Smartphone-connectible car display developed by Toyota

Toyota is developing a car display system that seamlessly connects to a smartphone and mirrors its display when it is placed on a stand.

"This is an ordinary smartphone. When you place it on the charging stand, first of all, contactless charging starts. Meanwhile, the smartphone screen synchs with the car display. After it's done that, the phone can be used like an ordinary car display, via touchscreen or buttons on the steering wheel."

The contactless charging is done using Qi, an international standard already widely used for smartphones in Japan. Communication between the smartphone and display is done by Wi-Fi.

"With navigation systems using smartphones, it's sometimes dangerous to operate them while driving. But with this system, you can safely use the normal interface of a car display, while keeping the advantages of a smartphone. So we intend to provide enhanced safety for even more people, as well as the fun of a car display."

"We've actually only just made this, so we haven't decided exactly what form to release it in. By presenting it at the Motor Show, we've obtained lots of useful feedback, both within Toyota and from outside. So we'd like to implement this system as soon as possible."