Mahindra First Choice Wheels Ltd. India’s No. 1 multi-brand certified used car company, in yet another first for the pre-owned car market has launched Konnect First – a connected car device designed to upgrade your car into a Smart Car. Conceptualised by MFCWL, the device has been developed by Wipro Limited, a leading global information technology, consulting and business process services company. Konnect First will be available at more than 1500 MFCWL franchise outlets across 700+ cities through the country.
Konnect First, an intelligent connected drive solution, enables the car owner to interact with the vehicle and stay connected to it via a mobile app, available on both iOS and Android platforms. With several class-leading features, it offers the car owner a comprehensive package of safety, loss prevention, utility, maintenance and driving analytics in one seamless interface, thus providing complete peace of mind when it comes to the well-being of the car and its owner. The sleek device is compatible with 200+ car variants across brands and can be easily plugged into the car’s OBD port to allow the driver access to a suite of additional functions.
“The automotive industry is at the cusp of a revolution with new technologies changing the way we drive. We see no reason why a pre-owned car owner should not have access to these. Mahindra First Choice Wheels is focused on bringing in the latest technologies through innovative solutions for pre-owned car owners in order to make the ownership and driving experience as enjoyable and satisfying as that of a new car owner. We are happy to have Wipro partner us in this endeavour,” said Dr. Nagendra Palle, MD & CEO, Mahindra First Choice Wheels Ltd.
“Technology-driven innovations are helping the automotive industry create disruptive and differentiated customer experiences, and engender a whole new value ecosystem. Wipro is delighted to have partnered with Mahindra First Choice Wheels Limited in their connected car endeavour, aimed at providing seamless driving experiences for their customers. Powered by IoT telematics, analytics and the end user’s mobile/web applications and voice interfaces, Wipro’s AutoInsights platform forms the backbone of the Konnect First solution,” said Sreenath A V, Senior Vice President, India Business Unit, Wipro Limited.
Konnect First offers several industry first features in one seamless package.
- Safety: Instant Location sharing, Real-time vehicle tracking, Roadside Assistance, Risk Cluster, SOS Alerts.
- Security and Loss Prevention: Tow alerts, Break-in Protection, Valet Protect and Fatigue Driving Alerts.
- Maintenance: Battery Voltage, Engine Coolant and Vehicle Health Monitoring alerts.
- Utility Features: Vehicle Insights, Trip Listing & Analytics, Dynamic Leaderboard, Driving Summary, Driving Profile Analytics, Document Wallet.
Konnect First priced at INR 7,999 comes with a complimentary 1 year app subscription. It also offers a 1-year warranty and after-market customer support.
F17 was a pivotal year for MFCWL. The company extended its leadership position in the used car industry with a strong performance in all areas of the business. The company reported an 80% growth in transaction revenues and over 200% growth in its technology enabled businesses. With these technology enabled solutions, MFCWL is focused on enabling its customers (institutional clients, dealers and consumers) to achieve high levels of transparency and efficiency in a sector otherwise largely unorganised in nature.
The company’s unique hybrid business model “on the ground” and “in the cloud” has also been acknowledged by external investors. The company has raised funding from Silicon Valley based Hedge Fund, Valiant Capital and Cox Automotive, a $17 Billion US based enterprise providing digital marketing, classifieds, software, wholesale and eCommerce solutions to dealers, consumers, manufacturers and financial institutions. Its brands include Manheim®, Autotrader®, Kelley Blue Book®, Dealertrack®, vAuto®, Xtime®.
