Arlington, Va. — The Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) and the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) signed a two-year agreement to share information on existing and future standards development so that consumer electronics products can be integrated more easily with a vehicle’s OEM electronics.
“The two groups are just in the exploratory phase of our relationship, and we hope it will lead to joint interface standards, but there is no guarantee that it will,” a CEA spokesperson told TWICE.
The interface standards could allow for integration of 12-volt aftermarket products with OEM electronics systems and for a standardized connector for connecting smartphones and tablets to OEM electronics systems, the spokesperson said.
With the agreement, CEA and SAE will cooperate to “advance our mutual goal of making the driving experience exceptional,” added Dave Wilson, CEA’s VP of technology and standards. “The integration of consumer electronics products into the vehicle continues to advance,” he said. Products that are integrated with factory electronics systems include navigation systems, rear-seat entertainment systems, and other aftermarket products “that let consumers equip older vehicles with the latest technology,” he explained.