LAS VEGAS, NV – Detroit Diesel will be collaborating with AT&T and Microsoft to enhance the Detroit Connect suite of connected vehicle services, Daimler Trucks North America has announced.

AT&T will provide Internet of Things connectivity for the Freightliner Cascadia’s new Detroit Connect Truck Data Center platform. Its communications hardware will deliver Detroit Connect Remote Updates, which enables over-the-air engine programming and powertrain electronic firmware updates, and integrates third-party telematics applications.

Microsoft, meanwhile, will support all Detroit Connect services with the Microsoft Azure cloud platform.

“The Detroit Connect platform is a prime example of how Internet of Things connectivity can improve efficiency, safety and performance in connected vehicles,” said Chris Penrose, AT&T’s senior vice president – Internet of Things.

The connectivity platform will be available with the new Freightliner Cascadia beginning in January.

Detroit has collaborated with Microsoft to establish a new cloud-based back office environment for all Detroit Connect services, including new features such as Detroit Connect Remote Updates, enabled by the new Truck Data Center connectivity platform. The Microsoft Azure cloud platform helps process more performance data, and deliver it reliably and more securely, Daimler says.  

“Today’s massive digital transformation of the automotive industry can open up many new opportunities for Freightliners. The power of increased connectivity and the Microsoft Azure cloud platform will allow Detroit to deliver context-specific insights from vast networks of data and enhance the reliability, richness and convenience of their services for customers,” said Sanjay Ravi, Microsoft’s managing director – worldwide discrete manufacturing, enterprise and partner group.