has brought technological advances leading to safer, cleaner, increasingly connected, intelligent and a lot more budget-friendly vehicles.
“Vehicles are becoming a new platform for technology adoption very similar to phones or tablet.”
Big potential for growth in connected car technology
As a lot more automobiles become connected, companies specialising in this market could potentially grow larger and services like Google, Apple, and Intel have already plugged themselves into the market. 
Google recently announced a partnership with Audi, Honda and Hyundai where it would integrate its Android operating system into car dashboards.  
Likewise, Apple’s CarPlay system will allow motorists to connect their iPhones to their cars. automobiles with the CarPlay technology will let motorists use Apple Maps, make calls or play music either with voice commands or by touching a vehicle’s dashboard screen.
Intel also announced that it is investing $100m into speeding up the development of internet-connected cars.
Do you think there’s too much technology in modern cars or could the next generation of in-car systems bring huge benefits? tell us in the comments section below…