Gentex says Jaguar Land Rover will be the first automaker to offer the company’s new car-to-home automation feature and next-generation digital rear vision system.
Jaguar and Land Rover vehicles equipped with InControl Apps will be compatible with Gentex’s HomeLink Connect, an app allowing drivers to operate home automation devices from their vehicle’s infotainment touchscreen system.
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Drivers of any Jaguar or Land Rover with InControl Apps will be able to download the HomeLink Connect app and configure it to control a large number of individual home automation devices, or set up entire home automation ‘scenes.’ For instance, when heading home, one HomeLink button press could adjust a thermostat, turn on home lighting, disarm the security system, unlock the door and start playing music.
Up to 18 different buttons can be created in the app, which will populate on the infotainment system touchscreen when customers’ smartphones are plugged into the USB port. It provides the driver with complete home-automation control without needing to fumble with their phone.
HomeLink Connect will be compatible with both Android and Apple operating systems.
Gentex also announced today that JLR will be the first automaker to offer the supplier’s next-generation Full Display Mirror (FDM), an intelligent rear-vision system. The system captures video from a rearward-facing camera and streams the feed to the LCD-integrated mirror, which provides the driver with an unobstructed, panoramic view behind the vehicle.
Gentex’s next-generation FDM features a frameless design with a larger, higher-resolution display and is accompanied by a 1.7-megapixel camera.
Gentex is now shipping FDMs to a total of five different automakers, with Jaguar Land Rover also being the supplier’s first European customer for the feature.
“We couldn’t be happier to announce the adoption of these new products by Jaguar Land Rover, which is a leader in connected car technologies,” said Gentex president and CEO, Steve Downing.
“Last year, we unveiled prototypes of HomeLink Connect and FDM 2.0, and now it’s integrated into a demonstrator vehicle here at CES. Tomorrow, they’ll be on the road. It’s a testament to our product development processes and the desirability of the tech itself.”
HomeLink Connect, FDM, and other Gentex technologies are currently on display at the company’s CES booth in Las Vegas.
