DETROIT (WiMAX Day). In the last two years, the ultimate add-on for the car industry was an iPod adapter that integrated Apple’s wunderkind device with an in-vehicle stereo system. WiMAX has now set the auto industry ablaze as the latest must-have, high-tech add-on.

The American automobile manufacturer Chrysler announced yesterday that it is developing an advanced wireless communications and navigation system that eventually will provide mobile WiMAX connectivity.

“We recognize that customers are spending more and more time in their vehicles, and that the automobile is becoming much like an additional room in the home or office,” said Frank Klegon, Executive Vice President at Chrysler LLC. “To address this evolving reality, Chrysler vehicles will soon boast an unprecedented level of vehicle connectivity, delivering a wide array of important communications features directly to our customers, in their vehicles.”

The world’s largest car-maker said that such an in-vehicle communications system will provide for real-time weather and safety information, improved navigation systems that work in concert with GPS, location-based services, as well as typical e-mail and music download services.

Amongst the most compelling applications for this new communications system is the integration of  wireless connectivity to the on-board computer of an automobile that will provide for “remote vehicle computer updating” and eventually self-diagnostics.

A modern jalopy today is delivered from the factory with dozens of sensors linked through a central computer that regulate the performance of the machine. Sadly, it is often the case that the malfunction of any one sensor may very well send even the most advanced vehicle to the infirmary for inspection,  diagnosis and repair.

With a connection back to a central diagnostics service, an ailing vehicle can ring up the auto-doctor, make a self-diagnosis,  and “wirelessly download software updates for any electronic module,” said Chrysler.

Preparatory to its eventual launch into robotic routering, Chrysler also will employ other technologies such as 3G for on-board voice communications, however Chrysler notes that “WiMAX will feature significantly higher speeds and bandwidth versus today’s systems, in order to transfer large amounts of information quickly.”

Chrysler is not alone in its four-wheeled wireless wisdom. In the last week, a host of other companies announced automotive navigation and entertainment systems that will employ WiMAX.

At the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas last week, Networks In Motion (NIM) demonstrated “WiMAX connected navigation system solution for consumers.” Similar to current vehicle navigation products, NIM said its “‘proof of concept” will have the ability to “access real-time location assisted search and travel information.”

OKI Electric Industry and Alpine Electronics of Japan also announced a collaboration with WiMAX chipset designer Runcom Technologies to “develop a mobile WiMAX in-vehicle navigation system with embedded broadband wireless communications capabilities to enable the uploading of information such as road maps, attractions, and local events and to report car maintenance status and failures and many other broadband IP applications.”

Clarion Corporation of America also announced a Mobile Internet Navigation Device (MIND) that will soon employ WiMAX to deliver “rich GPS navigation with full-page PC-like Internet browsing capabilities using its 800-pixel by 480-pixel touch- screen.”