Aftermarket telematics

Driving Efficiency, Safety, and Reliability 

Aftermarket telematics systems and solutions open up huge possibilities for how businesses interact with their vehicles, and the services they can offer their customers. An aftermarket telematics solution that provides accurate position data even in complex urban environments will enable businesses that serve vehicle fleets, tolling services, insurers, and even consumer products to create compelling offerings that put them ahead of the competition. 

On this page you can find a range of information about the aftermarket telematics market and challenges, explore technologies that aftermarket telematics solutions rely on, and discover how u-blox can give you unparalleled position accuracy and confidence in a commercially attractive package. 

• What is aftermarket telematics?
• Use cases
• Challenges in aftermarket telematics
• Key technologies
• The u-blox offering
• F10 Series: The Next Level in Aftermarket Telematics
• The Future of Aftermarket Telematics
• Partner with u-blox for Advanced Telematics

 

What is aftermarket telematics? 

Aftermarket telematics refers to the integration of telematics systems into vehicles after they leave the factory. These systems collect and transmit critical data on vehicle location, performance, and driver behavior, enabling better decision-making for fleet managers, insurers, and vehicle operators. 

Unlike factory-installed telematics, aftermarket solutions are versatile and customizable, catering to diverse needs across industries. GNSS positioning and Dead Reckoning technologies, such as those provided by u-blox, ensure accurate and uninterrupted tracking, even in challenging urban scenarios. This makes aftermarket telematics an indispensable tool for businesses seeking to optimize fleet management and ensure operational efficiency. 

 

 

 

Challenges in aftermarket telematics 

GNSS Signal Challenges 

Urban environments often disrupt GNSS signals due to multipath effects, signal reflection, and RF interference. This can lead to inaccurate position data. 

Hardware Constraints 

Limited physical space for devices and the use of small antennas with restricted ground planes create design challenges. 

Installation Issues 

Aftermarket devices are typically installed by third parties who may not follow precise GNSS installation guidelines, leading to signal distortion and reduced accuracy. 

System Compatibility 

Ensuring compatibility across different vehicle generations and types requires adaptable solutions, to simplify migration and design-in processes.

 

 

Key aftermarket telematics technologies 

Multi-constellation support 

A GNSS module that utilizes multiple satellite constellations will provide enhanced positioning accuracy and reliability, even in urban environments, anywhere in the world. 

Dual-band GNSS 

Using multiple bands of GNSS signal, you can reduce multipath errors. While it is mandatory for applications that require real-time kinematics (RTK) for centimeter-level precision, it also helps in standard-precision applications in challenging city areas. This technology is more expensive to implement as it relies on more expensive hardware. 
Learn more about Multipath Mitigation 

Dead Reckoning 

Also known as inertial navigation, dead reckoning uses accelerometers and gyroscopes to provide data about a vehicle's velocity, heading, pitch and roll. This data can be used to improve position estimations in areas where GNSS signal is poor. 

Dead reckoning can be augmented with data from a wheel speed sensor, to improve accuracy even more in GNSS-denied areas. 
Learn more about Automotive Dead Reckoning(ADR) and Untethered Dead Reckoning (UDR) 

Noise Reduction 

To mitigate RF interference and improve GNSS performance, technologies like Low Noise Amplifiers (LNA) and Surface Acoustic Wave (SAW) filters play a vital role. LNAs amplify weak signals while minimizing added noise, ensuring reliable signal reception even in challenging environments. SAW filters further enhance performance by isolating the desired signal frequencies from interference, providing cleaner and more accurate data for positioning. 

Protection Level 

Protection level is a measure of confidence in your positioning data. The greater the protection level, the higher the uncertainty associated with a reported position. For instance, a protection level of 1 m means you can be 95% sure that your data is accurate to within a meter, while a protection level of 30 m means you can be 95% certain that your data is only accurate to within 30 m.  

Protection level is vital for location-based services such as tolling, where it can be used to decide which road a person is travelling on (and therefore what to charge them) based on the likelihood that their reported position is accurate. 
Learn more about Protection Level  

The u-blox offering for aftermarket telematics 

u-blox strikes an ideal balance between accuracy, robustness, and cost, making it a standout choice for aftermarket telematics solutions. With industry-leading GNSS modules and technologies, u-blox ensures reliable positioning even in challenging environments, such as urban areas with signal interference. 

In addition to features such as multi-constellation, dual-band GNSS support, and Protection Level, what sets u-blox apart is our seamless migration options between product generations. We’ve carefully engineered our latest products to match the size of previous models, so you can upgrade your products without having to re-engineer them. 

This combination of technical excellence and user-friendly design empowers engineers, fleet managers, and end-users alike to achieve their goals with confidence and efficiency. 

Choose your u-blox solution   

	Dead reckoning	Dual-band	Firmware upgradeability	SAW + LNA	TCXO	Included antenna
	Smooth experience even with weak or no GNSS signals	Stable position accuracy in urban environments	Future-proof hardware capable of running new firmware versions	Robust RF path with surface amplitude filter and low-noise amplifier suitable for operation in conjunction with other transceivers	Fast time-to-first fix by maintaining accurate timing with a Temperature-Compensated Crystal Oscillator	Faster time-to-market with ready-to-use RF design thanks to integrated antenna
MIA-M10C
MAX-M10M
MIA-M10Q				●	●
MAX-M10S				●	●
SAM-M10Q				●	●	●
NEO-M9N			●	●	●
MAX-F10S		●		●	●
DAN-F10N		●		●	●	●
NEO-F10N		●	●	●	●
NEO-M9V	●		●	●	●
ZED-F9R	●	●	●	●	●

 

F10 Series: The Next Level in Aftermarket Telematics

The F10 series from u-blox represents a significant leap forward for aftermarket telematics. Designed with dual-band GNSS capabilities, the F10 series ensures precise positioning even in dense urban environments where multipath errors and signal obstructions are common. 

Key benefits of the F10 series for aftermarket telematics include: 

• Enhanced Accuracy: Dual-band GNSS delivers meter-level positioning, significantly reducing multipath interference.
• Robust Reliability: Advanced jamming and spoofing detection ensures uninterrupted performance, even in RF-heavy environments.
• Ease of Integration: Pin-to-pin compatibility simplifies the migration process for engineers and accelerates time-to-market.
• Cost-Effectiveness: Balances high performance with a competitive price point, making it accessible for a range of applications. 

Whether you are managing fleets, enabling car-sharing services, or developing tolling systems, the F10 series provides the accuracy, reliability, and ease of use needed to excel in aftermarket telematics. 

 

Looking Ahead: The Future of Aftermarket Telematics 

The adoption of dual-band GNSS is steadily increasing and is expected to become the standard in the coming years. As factory-installed telematics solutions grow, aftermarket telematics will continue to play a critical role in enhancing vehicle connectivity and fleet optimization, especially in developing regions and niche markets. 

Telematics solutions are also becoming indispensable for increasing fleet efficiency, saving fuel, and improving the predictability of operations. However, as more vehicles come factory-connected, the demand for hardware-based aftermarket solutions in certain segments may decline. Privacy concerns and regulatory differences across countries could delay the widespread use of this factory-generated data. 

This shift indicates that, in the long term, many aftermarket telematics solutions may evolve from hardware-based offerings to software-driven platforms, leveraging existing in-vehicle data to deliver enhanced services. 

 

Partner with u-blox for Advanced Telematics 

With its broad product portfolio and industry-leading technologies, u-blox is redefining what’s possible in aftermarket telematics. From improving GNSS accuracy with its entry-level offering to providing reliable Dead Reckoning solutions, u-blox equips businesses with the tools they need to thrive in challenging environments. 

Explore the possibilities with u-blox’s GNSS modules and take your aftermarket telematics systems to the next level. Contact our experts today to learn how we can support your journey to smarter, more connected fleet management.