Škoda becomes first European car manufacturer to integrate digital emergency vehicle alerts

Škoda is now offering real-time emergency vehicle alerts in its cars through the integration of HAAS Alert’s Safety Cloud, marking a significant step in connected vehicle safety in Europe. The new feature is now live in the manufacturer’s in-vehicle Traffication app, which is available on compatible models from 2019 onwards with active Škoda Connect services.

The alerts provide audio and visual notifications to drivers when ambulances, police vehicles and fire engines are approaching, helping them make safer driving decisions and giving emergency vehicles a clearer route through traffic. The system operates in the background and requires no manual input from the driver once activated.

This deployment marks the first use of HAAS Alert’s Safety Cloud in Europe, following similar rollouts in North America with manufacturers such as Stellantis, Mercedes-Benz USA, and Volkswagen of America. Škoda’s adoption of the technology reflects the growing interest in connected vehicle systems that support safer driving and more efficient emergency response.

The Safety Cloud platform provides digital alerts not just for emergency vehicles, but also for a wide range of road safety scenarios. These include warnings for snow ploughs and utility trucks, work zones, lane closures, stationary or broken-down vehicles, wrong-way drivers, and poor road or weather conditions. Many of these features are already available within the Traffication app, and more will be rolled out in the coming months.

“The speed of our integration with Safety Cloud demonstrates the power of modern connected vehicle platforms.

“In less than one year, we were able to seamlessly integrate HAAS Alert’s comprehensive V2X alerting capabilities into our existing Traffication app. This rapid deployment underscores our dedication to quickly delivering innovative safety technologies to our Škoda customers.”

Michal Vondra, Product Manager responsible for Traffication at Škoda

Škoda drivers can access the app via the in-car Shop, and new vehicles come with a one-year free trial. The integration builds on Škoda’s existing safety offerings and is part of a broader shift toward connected services that provide drivers with real-time hazard information.

The alerts are already functional in countries where emergency vehicles are integrated with Safety Cloud. In the Netherlands, nearly all ambulances are already connected, while in the UK, more than 600 ambulances are part of the system. This includes vehicles operated by South East Coast Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (SECAmb), which covers a large area across the south-east of England.

HAAS Alert says further rollouts across Europe are expected later this year, with additional alert types being introduced as more emergency service fleets become connected. The partnership with Škoda demonstrates how V2X (vehicle-to-everything) technologies are being scaled across markets with different regulatory and operational environments.

“We’re excited to partner with Škoda as our first European automotive manufacturer to leverage Safety Cloud’s comprehensive V2X digital alerting capabilities.

“This collaboration demonstrates the global scalability of our platform and demonstrates that cloud-based V2X solutions are the preferred choice for automakers across Europe.”

Jeremy Agulnek, Chief Product Officer and SVP Connected Vehicle at HAAS Alert

Škoda’s deployment of digital emergency alerts is the latest step in what looks to be a growing trend among automotive manufacturers, aiming to use connected platforms not just for convenience, but as a tool to enhance safety for all road users.

The industry will once again be gathering at the NEC, Birmingham for The Emergency Services Show, co-located with The Emergency Tech Show, on 17-18 September, check out the full exhibitor list here. You can find HAAS Alert in Hall 5, Stand B212.