Daimler Teams Up With Otonomo To Provide New Services To Connected Car Customers

Israeli tech startup Otonomo, a cloud-based, automotive data services platform for autonomous and connected cars, announced a new partnership with Daimler AG on a new Neutral Server initiative to provide Mercedes-Benz connected car customers with digital services “while adhering to international data privacy regulations,” the company said in a statement.

Otonomo was founded in 2015 by Avner Cohen and Ben Volkow and has raised over $40 million to date. Investors have included Aptiv (Delphi Automotive), Dell Technologies Capital, Hearst Ventures, Stageone Ventures, and Maniv Mobility. Otonomo has a presence in the US, Europe, and Japan. The company says its platform provides simple, secure data access and transforms data into actionable insights for services such as predictive maintenance, emergency services, on-demand fueling, insurance, and smart cities.

As part of the new initiative with Daimler, services will include usage-based insurance (pay as you drive), on-demand fueling, smart electric vehicle charging and various others designed to make customers’ lives on the road more convenient, Otonomo said.

Otonomo’s Neutral Server has been live with Mercedes-Benz data since mid-December, the company said, “which includes fuel status, electric vehicle battery levels, and estimated ranges, vehicle odometer reading, status of vehicle features such as windows or interior lights, and door and trunk lock status. Service providers can access rich processed data such as trips or events.”

The company says the initiative “jumpstarting a new industry that can now develop apps and services for Mercedes-Benz customers” while adhering to privacy regulations.

“Mercedes-Benz and Otonomo share the same vision and values when it comes to delighting customers while protecting their data,” said Volkow. “Together with Daimler, our solution is bringing the neutral server concept to life.”

Otonomo says it has 75 partners, including Daimler.