In embedded chips and connected car news this week were Hyundai, Uber, TomTom, EPA, Audi, FEV, NEC, ACCESS, Mistubishi and Nissan.
Hyundai President Jeong Jin Haeng said the company is talking to Alphabet’s Google to help develop a self-driving car. Google’s self-driving project is now headed by John Krafcik, the former CEO of Hyundai Motor America.
Uber has acquired self-driving trucks startup Otto.
TomTom to Inspire National Park Visits
TomTom announced a partnership with the National Park Foundation (NPF), the official charity of America’s national parks. The partnership, launching in conjunction with the National Park Service Centennial year, empowers Americans to get outdoors and explore.
Through this partnership, TomTom endeavors to help to raise awareness, funds, visitation and volunteers for America’s more than 400 parks, monuments, historic properties, symbols of American pride, walkways, trails and programs across the country. TomTom also hopes to inspire Americans to have “Adventures Worth Sharing” with their family and friends in national parks and public lands. Further, this partnership demonstrates TomTom’s commitment to maintaining an active lifestyle by encouraging people to get outdoors through their GPS fitness watches and other wearable devices.
EPA & NHTSA New Rules for Trucks
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) jointly finalized standards for medium- and heavy-duty vehicles that will improve fuel efficiency and cut carbon pollution, while bolstering energy security and spurring manufacturing innovation. The final phase two standards were called for by President Obama’s Climate Action Plan, and respond to the President’s directive in early 2014 to develop new standards that run into the next decade.
Audi News Wireless Charging Case
Audi has just unlocked even more of the latest iPhone’s in-car capability with a new wireless charging case that works in conjunction with its optional Audi Phone Box connection and charging system. When the Qi-enabled cover is fitted to the latest iPhone 6 and 6s models they can simply be placed in the centre console to start the charging process, without the need to plug in a separate cable via the USB port. This innovative feature also works outside of the car on any base station that also has Qi functionality.
FEV Opens New Office in Sunnyvale
A thriving automotive electronics industry on the West Coast, as well as overwhelming customer demands, were cited as main reasons that FEV North America, Inc. (FEV) has established an office in Sunnyvale, California. FEV has long supported customers in California in the development of vehicles and electronic systems, and has become an industry development and testing leader in the electronics and connected vehicle space. Increasing requests for this expertise from its customers lead FEV to establish an office in one of the nation’s hubs for automotive electronics and connected vehicle technology. The office will celebrate its Grand Opening with an invitation-only customer event on Sept. 8. Patrick Hupperich, president and CEO of FEV North America, Inc. made the announcement.
NEC Bioplastic from Grass Lacquered
NEC Corporation in collaboration with the Kyoto Institute of Technology and a representative Japanese lacquerware artist, Dr. Yutaro Shimode, announced today the development of a bioplastic using resin (cellulose resin from grasses, trees and other non-edible plant resources that features the highly regarded “Urushi black” color of Japanese traditional lacquerware.
In order to create the new cellulose-based bioplastic, NEC developed a unique technology for mixing additives to adjust coloration and light reflectance of the material, enabling, for the first time, the realization of optical properties (low brightness, high glossiness, etc.) similar to the deep and shiny “Urushi black” color of high-grade Japanese lacquerware. The new plastic balances a high level of environmental friendliness and decorativeness and makes it possible to mass produce products of various shapes and patterns using the usual molding process for ordinary plastics.
Access Twine Ease
ACCESS CO., LTD announced that it will demonstrate its extended ACCESS Twine™multiscreen media sharing and management platform at IBC 2016 (9 – 13 September 2016, Amsterdam RAI).
ACCESS Twine eases the development and operation of multiscreen services by addressing the most important details operators are facing, such as coping with platform fragmentation while lowering OPEX, alongside improving subscriber profiling to increase loyalty, minimize churn and therefore optimize ARPU. The solution also provides support for secure media sharing in order to deliver high value assets to authorized consumers.
Finacial Relationships Important
The relationships auto finance providers develop with dealerships are critical to dealer satisfaction and to remaining competitive in the market, especially as the new-vehicle sales market tightens, according to the J.D. Power 2016 U.S. Dealer Financing Satisfaction Study,SM released today.
A combination of slowing new-vehicle sales and an uncertain used-car market is contributing to an already contested auto-lending environment. Technology has eliminated disparity of speed in financing, leaving lenders to differentiate themselves by the relationship they are able to form with the dealership.
Mistubishi New Semiconductor
Mitsubishi Electric Corporation announced the launch of a new transfer-mold power semiconductor model in its lineup of Super-mini Dual-In-line Package Intelligent Power Modules (DIPIPMTM), embedded with Silicon Carbide Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor Field-Effect Transistors (SiC-MOSFET).
It features top class low power consumption in the home appliance market and simplified inverter system design.
British Atheletes with Gold Medals get Gold Nissan LEAFs
Gymnastics sensation Max Whitlock has become one of the first Team GB athletes to be presented with a stunning all-gold 100% electric Nissan LEAF. Only one Nissan LEAF will be gifted per Nissan gold medal winner, regardless of the number of gold medals won.
Subscribe to Embedded Chips and Connected Car News Tips
You are welcome to subscribe to receive email notification of publication of Embedded Chips & Connected Car Tips, you can also get weekly news summaries or email ASAP (As Soon As Published) for everything.