THE NEURAL NETWORK

A mix of software and hardware that enables a car to communicate with an outside system—such as Wi-Fi or another vehicle—or with its own internal devices.

HOW IT WORKS Some companies are developing a software platform that connects a car’s data—fuel usage, average speed, GPS tracking, driving habits—to a user’s smartphone, while others are building technology for managing fleets of cars.

COMPETITORS More than 35 startups, including Peloton, which develops wireless and radar-based communication software to link trucks to prevent accidents, and Zendrive, which uses a smartphone’s sensors to measure and improve driving behavior.