SINGAPORE - A local start-up has designed a smart system that can help drivers keep tabs on the status of their car, pre-empting any possible breakdowns.
The system, dubbed Carmen, is made up of three parts: A Bluetooth-enabled unit that is plugged into a car's on-board diagnostics port, a mobile app and a Web dashboard.
It tracks six parameters - including coolant temperature and battery life - and will alert users when anything is out of the ordinary, so that they can schedule a visit to the mechanic.
Carmen was developed by Carmen Automotive, which was founded by Mr Sem Chong, an entrepreneur who created the Kube MP3 player in 2009.
Currently, the system is compatible with cars from Honda, Nissan and Toyota - which combined make up over 60 per cent of the cars in Singapore. There are plans to extend this to other brands such as BMW and Mercedes by the first quarter of next year.
Carmen will be available from early September for $119.90. Users will have to pay a subscription fee of $39.90 a year from the second year.
