Autocode-Remote - vehicle coding has never been so easy

Westfalia-Automotive wants to take away 'coding fear' for workshops with new vehicle coding solution

With the new Autocode Remote from Westfalia-Automotive, vehicle coding has never been so easy.

Many garages are familiar with this situation: The driver wants to hand in his car and a towbar with the corresponding vehicle-specific electrical kit is to be fitted - simple! For many workshops, this request now causes them to break out in a sweat, as the increasing complexity of vehicle electrics makes it incredibly difficult for workshops to code a vehicle with aftermarket parts. Of course, car manufacturers want as many drivers as possible to order their vehicle with a towbar. But the end customer would like to have the option of choosing this at a later date. Does this now mean that the workshop's hands are tied, and the motorist is best off buying a new car?

"No, not at all!" says Mark Ebbinghaus, Head of Product Management at Westfalia-Automotive. He adds: "With the Autocode-Remote, or ACR for short, we can now offer our workshop customers a solution that easily codes even the latest vehicles, such as the VW Golf 8, for towing. The best thing about it: during the coding process, the customer has permanent live access via the Internet to a team of technical experts who accompany the coding process at no additional cost. Just as if they were sitting right next to them."

Another plus point for the Autocode Remote is the wide range of diagnostics and coding that goes far beyond towbars, as keys or onboard cameras can also be conveniently adjusted with the help of the ACR and a smartphone or tablet. And all this at a fixed, transparent price that can be viewed on the portal before booking the coding.

Vehicle coding - what is actually behind it?

Most functions in modern vehicles are controlled by computer-based electronics. This applies to basic functions such as ignition or the braking system as well as to comfort functions or assistance systems.

Of central importance in this context are the so-called control units, which process the incoming signals from the sensors distributed throughout the car and convert them into specific actions by controlling electric motors or electromagnetic valves. The radio signal of the car key, for example, is thus received by the sensor, transmitted to the responsible control unit and translated into the action "unlock central locking" by means of the corresponding motors. The control units are also networked via a data bus system to enable communication between them.

Towbar fittings also include the fitting of a corresponding electrical kit (see also "Kits"), which contains a control unit in addition to the cable set and vehicle-specific plugs. By means of the so-called vehicle coding ("Coding"), the control units of the vehicle are informed that a towbar has been installed. This ensures that the lights, but also the safety and driver assistance systems function in a way that is precisely coordinated with the towing operation.

About Westfalia-Automotive:

For decades, towbars and bicycle carrier systems from Rheda-Wiedenbrück have been popular products for leisure, hobby and work. This is how Westfalia moves people's lives - and has done so for 175 years. The Westfalia brand inspires and is synonymous with quality, innovation, reliability and competence.

As a full-range supplier, the company manufactures a total of more than 1,700 different types of towbars, precisely developed for the respective vehicle models. In addition to all renowned automobile manufacturers, customers also include the most important car parts wholesalers.

As part of the Horizon Global Corporation, Westfalia-Automotive operates globally and thus benefits from a worldwide network with comprehensive know-how and the latest technologies. In one of the world's largest production facilities for towbars, around 700 employees produce more than 1 million parts per year.

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