The original Automatic was a $100 adapter that connected to your car's OBD II port and synced with the Automatic companion app. It wasn't incredibly useful for the price: it tried to help users with tracking road trips and speeding warnings, but it received mixed reviews.
Automatic is back at it again with the Automatic Pro, yours for the taking at $129.95. It's more expensive than the first model, but at least in my opinion, a much better deal. Instead of connecting to your phone via Bluetooth, the Automatic Pro has an always-on 3G connection included at no extra charge (for the first five years).
Just like the original version, it connects to your car's OBD II port to send detailed information to your phone. The new 3G compatibility allows the Automatic Pro to find you car anywhere and supports automated actions with IFTTT.
The Automatic Pro also carries over functionality from the first model, such as automatically calling emergency services if it detects a car crash and diagnosing mechanical problems.
So is a $129.99 OBD II adapter worth it in a world where generic Bluetooth adapters are available for under ? It depends on how much you are willing to pay for the exclusive features like a well-made companion app and IFTTT support. The five years of 3G included make it an easier pill to swallow, but it's still a hefty premium for what it provides.
Source: Automatic, Automatic Blog
PRESS RELEASE
SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Today, Automatic, the company bringing the power of the internet into every car on the road, announced the launch of a new connected car adapter with no subscription fees. The Automatic Pro is designed so that any consumer can experience the power of a connected car based on their specific needs and interests. The company also unveiled new data based on billions of miles of driving behavior, the largest repository of driver behavior data available.
“We’re excited to be using the power of cellular connectivity to build upon the offerings of the second generation adapter and combine a beautiful, scalable UI with an extensive range of features that will help consumers the most”
Building off the success of its second generation adapter, Automatic has created Automatic Pro, a flagship adapter with a cellular signal focused on IoT and real-time connectivity. Automatic Pro will further open up a car’s on-board computer to consumers in a way that’s easy to understand and use.
“We’re excited to be using the power of cellular connectivity to build upon the offerings of the second generation adapter and combine a beautiful, scalable UI with an extensive range of features that will help consumers the most,” said Ljuba Miljkovic, Co-Founder of Automatic.
These features include real-time vehicle location tracking, a new and improved Crash Alert feature, integration with the world’s first app store for the car, the Automatic App Gallery, the ability for Automatic Pro to act as a surrogate mechanic when the check engine light comes on, and much more.
In conjunction with the launch of the Automatic Pro, Automatic is also rolling out a brand new Automatic app for iOS and Android. The app will have fully customizable notifications for everything Automatic tracks, built-in IFTTT integration to let users automate popular online services and more advanced engine light diagnostics. The Automatic app seamlessly integrates drivers’ cars with the rest of everyday life through the Automatic App Gallery, so that they can do things like talk to users’ homes and warm them up just in time for arrival and track and file business mileage and reimbursements.
Through the automotive cloud, Automatic is already offering connected car cloud services to the largest players in the automotive industry, working with 5 of the top 10 insurance companies and partnering with car manufacturers and auto clubs like AAA. Automatic has taken the knowledge gained from working with both enterprises and consumers to develop these new products that showcase the variety and value of the services the Automatic platform enables.
With the new Automatic Pro adapter featuring an unlimited 3G connection, millions of miles will now be logged daily by drivers without the need for an app or phone. This data will shape the largest dataset of driving behaviors in existence and have an extensive impact on the future of driving -- from how city planners deal with traffic flow to the development of self-driving car technology. Detailed insights and additional information can be found on Automatic’s blog and includes data such as:
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Silicon Valley as a whole is the lowest in emissions per car. In contrast, San Antonio emits 150% more per car than Silicon Valley.
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Porsche and BMW are the most aggressive drivers on the road, with Chevrolet representing the most aggressive American-made car.
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Southern cities are more aggressive than northern cities. Phoenix is the most aggressive on US highways, followed by San Diego, Los Angeles, Atlanta, Tampa, and Las Vegas. Northern cities like Seattle, Boston, Boise, and Spokane are the least aggressive.
The Automatic Pro adapter is available for sale for $129.95 and is available at Best Buy, Amazon, and Automatic.com with no ongoing service fees. The app is available on iPhone, Android, and web. For more information, please visit www.automatic.com.
