Toyota and Panasonic are working on a new cloud-based telematics service that will allow people to operate their home appliances from the steering wheel.

Examples given include switching the washing machine on, programming the television to record a programme and adjusting the central heating.

The technology is being presented by Toyota at the Smart Community Japan 2014 exhibition in Tokyo this month, prior to the new service being launched on the market as soon as the second half of this year.

The concept is part of Toyota’s on-going work to make mobility smarter, more convenient and more comfortable, and to increase the value cars can add to owners. It makes use of the existing cloud-based Toyota Smart Center, which already links people, cars and homes around the world, and the Panasonic home appliance control application.

The two companies agreed a year ago to co-develop services for next-generation telematics services that link cars to home appliances.