AA launches Vixa ‘wellness’ app for cars to track health – here’s how it works

The AA has launched a ‘wellness’ app for cars that uses vehicle data as a ‘diagnostic tool’, This is Money can reveal.

In the same way that smart watches, rings and bracelets – from Fitbit to Whoop – track and monitor the wearer’s health and fitness, the Vixa app monitors a car’s vital signs and alerts the owner to impending problems.

It will also indicate the best way to resolve the problem.

The app is designed to help prevent your car from breaking down, something half of drivers consider their top priority, according to an AA survey of 11,453 drivers.

Vixa collects the vast amounts of data that modern cars process every day and aims to offer drivers an easy-to-use ‘holistic wellness partner’ for their car.

Vixa continuously monitors the car, diagnoses emerging faults, explains them and ‘provides stress-free solutions’. It warns drivers of potential problems before they escalate and gives car owners peace of mind.

The cost is £5.99 per month, or £3.99 per month for AA members using AA’s roadside assistance or insurance services.

Vixa uses a small data-collecting device that you can plug into your car. The app provides you with updates and notifications, as well as proactive maintenance solutions.

It is compatible with most gasoline cars made after 2001 and most diesel cars made after 2006. Hybrid vehicles are compatible with all features except battery warnings.

More car models will work with Vixa over time. Some Ford models are already compatible if they come with the FordPass app.

Electric vehicles are not currently compatible, but AA chairman Edmund King told us that AA is ‘working on that at the moment’.

Because electric cars have fewer moving parts, there is less that can go wrong. The AA found that most electric car failures are caused by tyres or the 12-volt battery. These two are not specific to electric cars.

According to the AA, the technology has already alerted someone on holiday in Spain that the battery of their car parked at a UK airport was low.

With Vixa you can also check the tire usage by simply taking a few pictures. This gives you a very accurate diagnosis of the tire age, tread depth and condition. This way you can be sure that the tires are safe and legal.

When a problem is flagged, solutions are recommended, including booking an AA approved garage or arranging for a technician to come to you. You can also chat to an AA technician on Whatsapp.

The app sends you handy reminders when your car’s MOT inspection and maintenance are due.

You will also receive advance quotes for repairs, maintenance or scheduling an MOT, so you can plan and budget ahead.

Vixa replaces AA’s now discontinued Car Genie app. According to president Edmund King, the ‘key difference is that Vixa provides a solution as well as a problem-identifier.’

‘Vixa is fully integrated; we can take you to an AA approved garage, a mechanic to your home, or a technician over the phone.

“It’s more useful to consumers than Car Genie. The beauty of Vixa is that it warns you before a warning light comes on on your dashboard and it’s too late to report it.”

Future app upgrades will likely include a driver efficiency scoring system, which will help you improve your fuel economy and save money, as well as advice on how to fix minor issues yourself that don’t require mechanical repair.

Tom Fawcett, CEO AA X, said: ‘The Vixa app is possibly the biggest change to how The AA helps drivers in many years. It represents a new era of car care that uses insights from connected cars to put drivers in control.

‘Our new Vixa wellbeing system can give drivers the confidence to drive safely and save them money and hassle.’