Amazon has used CES to announce a handful of automotive-related developments including the launch of Ring Car Cam, which was originally introduced in 2020.
Starting with the latter, Ring Car Cam is now available for pre-order and pricing starts at $199.99 but will increase to $249.99 after the initial introduction offer expires. It’s slated to begin shipping on February 15th and bring 24/7 security features to cars.
A high-tech alternative to traditional dashcams, the Ring Car Cam features front and rear facing cameras as well as a built-in microphone and speaker. It plugs into your car’s OBD-II port and this enables it to receive power as well as vehicle information, which can trigger recordings even when your car is turned off.
Also: Ring Jumps Into Car Business With Dashcam, Alarm And Connect System For Your Ride
As an example, if a break-in is detected, the device will start recording and send you a real-time alert via the Ring app. Users can then see a live video of what’s happening and use the speaker to potentially scare off the thief. If that fails, at least you’ll have video of the suspect.
The device can also record if accidents are detected and users can manually start recording at anytime by saying “Alexa, record.” When the latter occurs, the Car Cam will record for several minutes and Ring says this would be useful during traffic stops by police.
The Car Cam comes with Wi-Fi connectivity and stores videos locally. However, to get the most out of the device, you’ll want to get the optional Ring Protect Go subscription, which costs $6 per month or $60 per year. It provides an LTE connection, which allows for real-time notifications and video streaming on the go. The subscription also saves videos to the cloud for up to 180 days and this ensures you’ll still have video even if your car is stolen.
Since privacy is always a consideration when you’re using an internet connected camera, the Car Cam has a privacy shutter on the interior camera as well as a light that indicates when the microphone and interior camera are recording. Ring also said the device supports optional end-to-end encryption.
The Car Cam costs more than many traditional dashcams, but Ring noted “cars aren’t just expensive investments, they’re a lifeline for many, with 76% of U.S. adult commuters depending on their vehicle to get to and from work.” The company went on to say car security products are one of the most requested items from current owners and note a car was stolen every 39 seconds in the United States in 2020.
While the Car Cam can give people peace of mind, it isn’t compatible with every vehicle. Ring has a partial incompatibility list on their website and it includes an assortment of models including the 2006-2022 Acura MDX, 2006-2016 Honda CR-V, and 2020-Present Mercedes GLE and GLC crossovers. There’s more on the list and it’s probably safe to say vehicles without an OBD-II port won’t work.
Alexa Gains New Capabilities For EVs
Besides gearing up to launch the Ring Car Cam, Amazon announced a few updates surrounding Alexa. In particular, the voice assistant is embracing electric vehicles as it will “help them find, navigate to, and pay for public charging spots through a simple voice request such as, ‘Alexa, find an EV charging station near me.’”
Amazon says Alexa will have access to real-time availability for more than 150,000 public charging stations in the United States and EVgo is the first to offer voice-initiated payments for charging. To initiate the latter, users simply need to say “Alexa, pay for my charge.”
