Chevrolet Bolt EVs and Sonics are assembled at a GM plant in Orion Township, Michigan.
LG Electronics and Magna International said today that they have a proposed joint venture to manufacture e-motors, inverters and on-board chargers and, for un-named automakers, e-drive systems to support the growing global shift toward vehicle electrification. The transaction is expected to close in July of 2021, subject to several conditions including obtaining LG shareholder approval and all necessary regulatory approvals. The question in AutoInformed’s opinion is to how many electrification parts and services will be brought in-house by automakers and how much will go to suppliers?
The new company, tentatively called LG Magna e-Powertrain, is said to combine Magna’s strength in electric powertrain systems and automotive manufacturing with LG’s expertise in component development for e-motors and inverters. The stated goal is to hasten both partners’ growth in the electric powertrain market. The market for e-motors, inverters and electric drive systems is expected to have significant growth between now and 2030, and the JV will target this fast-growing global segment. Continue reading
Telematics – New Ford and Lincoln Vehicles Enable Insurance Company Monitoring of Your Driving Behaviors
The 2020 Explorer was a leader at Ford Motor with its embedded telematics.
During the last 12 months, Ford has secured agreements with key insurance carriers*, that can help customers save money on insurance premiums based on driver behavior, with built-in connectivity technology on many Ford and Lincoln vehicles#. Ford Insure and Lincoln Motor Company Insure also offer usage-based policies through FordPass and Lincoln Way apps. Connected vehicle data also enables the usage-based insurance products offered through Ford Credit’s insurance agency subsidiary, American Road Services Company. Telematics data is shared with insurance carriers through Ford’s embedded modem that is now standard on all new vehicles – and enables the carrier to use that information to analyze driving habits and offer potential savings. The embedded modem eliminates the requisite plug-in devices.
This is part of a sweeping change in the pricing of auto insurance. It also raises yet again larger privacy issues for the owners of connected vehicles along with intelligent phones , computers and appliances. A vast amount of owner information is now available to companies – from Google and social media apps or computers running on Microsoft Dos or Apple computers and iPhones – for resale or for their own cash flows, sometimes without owner’s consent or any usage fees given back to the creators of the data. In Ford’s case, customers have a choice. (AutoInformed on – Pew Research Center on Americans’ Views About Privacy, Surveillance and Data-Sharing)
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