SanDisk Unveils SD Flash Card for Connected Cars

Jennifer van der Kleut

Here’s one creative way to customize and upgrade your car’s connectivity features-insert one of SanDisk’s new automotive SD flash cards.

SanDisk recently announced the debut of its new product, which the company says will allow advanced driver assist systems (ADAS), better infotainment and 3D mapping, among other features, to be loaded into compatible cars.

SanDisk’s move is being called a strong one by industry experts, as transportation advances are heavily shifting focus from hardware toward software to keep up with the growth of the “Internet of Things (IoT),” reports ZDNet.

Likewise, tech companies previously only known for their Web, phone and email services, like Google and Apple, are now ranking among major auto manufacturers like Ford, General Motors and Mercedes-Benz when it comes to auto innovation.

Richard Robinson, director of Strategy Analytics’ Global Automotive Practice, noted in a statement that “in-car tech is becoming as important as 0-60 and MPG ratings for car manufacturers, if not more so,” reports InfoStor.

SanDisk agrees.

“The ‘Internet of Things’ is the most dynamic force to impact the automotive and industrial markets in a decade, driving exciting new opportunities for connectivity as well as new challenges for how to store, process and manage the data it creates,” Oded Sagee, senior director of connected solutions at SanDisk, told ZDNet.

ZDNet reports that samples of SanDisk’s new automotive SD flash card will be released in March, and that SanDisk has plans to add the automotive card features to its Industrial and Industrial XT SD card products for IoT.