Case StudyCaso de EstudioCas d'Estudi

World’s First CarPlay & Android Auto Apps For a Major Car Manufacturer

The Challenge

The modern car buyer demands a seamless digital experience, mirroring their connected lifestyles. The rise of IoT in the industry meant car manufacturers needed to adapt, offering software-driven features beyond horsepower and sleek designs.

The release of the Apple CarPlay and Android automotive platforms in 2014 was a call for innovation from OEMs. Less than two years later, SEIDOR Opentrends was the first to answer that call.

As a leader in integration, SEIDOR Opentrends created the world’s first original app that integrates with Carplay, multiple software, and the physical vehicle. The result? A new, intuitive automotive experience at the driver’s fingertips.

car maker mobile app interface mock up

A Strategic, Integrative Solution For a Major World Car Manufacturer 

We became the first to develop native apps for CarPlay and Android Auto, creating a truly integrated solution. SEIDOR Opentrends tackled this challenge through a dual-lens approach:

  • Vehicle Integration: Transforming complex vehicle sensor data into actionable intelligence
  • User Experience: Designing an interface that enhanced safety rather than compromising it

Market Impact

The resulting application transformed the ownership experience through:

  1. Real-time vehicle performance monitoring
  2. Predictive maintenance alerts
  3. Interactive digital vehicle manual
  4. Direct service scheduling capabilities

"Safety is a major consideration, which makes designing for the car unique to other user interfaces. It means understanding and designing for a specific situation. Thus, it demands fresh thinking and design, from both a UX and UI perspective." - Xavi Buscalla, Opentrends Inc CEO

Integrating Technologies to Pioneer a New Kind of App

The Opentrends team used a wide array of technologies and tools to create an app that seamlessly integrated with CarPlay and the physical vehicle. The backend architecture for this project was particularly demanding. It required high availability, reuse, and extension of MirrorLink apps. The biggest challenge was linking the vehicle’s diagnosis port (CAN Bus) via a DataPlug.

  • The app was programmed in Swift to ensure native compatibility with the Apple ecosystem and was developed using a series of target segment usability sprints supported by UX, development and Agile delivery.
  • Backend technology was created by Angular JS, JavaDocker deployed on AWS Cloud platform and Socket.io
  • Architected on Apache and Tomcat servers with Oracle and MongoDB databases in SET replica
  • Leveraged OpenCMS to display static content
wrist with smart watch on showing parking alter
hand holding a mobile phone in front of a US highway
hand holding mobile phone with carplay app on screen

Key insights - An App That Transforms Car Ownership

This project revealed three crucial lessons for automotive executives:

  • Digital Integration is Non-Negotiable: Modern vehicles must function as both transportation and digital interface
  • Safety-First Innovation: User experience in automotive requires fundamentally different design thinking than consumer apps
  • First-Mover Advantage: Early adoption of emerging platforms can define industry standards

 

The Automotive Brands Future Perspective

This case represents more than a successful app launch — it marks the beginning of a fundamental shift in how manufacturers think about vehicle development. In today's market, software integration isn't just a feature; it's a core determinant of market success.

The question for automotive executives is no longer whether to embrace digital transformation but how quickly they can innovate while maintaining the safety and reliability their brands were built on.

SEIDOR Opentrends has the expertise to design and develop next-generation car applications. Learn about our mobility services

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