HARMAN Introduces Ready Ride at MWC Barcelona to Transform Two-Wheeler Connectivity
HARMAN, a global automotive technology leader and subsidiary of Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., has unveiled Ready Ride, a rugged, scalable, and future-ready end-to-end connectivity platform engineered specifically for the two-wheeler market. Announced at MWC Barcelona (Hall 2, Stand #2D51), Ready Ride represents a strategic expansion of HARMAN’s connected vehicle expertise into motorcycles and scooters, a segment that has historically lagged in embedded telematics adoption. With this launch, HARMAN aims to reduce vehicle time-to-market for OEMs while lowering total cost of ownership for riders through a unified hardware and software architecture designed for durability, scalability, and seamless user experience.
A Purpose-Built Connectivity Platform for Two-Wheelers
Ready Ride is HARMAN’s first connectivity solution developed exclusively for the two-wheeler segment, addressing the unique structural, environmental, and cost sensitivities of motorcycles and scooters. The platform integrates a scalable telematics control unit (TCU), an intelligent and upgradeable software stack, embedded cellular connectivity, and a comprehensive OEM backend system. Together, these components create a fully integrated ecosystem that supports over-the-air (OTA) updates, premium infotainment services, advanced diagnostics, and a growing portfolio of safety and security features. Unlike fragmented aftermarket solutions or single-function modules, Ready Ride offers a packaged, production-ready platform that eliminates the need for one-off integrations, enabling OEMs to deploy a standardized connectivity foundation across models and markets.
Addressing the Connectivity Gap in the Motorcycle Industry
According to insights from Berg Insight, fewer than five percent of motorcycles globally are currently connected through telematics systems, despite rising consumer expectations for navigation, safety, entertainment, and remote vehicle management. This gap represents a major opportunity for OEMs seeking differentiation in a competitive and price-sensitive market. Many riders today rely on mounting smartphones on handlebars to access navigation and media, yet such solutions expose devices to vibration, weather conditions, and sudden acceleration forces that can cause malfunctions, detachment, or permanent damage. These limitations highlight the need for a purpose-built, motorcycle-grade connectivity platform that combines consumer-level digital functionality with automotive-grade durability.
Leveraging Automotive Experience for Scalable Deployment
HARMAN brings extensive automotive connectivity experience to the two-wheeler sector, having delivered more than 20 million connected vehicles across 120 countries. This global footprint informs Ready Ride’s architecture, which is designed to streamline engineering processes and reduce program complexity for OEMs. The compact, ruggedized TCU enables manufacturers to reuse system architecture across different motorcycle platforms and geographic regions, minimizing development rework and accelerating the transition from design to mass production. By providing a standardized hardware and software framework, HARMAN enables OEMs to scale connectivity offerings efficiently while maintaining flexibility for regional customization and feature differentiation.
Powered by Snapdragon Digital Chassis Technology
Ready Ride is built on advanced system-on-chip technology from Qualcomm Technologies, Inc., utilizing Snapdragon Digital Chassis SoCs tailored specifically for the two-wheeler industry. The Snapdragon Digital Chassis platform is engineered to support latency-sensitive and bandwidth-intensive use cases over cellular networks, enabling real-time telematics, safety alerts, infotainment streaming, and secure data exchange. Through this collaboration, HARMAN combines its automotive integration expertise with Qualcomm’s semiconductor innovation to deliver a high-performance, scalable solution that supports current connectivity requirements while preparing for future mobility use cases.
Enabling Continuous Innovation Through OTA Updates
A defining feature of Ready Ride is its comprehensive OTA capability, which allows OEMs to remotely update firmware and software throughout the vehicle lifecycle. By decoupling hardware from software deployment, manufacturers can introduce new features, performance improvements, and security enhancements without requiring physical service interventions. This reduces dealership dependency, lowers maintenance costs, and shortens innovation cycles. For riders, OTA functionality ensures that motorcycles remain technologically current, with new capabilities added over time without inconvenience. Remote diagnostics further enhance reliability by identifying potential issues proactively, reducing downtime and preserving resale value.
Built for Motorcycle-Grade Durability
Motorcycles operate in demanding environments characterized by constant vibration, exposure to dust and water, and wide temperature fluctuations. To meet these challenges, Ready Ride incorporates an IP69-certified enclosure with rugged connectors designed to prevent dust and water ingress, even during high-pressure washdowns common in two-wheeler maintenance. Shock and vibration resilience have been validated under motorcycle-specific testing conditions to ensure consistent performance in real-world riding scenarios. The compact design supports flexible mounting options within tight packaging constraints, allowing OEMs to integrate the system without compromising structural integrity or reliability.
Advancing Rider Safety with Connected Intelligence
Motorcycle riders face significantly higher exposure to road hazards compared to occupants of enclosed vehicles, making reliable safety systems essential. Ready Ride’s roadmap includes support for Advanced Ride Assistance Systems (ARAS), enabling features such as forward collision warnings and hazard detection alerts. The platform is also designed to detect crashes and tip-over events, triggering emergency response capabilities. It is eCall-ready and equipped with a backup battery to maintain critical functionality in the event of power loss, ensuring that emergency communication remains active under adverse conditions. These capabilities position Ready Ride as a foundational element for enhancing rider protection through connected intelligence.
Strengthening Security Against Theft
Motorcycles are particularly vulnerable to theft due to their portability and limited physical security barriers. Ready Ride addresses this risk with a security-focused development roadmap that includes theft alerts, stolen vehicle tracking, and remote immobilization functions. These features work in tandem to deter unauthorized access, enable real-time tracking in case of theft, and empower owners and OEMs to respond effectively. By embedding these capabilities directly within the TCU architecture, HARMAN delivers a cohesive security framework that enhances peace of mind for riders while strengthening brand value for manufacturers.
Delivering a Seamless Digital Experience
Ready Ride incorporates dual Bluetooth support and compatibility with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, making it one of the first embedded connectivity platforms in the two-wheeler market to offer such functionality. This integration enables riders to access navigation, communication, and media applications through familiar smartphone ecosystems while maintaining hands-free interaction. The result is a user experience that mirrors the intuitive interfaces consumers expect, reducing setup complexity and enhancing safety by minimizing distractions.
Lowering Total Cost of Ownership for OEMs and Riders
By consolidating telematics hardware, connectivity, backend services, and software management into a single integrated platform, Ready Ride reduces engineering overhead and operational complexity for OEMs. Standardization lowers program costs, accelerates product launches, and enables long-term scalability across vehicle generations. For riders, the combination of OTA updates, remote diagnostics, enhanced security, and connected safety features translates into reduced maintenance expenses, improved reliability, and sustained vehicle value. This dual benefit structure strengthens the overall ecosystem by aligning manufacturer efficiency with consumer satisfaction.
Industry Leadership Driving the Future of Two-Wheeled Mobility
Shahriar Ravari, Director and Ready Ride Business Lead at HARMAN, emphasized that the platform extends HARMAN’s connectivity leadership into the two-wheeler domain, providing OEMs with a standardized TCU foundation that reduces complexity and supports rapid global deployment. By packaging hardware in a ruggedized small form factor and integrating end-to-end software capabilities, Ready Ride ensures consistent performance across diverse riding environments, from urban traffic corridors to remote terrain. Jeff Arnold, Vice President and General Manager of Auto Telematics and Consumer/Connectivity at Qualcomm Technologies, highlighted the collaboration’s role in accelerating scalable and always-on connectivity for motorcycles. Together, the companies aim to enable next-generation rider experiences that combine safety, performance, and digital sophistication.
A New Era of Connected Two-Wheeler Ecosystems
Ready Ride signals a broader shift in the motorcycle industry toward embedded connectivity as a standard rather than an optional feature. By addressing durability requirements, cost constraints, and evolving consumer expectations within a single cohesive platform, HARMAN positions itself at the forefront of connected two-wheeler innovation. As adoption expands and new telematics services are introduced, Ready Ride is poised to redefine how motorcycles integrate digital intelligence, transforming them into fully connected mobility devices that enhance safety, security, and user engagement across global markets.
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