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Category Archives: software defined vehicles
OPTIQ EV- Cadillac Introduces an Entry Level Compact SUV
Cadillac today revealed the new 2025 OPTIQ, an entry-level Cadillac luxury EV. OPTIQ is the least-expensive EV in lineup. This is Cadillac’s fourth EV, positioned below the barely-selling LYRIQ mid-size crossover, with a base price of ~$59,000. This fall OPTIQ joins the expensive ~$300,000+ CELESTIC sedan and the Escalade SUV (~ $130,000). Next year, the VISTIQ appears in showrooms. OPTIQ pricing starts at an estimated $54,000 for the Luxury trim, Sport will be more expensive [footnote 10],* including destination charges, excluding tax, title, license, and dealer fees. Obvious competitors include Tesla Model Y, Ford Mustang Mach-E, Mercedes-EQ EQB, and Lexus RZ. Continue reading
First Level 4 Autonomous Fuel Cell EV Truck Demonstrated
Hyundai Motor Company and an autonomous driving software firm called Plus* today unveiled what’s claimed to be the first SAE Level 4 autonomous Class 8 hydrogen fuel cell electric truck in the U.S. at the Advanced Clean Transportation (ACT) Expo, at the Las Vegas Convention Center. A Hyundai XCIENT Fuel Cell truck, equipped with Plus SuperDrive™ Level 4 (SAE) autonomous driving technology, is on display at the Plus ACT Expo booth (#2044).
Ultimately, software driven vehicles can replace drivers completely so further developments put global truck makers and their customers on a collision course with driver’s unions. Continue reading
Posted in alternative fuels, autonomous vehicles, electric vehicles, environment, global warming, new vehicle, news analysis, public health, shows and events, software defined vehicles
Tagged auto industry commentary, autoinformed.com, automotive blog, Automotive news and analysis, Class 8 fuel cell electric trucks, Hyundai XCIENT Fuel Cell truck, Ken Zino, Martin Zeilinger, PlusDrive®, SAE level 4 autonomous driving, Shawn Kerrigan
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Honda and IBM MoU on Software-Defined Vehicles
“The MOU outlines areas of potential joint research of specialized semiconductor technologies such as brain-inspired computing *[2 ] and chiplet technologies, with the aim to dramatically improve processing performance while, simultaneously, decreasing power consumption. Hardware and software co-optimization is important to ensure high performance and fast time to market. To achieve such benefits and manage design complexity for future SDVs, the two companies also plan to explore open and flexible software solutions,” Honda said in a release from Tokyo. Continue reading
Posted in auto news, autonomous vehicles, connected vehicles, electronics, milestones, mobility company, news analysis, software defined vehicles, software defined vehicles
Tagged auto industry commentary, autoinformed.com, automotive blog, Automotive news and analysis, automotive software, hardware and software co-optimization, Honda and IBM, Ken Zino, software-defined vehicles
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NHTSA Makes Automatic Emergency Braking Mandatory
“The new vehicle safety standards we finalized today will save hundreds of lives and prevent tens of thousands of injuries every year,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. “The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is not only making historic investments in transportation, but it’s also ushering in a new era of safer travel by ensuring new cars and light trucks are equipped with automatic emergency braking, making our roads safer for drivers and pedestrians alike.” Continue reading
Posted in auto news, news analysis, public health, safety, software defined vehicles, transportation
Tagged auto industry commentary, autoinformed.com, automotive blog, Automotive news and analysis, Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, DOT National Roadway Safety Strategy, FMVSS No. 127, Ken Zino, nhtsa, NHTSA Deputy Administrator Sophie Shulman, U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. Automatic Emergency Braking
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NHTSA Investigation Opened on Ford Blue Cruise Fatalities
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is conducting a preliminary investigation of Mustang Mach-E electric vehicle crashes with Blue Cruise autonomous driving on freeways at night according to documents made public by the Office of Defects Investigations (ODI) today. The crashes which killed three people occurred when Blue Cruise was in use just before the collisions. Continue reading
Posted in autonomous vehicles, connected vehicles, news analysis, safety, software defined vehicles
Tagged auto industry commentary, autoinformed.com, automotive blog, Automotive news and analysis, Ford Blue Cruise fatalities, Ken Zino, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, NHTSA Office of Defects Investigations
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Department of Commerce Proposes $8.5B Intel Funding
The U.S. Department of Commerce and Intel Corporation have reached a non-binding preliminary memorandum of terms (PMT) to provide up to $8.5 billion in direct funding under the CHIPS and Science Act to strengthen the U.S. supply chain and re-establish American leadership in semiconductor manufacturing, the Biden-Harris Administration said today. This is the Department of Commerce’s fourth PMT announcement under the CHIPS and Science Act. So-called leading-edge chips power the most sophisticated technology extant, including developing AI and building critical military systems and weapons.
“There is no one who cares more about revitalizing American manufacturing than President Biden, and today’s announcement is a massive step towards ensuring America’s leadership in manufacturing for the 21st century. With this agreement, we are helping to incentivize over $100 billion in investments from Intel – marking one of the largest investments ever in U.S. semiconductor manufacturing, which will create over 30,000 good-paying jobs and ignite the next generation of innovation,” said U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo. Continue reading
Posted in auto news, autonomous cars, autonomous vehicles, economy, electric vehicles, electronics, engineering, manufacturing, milestones, news analysis, software defined vehicles, software defined vehicles
Tagged artificial intelligence, auto industry commentary, autoinformed.com, automotive blog, Automotive news and analysis, Biden-Harris Administration, CHIPS and Science Act, Gina Raimondo, Intel, Intel 18A, Ken Zino, Pat Gelsinger, semi-conductors, U.S. Department of Commerce
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Another Tesla Software Recall – Pedestrian Warnings
Tesla (NASDAQ: TSLA) is recalling 2013, 2018-2021 Model S, 2020-2021 Model X, 2018-2022 Model 3, and 2020-2022 Model Y vehicles, according to documents released this morning by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. A factory reset over the air (OTA) muted the Pedestrian Warning System (PWS) sounds. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 141, “Minimum Sound Requirements for Hybrid and Electric Vehicles,” which could increase the risk of collision.* Continue reading
Posted in auto news, connected vehicles, customer satisfaction, electric vehicles, electronics, engineering, mobility company, news, news analysis, public health, recalls, safety, software defined vehicles
Tagged auto industry commentary, autoinformed.com, automotive blog, Automotive news and analysis, forward collision warnings, Ken Zino, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, NHTSA recall 24V153, pedestrian safety, Tesla recall SB-24-00-006
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EV Bedfellows – Nissan and Mitsubishi Sign MoU
Nissan Motor (7201T. NSANY ADR) and Mitsubishi Corporation (8058.T) have signed a memorandum of understanding to pursue a new joint initiative in next-generation-mobility and energy-related services using electric vehicles in Japan. The companies said today that Japan as a country has been addressing issues such as driver shortages due to a declining population, and difficulties maintaining public transportation services due to decreasing numbers of users. Nissan and MC have also been undertaking various initiatives to solve these problems.
Joint initiatives of course have potential economies of scale, reducing the intense capital costs required to develop EVs and autonomous vehicles. This is making for what would have previously been unlikely hookups or strange bedfellows. Nissan and Honda, Two of Japan’s Big Three automakers, previously announced that will study sharing automotive software platforms, core components related to EVs, and complementary products. Continue reading
Posted in auto news, autonomous cars, autonomous vehicles, connected vehicles, economy, electric vehicles, electronics, engineering, milestones, mobility company, news, news analysis, public health, software defined vehicles, software defined vehicles, transportation
Tagged auto industry commentary, autoinformed.com, automotive blog, Automotive news and analysis, EV Bedfellows, Japan Inc, Ken Zino, Makoto Uchida Nissan president and CEO
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Honda and Nissan Sign MoU for EV Technology Sharing
Nissan Motor and Honda Motor said today in Japan that they have signed a memorandum of understanding whereby they will begin a feasibility study of a strategic partnership in the fields of vehicle electrification and intelligence. In what looks like a re-run of the Nissan Renault alliance that pursued economies of scale, the intense capital costs required to develop EVs and autonomous vehicles is making for what would have previously been unlikely hookups.
Honda and Nissan, Japan’s second and third largest automakers, will study sharing automotive software platforms, core components related to EVs, and complementary products. Continue reading
Posted in alternative fuels, auto news, electric vehicles, electronics, engineering, global warming, manufacturing, milestones, mobility company, news analysis, software defined vehicles
Tagged auto industry commentary, autoinformed.com, automotive blog, Automotive news and analysis, Chinese EV export threat, Ken Zino, Makoto Uchida, Toshihiro Mibe, trade wars
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BMW i Ventures Invests in Skylo Technologies
Skylo has launched its initial service across US, Canada, and Europe, in partnership with major chipset makers including Qualcomm, Samsung, MediaTek, and Sony, together with the leading device OEMs and mobile carriers, such as Deutsche Telekom. Continue reading
Posted in aftermarket, auto news, connected vehicles, electronics, marketing, milestones, mobility company, news, news analysis, software defined vehicles, software defined vehicles
Tagged auto industry commentary, autoinformed.com, automotive blog, Automotive news and analysis, BMW i Ventures, Kasper Sage, Ken Zino, Parth Trivedi, Skylo Technologies
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Tesla Recalls 2.2 Million Vehicles Covering 13 Model Years
Tesla is recalling 2012-2023 Model S, 2016-2024 Model X, 2017-2023 Model 3, 2019-2024 Model Y, and 2024 Cybertruck vehicles. An incorrect font size is displayed on the instrument panel for the Brake, Park, and Antilock Brake System (ABS) warning lights. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 105, “Hydraulic and Electric Brake Systems” and 135, “Light Vehicle Brake Systems.”
A visual warning indicator whose letter font size is smaller than 3.2 mm (1/8 inch), as prescribed in FMVSS Nos. 105 (105 – Hydraulic and electric brake systems) and 135 (135 – Light vehicle brake systems), could reduce the driver’s detection of it when illuminated, increasing the risk of a collision. Continue reading
Posted in customer satisfaction, electric vehicles, energy, mobility company, news analysis, public health, quality, recalls, safety, software defined vehicles
Tagged auto industry commentary, autoinformed.com, automotive blog, Automotive news and analysis, Brake Park and Antilock brake system recall, Ken Zino, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V051, Tesla Recalls
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Polestar 4 now on Sale in Europe and Australia
“The introduction of Polestar 4 into all our markets through the course of 2024 is key to our success, adding this third model to our line-up. Polestar 4 tackles the premium performance class in the D-SUV segment. Polestar 4’s innovative interpretation of an SUV coupé offers great interior space and a stunning appearance,” said Thomas Ingenlath, Polestar CEO. Continue reading
Posted in auto news, connected vehicles, electric vehicles, electronics, engineering, fuel economy or emissions, manufacturing, marketing, milestones, shows and events, software defined vehicles
Tagged (Nasdaq: PSNY), auto industry commentary, autoinformed.com, automotive blog, Automotive news and analysis, Borås Textilhögskolan, Geely Holdings SEA factory Hangzhou Bay China, Ken Zino, Polestar 4, Thomas Ingenlath
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Michigan Central Station Reopening June 6th
“Michigan Central means a great deal to us all. In many ways, this building tells the story of our city. This Station was our Ellis Island – a place where dreamers in search of new jobs and new opportunities first set foot in Detroit. But once the last train pulled out, it became a place where hope left. In 2018, I decided it was time to change that by re-imagining this station as a place of possibility again. Over the past six years, Ford Motor Company and teams of forward thinkers, designers, community leaders, and more than 3000 skilled tradespeople have worked to bring this landmark back to life,” said Ford Executive Chair Bill Ford. Continue reading →