What is NissanConnect Services and how does it work?

NissanConnect Services (NCS) is the brand’s latest feature. After cementing Intelligent Mobility into the hearts and minds of Filipinos, this is the next big thing for Nissan vehicles in the future. 

The model that served as the pioneering nameplate for the new service is the Nissan Almera in its VL trim. Nissan’s latest subcompact brings a wealth of technology to the table, and NCS will further smarten up the ownership experience by integrating with your smartphone. So how does NCS work? Let’s dive into some of its details. 

First, you have to make sure that your Nissan vehicle is equipped with the feature. At the time of writing, Nissan Philippines only has this feature in the 2024 Almera VL, but the brand has assured us that more cars will come with NCS in the near future. 

Second, download the app from either the Google Play Store or the Apple App Store. Once downloaded, tap on the app and proceed with the registration process. 

Third, input your personal details and verify your account through your provided e-mail address. 

Fourth, enter your Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) and your current odometer value. In this step, you need to locate the VIN of your unit, you may find this on your Certificate of Registration, on the bottom of the windshield on the driver’s side, and/or the passenger footwell under the matting—all depending on the car. Once entered, start the car and enter the current odometer reading. This will serve as your “security code” and prove that you are inside the car and registering. 

Finally, enjoy using NissanConnect Services. It’s also important to remember that the NissanConnect Service app will be free for the first three years, which is worth P30,000, right out of the gate. 

The technology utilizes an e-sim to provide the car with cellular data service. Nissan is tied with Smart Telecom, so customers are assured of reliable data services anywhere in the Philippines. The e-sim gets direct data access to NissanConnect servers, which take prompts from the user’s smartphone app, which can then send and receive information to the registered user. The system is tied in with the engine control unit of the vehicle, and it relays that information and allows access to the other functions of the car. 

Apart from locking and unlocking your car, there are a wealth of other functions that you can take advantage of with NissanConnect. 

Automatic Collision Notification is one feature that gives you peace of mind even if you are not in the car. The notification is especially useful if your car is being used by other friends and family members. If a crash is detected, the system will notify the registered user’s smartphone, allowing for an emergency response to be triggered. 

Following that, there is SOS Emergency Call Button. The button is located on the headliner of the cabin, and pressing it will relay your vehicle’s location, model, and other info to a specially trained agent who will send the information to emergency services. 

If you’ve ever found yourself in an open parking lot scratching your head and clicking the remote endlessly, then the My Car Finder feature will be a big help to avoid those kinds of situations. My Car Finder uses the vehicle’s GPS and location information to help you locate your unit, and it ties in nicely with your phone’s other location-tracking features. 

While the key fob is able to access this feature, adding it to the NissanConnect Services suite is just icing on the cake. We’re on our phones all day, and there are times when the key fob is in a bag or a pocket. Instead of looking for the fob, you can access Remote Engine Start/Stop through the app and switch on your car’s engine and climate control through there. 

In addition, the basic function of Remote Lock/Unlock is available on the app as well. 

Rounding out all the remote features, you also have Remote Horn and Lights, which is like a panic mode for your car’s alarm system. Now, while all of these features seem like gimmicks, do take note that with the e-sim in play, you can Start/Stop, Lock/Unlock, and activate the Horn and Lights from anywhere as long as your phone is connected to the internet. Let’s say someone left their stuff in the car, remote unlock it, then lock it after it’s done. 

Driving and Journey History goes beyond trip information and mileage, in fact, the feature allows users to receive full reports of where the car has been, what fuel economy has been achieved, and the driving data of how fast the car was going and how far it’s gone. While it can be a big draw for spec nerds who want to get every bit of driving information possible, the feature also allows parents, business owners, or friends to track what has been done with their vehicle. 

Another useful feature, this time to help with the ownership and maintenance experience, is Vehicle Health Report. The feature taps into the car’s maintenance and service data, as well as its various sensors found all over like the tire pressure monitoring system, and more. It also gives users the ability to see whether the vehicle’s acting up, whether it has a check engine light, or whether its airbags have been deployed, tying in with the crash detection feature. 

Tying in with Vehicle Health Report is Maintenance Alert and Reminder. This function allows the vehicle to notify its owner when the next maintenance interval is coming up, and if there is any special work that needs to be done like a tire that loses air too quickly, or a check engine light that needs clearing. Having this feature on your car may make you forget, but having it on your phone should help you stay on top of your maintenance schedules. 

Speed Alert, Zone Alert, and Curfew Alert are all features that every parent should know about. Speed Alert will allow the owner of the car to set a speed notification, and will alert the user’s smartphone when a certain speed limit is broken. 

Zone Alert will notify the owner’s phone if a certain location limit has been breached by the vehicle. 

Finally, Curfew Alert will notify the vehicle owner’s phone if a certain time has passed and if the vehicle has been turned on and used after a set hour. 

Finally, Theft Alert notifies the user’s smartphone if the vehicle has detected a theft, should the car’s alarm system be tripped.