Daimler builds on partnership with Zonar
DUSSELDORF, Germany — Daimler Trucks North America (DTNA) and telematics company Zonar are building on their partnership and will be able to offer over-the-air engine programming beginning next year.
The companies made the announcement at a global media event in Germany last week.
“If you had to take your mobile device to the store for a few days while it got a software update, you wouldn’t be too happy,” said Matthew Pfaffenbach, head of telematics with DTNA.
Parameters such as speed limiter settings will be programmable remotely without taking the truck into the shop. This will allow fleets to take measures such as reducing the top speed allowed when fuel prices increase.
Daimler has taken a minority ownership stake in Zonar. The two companies together developed DTNA’s Virtual Technician remote diagnostics platform. Pfaffenbach said Virtual Technician typically provides fleet owners with advice on how to respond to a fault code within 20 minutes of the code appearing. About 20% of all fault codes recorded by Virtual Technician can be addressed by the driver without taking the truck off the road, he added.
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