Connected Car Solution Provider Zubie Unveils Open API Platform For The Internet Of Cars

Zubie is a connected car solution provider that sells a device to allow drivers to tap into their car’s onboard computer and sync vehicle diagnostic data to their smartphone. Now, the company has announced it is expanding its footprint with the introduction of an open API that will allow developers to build on top of its platform.

The API is called “ZinC,” or “Zubie for the Internet of Cars,” and it allows partners to access vehicle diagnostics for use in their own applications, as well as location data, trip activity and driving data. These apps can be focused on consumer use cases, such as those that are designed to track and improve fuel economy or social trip-sharing applications, as two examples. Alternatively, these apps can be aimed at businesses such as auto dealerships to tie in data pulled from vehicles into expense or billing platforms. They can also be used by those who are involved with fleet management or ride-sharing services, among others.

“The Internet of Cars industry is growing, but there is still much more to be tapped,” said Zubie CEO Tim Kelly. “ZinC opens a door for new players to enter and create applications that help small businesses and consumers, ultimately moving the market opportunity forward. There is an immense amount of interest from developers to create ZinC, and we look forward to seeing what they do with this technology.”

Zubie says it’s already garnering interest from hundreds of developers and partners who want to take advantage of the new API in their applications. Online service appointment booking platform Openbay and on-demand roadside assistance provider Urgent.ly are two of the businesses that are involved, and the ZinC API is also powering deployments of Safeco’s Teen Driving Program. It’s also working with companies such as AutoNation, Progressive, GeekSquad and Telefonica’s O2 Car Connection.

Zubie is one of many connected car platforms that are currently on the market. Many of these companies initially got off the ground by offering consumers a dongle that plugs into a car’s onboard computer to allow them to view and track their vehicle’s data with a smartphone app, including fuel consumption, travel times and more. Some of the other big names in this space include Dash and Automatic.

More recently, many of these companies have started trying to expand beyond merely being car dongle-to-app service providers to serve as more of a platform for third-party apps. For example, earlier this year, Zubie competitor Automatic launched its own software development kit aimed at turning its hardware into a platform. Similarly, Zubie is also targeting a wider niche beyond the consumer market with its app and now its API. The company also works with small businesses and other business verticals, including strategic partners in the automotive and insurance industries, as well as telecom operators.