Argo AI & VW
Argo AI and its partners at Volkswagen are ramping up testing and development of the all-electric ID. BUZZ AD (Autonomous Driving) in preparation for the launch of autonomous services in Germany and beyond.
At this year’s IAA, Argo and VW will debut the first-generation model of the ID. BUZZ self-driving test vehicle, a retro-futuristic van that will be the first Volkswagen Group vehicle with SAE Level 4 automation capabilities. The vehicle is currently being tested on Argo’s brand new closed-course track at Franz Josef Strauss International Airport in Munich and will soon be deployed on the public streets of Munich itself. The goal is to deliver self-driving ID. BUZZ vehicles for commercial services in the city of Hamburg in 2025, with autonomous ride-pooling services to be run by VW’s subsidiary MOIA, a mobility as a service (MaaS) provider.
Cupra from VW
CUPRA landed at the IAA International Motor Show in Munich to present the brand’s future electric vision. Its newest concept car, the CUPRA UrbanRebel Concept, also made its first public appearance at the pre-opening of the new CUPRA City Garage in Munich.
At the event, CUPRA CEO Wayne Griffiths referred to the brand’s electric offensive: “We have the ambition to become a fully electric brand by 2030. We are launching the CUPRA Born this year and the CUPRA Tavascan will arrive in 2024. The CUPRA UrbanRebel challenges the conventions, bringing emotions to the new electric era with a radical interpretation of the company’s urban electric car, due to arrive to the market in 2025. We will be launching it first as a CUPRA, and we will monitor closely the acceptance of electric cars by the customers’ and the roll-out of infrastructure in Europe”. This concept will influence the road version of the city electric car, and it will be the new lighthouse for the company in terms of electrification and technology.
The urban electric car is a strategic pillar for the company, Griffiths said. SEAT S.A. together with the Volkswagen Group plays a key role in developing the urban electric project. SEAT S.A. is developing the cars of the urban electric family, while Volkswagen is developing the platform and CARIAD the software. The ambition is to produce more than 500,000 vehicles per year in Spain for different Group brands from 2025 onwards.
Based on this project, the company has an ambitious plan in Spain, called Future: Fast Forward. The main driver of this plan is the production of the urban electric vehicle in Spain, which could become the engine for the transformation of the Spanish automotive industry, the second largest car producer in Europe.
Growing exponentially
At the pre-opening event, Griffiths explained how CUPRA continues to grow beyond all initial expectations. Since its launch three years ago, the unconventional challenger brand has sold more than 100,000 cars. Driven by the success of the Formentor, which represents two of every three cars sold by the brand between January and August this year, CUPRA registered a triple-digit growth compared to the same period in 2020. The brand has also exceeded its initial goal to reach a turnover of €1 billion in 2021. CUPRA has successfully managed to establish a strong footprint in Europe in markets such as Germany, Spain, the United Kingdom, Italy and France, and it has expanded overseas to countries like Mexico, Israel and Turkey.
A new City Garage in the heart of Munich
As part of its globalization strategy, CUPRA has chosen Munich to open its newest City Garage, a unique location at the heart of the German city. The open façade space is inspired by a garage and dedicated to the CUPRA brand. Located in an iconic building in Odeonsplatz, the CUPRA design elements are merged within the building original architectural elements and materials respecting the history of the space.
Griffiths explained the vision behind the creation of this new retail environment for urban areas: “With the City Garages we want to connect the cities and their culture, hosting events and exhibitions as well as contributing to develop new local talents and collaborations. They will be located in iconic hotspots and inspired by the city where they will be deployed.”
The new City Garages will allow the brand to offer an unconventional and unique customer experience, putting people at the center of its distribution strategy. After Mexico City and Hamburg, Griffiths announced the upcoming new spaces: “Tomorrow, we will open a new City Garage in Milan, and very soon we will be in Madrid, Rotterdam, Lisbon and Berlin. We are also planning to open a City Garage in Sydney in 2022. Our ambition is to become a global brand; therefore, we will build a strong network worldwide and train more than 1,200 CUPRA Masters by the end of 2022.”
Born to be the impulse of a new generation
CUPRA has started producing the first units of its first fully electric car, the CUPRA Born, at the Zwickau factory in Germany. This car with CUPRA’s DNA was born to be the impulse of a new generation and aims to prove that performance and electrification are a perfect match.
The CUPRA Born adds new emotions to electric cars and driving. Its design is inspired by the vibrance of Barcelona’s El Born neighborhood: “The CUPRA Born will also be the impulse of the company’s transformation and the start of CUPRA’s electric product offensive. With this car, we aim to increase the CUPRA mix to 20% of SEAT S.A. overall sales. The CUPRA Born will be in the market from November and its launch will kick off a new distribution strategy for a different customer relationship,” Griffiths said.
The CUPRA Born will help the company meet European targets and will contribute to reducing global CO2 emissions. At the same time, it will open doors to new international markets and increase the brand’s presence in the most electrified countries. Moreover, the CUPRA Born will make the brand’s customer base more gender balanced and it will also be offered under subscription-based contracts with a monthly fee.
Unleashing the rebel for the electric era
The company presented in Munich the CUPRA UrbanRebel Concept, the most radical interpretation of the urban electric car, scheduled for its launch in 2025. The CUPRA UrbanRebel Concept is based on the design foundations of the 100% electric urban vehicle. The road version will mix striking design and astonishing dynamics and will be based on the Volkswagen Group’s MEB short platform.
Dolby
Dolby Laboratories (NYSE: DLB), a leader in immersive entertainment experiences and Cinemo, a leading global provider of automotive infotainment middleware, have today announced a collaboration aimed at accelerating the integration of Dolby Atmos®, into vehicles. Announced at IAA Mobility during Dolby’s panel on how the immersive sound technology is set to drive a revolution for in car entertainment, the collaboration also means that Cinemo has become the very first middleware licensee globally of the Dolby Car Experience.
Dolby has been driving audio innovation for over 50 years and is now bringing an audio revolution to the car with Dolby Atmos Music, an immersive music experience that adds more space, clarity and depth to audio. Instead of hearing the sound in stereo, Dolby Atmos gives the listener the feeling of being inside the music, as creators are able to strategically place distinctive audio elements into a three-dimensional sound field, offering a fully immersive soundstage.
By working with Cinemo, a company renowned for their infotainment innovation and expertise, car makers will be able to access immersive audio, enabling automotive companies to provide a seamless, Dolby Atmos Music listening experience to vehicle owners.
Andreas Ehret, Director of Automotive at Dolby Laboratories said: “Dolby Atmos is a popular feature in smartphones, home entertainment, smart speakers and PCs. However, bringing high-quality audio to the automotive world isn’t like working in the consumer electronics space. Car manufacturers need infotainment specialists that understand their needs. That’s why Dolby is collaborating with Cinemo, a company with a history of infotainment innovation.”
Cinemo co-founder, Ivan Dimkovic commented: “Cinemo always strives for innovation and speed, working diligently to gain the trust of automotive partners to seamlessly enable next-generation technologies. By teaming up with Dolby, car manufacturers can take advantage of this collaboration and, within a short timeframe, offer an immersive audio experience to their customers.”
The Cinemo automotive solutions are already deployed in millions of cars worldwide and adopted by many leading car manufacturers. The combined offering allows for an easy upgrade solution, using established APIs from a trusted player that car makers are used to working with.
The Dolby Car Experience technology can seamlessly integrate into new and existing car audio subsystems and can map to most speaker configurations. The result is an optimal experience, an acoustic energy that is balanced and a sound field that builds organically, for every seat.
Hyundai Carbon Neutrality
Hyundai Motor Company announced its commitment to become carbon neutral by 2045 at IAA Mobility 2021.
Hyundai’s integrated strategy to achieve carbon neutrality rests on the following three pillars: clean mobility, next-generation platforms, and green energy. Hyundai is showcasing the full breadth of its electrified vehicle lineup and latest solutions to progress with positive energy at this year’s IAA taking place from September 6 to 12 in Munich, Germany.
“Under our company’s vision, Progress for Humanity, Hyundai Motor is determined to do the right thing for the world,” said Jaehoon (Jay) Chang, President and CEO of Hyundai Motor Company. “Climate change is an undeniable challenge that needs everyone’s utmost and urgent attention. Hyundai Motor commits to become carbon neutral in its global products and operations by 2045, and we will make investments in cleaner transportation and greener energy solutions to achieve a better and more sustainable future for all.”
At this year’s IAA, Hyundai Motor commits to reduce its carbon emissions 75 percent below the 2019 level by 2040. Hyundai will achieve carbon neutrality in its products and global operations by 2045.
Hyundai Motor’s integrated, multi-dimensional strategy for carbon neutrality consists of three pillars: expanding its clean mobility lineup, developing next-generation platforms, and investing in green energy solutions and technologies.
Pillar 1: Clean Mobility
Since the first unveiling of its EV concept vehicle in 1991, Hyundai Motor has made progress towards carbon reduction through its leadership in clean mobility.
Hyundai Motor commits to gradually increase the sales share of zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs) in upcoming years. By 2030, Hyundai aims to secure 30 percent of its global vehicles sales with ZEVs, and by 2040, the company expects that battery electric vehicles (BEVs) and Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles (FCEVs) will account for 80 percent of its total fleet sales.
By region, Hyundai Motor plans to offer only ZEVs in Europe, starting in 2035. By 2040, Hyundai will phase out all vehicles using fossil fuels in major markets, supportive of the transition to clean mobility.
Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV)
In August 2020, Hyundai Motor launched its new IONIQ brand for dedicated BEVs, signaling its commitment to the electrified mobility era. Later that year, Hyundai Motor Group, the parent of Hyundai Motor Company, unveiled its Electric-Global Modular Platform (E-GMP) for dedicated BEVs.
Hyundai Motor’s IONIQ 5, which launched in February 2021, is the brand’s first BEV built upon E-GMP. IONIQ 5 has set a new benchmark for redefining the electric mobility lifestyle with sustainable and innovative features, such as 400 V and 800 V multi-charging and Vehicle-to-Load (V2L).
Hyundai’s next dedicated BEV will be IONIQ 6, which draws inspiration from its Prophecy EV concept that is on display at IAA 2021. IONIQ 6 is going to offer BEV experiences with a focus on customized, eco-friendly solutions that can fit any lifestyle.
Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle (FCEV)
Hyundai Motor has invested in hydrogen fuel cell technology for more than 20 years. Hyundai launched ix35, the world’s first mass-produced FCEV, in 2013, followed by NEXO, the first dedicated hydrogen-powered SUV, in 2018. Last year, the company delivered XCIENT Fuel Cell, the world’s first mass-produced, fuel cell electric heavy-duty truck, to customers in Switzerland. Hyundai recently presented its Elec City Fuel Cell bus in Munich and the vehicle is now in a testing phase in Europe.
At IAA, Hyundai unveils its passenger FCEV roadmap for the next few years. In 2023, Hyundai will introduce the next model of NEXO and hydrogen-powered multi-purpose vehicle (MPV) model. Hyundai plans to launch a large SUV powered by fuel cell after 2025.
Hyundai Motor is also going to provide its fuel cell powertrains to all types of mobility fleets and other areas of life.
Pillar 2: Next-generation Platforms
Hyundai Motor has made leading investments in the field of next-generation transportation platforms. This includes an innovative set of mobility options to get from point A to B, such as UAM and autonomous vehicles, offering greater freedom of mobility without a carbon footprint. These platforms are also in line with the company’s Progress for Humanity vision, and shows Hyundai’s commitment to enhance urban livability for the future generations.
IONIQ 5-based robotaxi
Hyundai Motor unveils the first look of its groundbreaking robotaxi model at IAA Mobility 2021. Hyundai has collaborated with Motional, a global leader in driverless technology, to develop the SAE Level 4 autonomous driving vehicle based on IONIQ 5.
With an advanced sensor suite attached to Hyundai’s latest dedicated BEV model, the robotaxi features a technology-driven design that celebrates the innovation behind the autonomous operation. The vehicle will feature rider-focused interfaces to allow passengers to intuitively interact with the vehicle during their ride. Motional will begin transporting public passengers in the IONIQ 5-based robotaxi when it launches its fully driverless service in 2023.
Urban Air Mobility (UAM)
At CES 2020, Hyundai introduced the UAM concept model, S-A1, being developed based on four principles: safe, quiet, affordable and passenger-centered solutions. Hyundai Motor aims to launch an all-electric UAM model optimized for intra-city operations in 2028. In the 2030s, the company plans to launch regional air mobility that connects adjacent cities.
Pillar 3: Green Energy
Hyundai Motor’s carbon neutral strategy goes beyond the transition to ZEVs. It aims to provide cleaner and greener energy solutions for all. This includes not only using renewable energy at the company’s production facilities, but also making long-term investments in future technologies, such as green hydrogen based on renewable energy, Vehicle-to-grid (V2G) and Second Life Battery Energy Storage System (SLBESS).
Green Hydrogen
Green hydrogen obtained from electrolysis of water generated by low-carbon power sources is expected to significantly reduce carbon emissions. Hyundai Motor has invested in global startups, such as H2Pro, to cooperate in the field of green hydrogen. Furthermore, Hyundai plans to establish green hydrogen infrastructures in countries with strong government support and abundant renewable energy sources.
Carbon reduction at sites
Hyundai Motor has been carrying out a number of activities to reduce the amount of carbon and other greenhouse gas emissions produced by its manufacturing processes. The company’s actions include continuing with its energy reduction activities and building eco-friendly plants by converting them to renewable energy sources like photovoltaic power.
In July, Hyundai Motor teamed with other affiliates of Hyundai Motor Group to join Climate Group’s RE100, a global initiative committed to moving toward 100 percent renewable energy. Under the commitment, the Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Czech plant will be the company’s first factory to completely convert its electricity usage to renewable energy in 2022. The company aims to meet the electricity needs of over 90 percent of its global operations with renewable energy by 2040. Hyundai commits to power its entire global operations only with renewable energy by 2045.
Vehicle-to-grid (V2G)
V2G is the latest technology that allows energy to be pushed back to the power grid from the battery of an EV. It enables efficient energy demand management especially during peak hours, thus lessoning dependence on fossil fuels.
Hyundai is currently conducting several V2G pilot programs with various stakeholders in the market. The company plans to implement the V2G function to its upcoming BEV models.
Second Life Battery Energy Storage System (SLBESS)
Hyundai Motor is also looking to recover and transform end-of-life batteries into a new business of energy storage system. Hyundai is currently working with various local energy partners to run pilot projects to commercially reuse second-life EV batteries. Also, the company is scheduled to test a small size application of SLBESS in Germany next year.
“IAA Mobility is the perfect occasion to unveil our global vision for carbon neutrality. IAA is yet another milestone along the sustainable journey we’ve been paving for years. Hyundai Motor will remain steadfast in our pursuit of carbon neutrality and lead the way in the development of holistic solutions,” said Thomas Schemera, Global Chief Marketing Officer at Hyundai Motor Company.
“As a smart mobility solution provider, Hyundai also aspires to provide energy solutions for business and society overall. Climate change won’t be solved without a concerted effort. We will strive to do more for the environment via multiple sustainability projects in the months to come, inviting everyone to join us on our journey towards a cleaner future,” Schemera added.
Intel
During his first in-person keynote since taking the helm of Intel in February, CEO Pat Gelsinger predicted that semiconductors will account for more than 20% of the total premium vehicle bill of materials (BOM) by 2030. That represents a staggering 5x growth rate over 2019’s 4% figure. This comes amid increasing demand for semiconductors generally. Gelsinger predicted the total addressable market (TAM) for automotive semiconductors will nearly double by the end of the decade to $115 billion, accounting for more than 11% of the entire silicon TAM. This trend is being driven by what Gelsinger called “the digitization of everything” and four superpowers – ubiquitous compute, pervasive connectivity, cloud-to-edge infrastructure, and AI – that are permeating the automotive and mobility industries.
Gelsinger described the situation as both a massive challenge and enormous opportunity – and the perfect time for Intel to step up to the plate. “This new era of sustained demand for semiconductors needs bold, big thinking,” said Gelsinger. “As CEO of Intel, I have the great privilege to be in a position to marshal the energies of 116,000 employees and a massive chip-design and manufacturing ecosystem, to meet the demand.”
During a keynote at IAA Mobility today, Intel CEO Pat Gelsinger and Sixt SE Co-CEO Alexander Sixt announced a collaboration to begin offering autonomous ride-hailing services in Munich in 2022. The collaboration between Intel subsidiary Mobileye and SIXT, a leading international provider of mobility services headquartered in Germany, also aspires to scale driverless ride-sharing services across Germany and other European countries later this decade.
Riders will be able to access the service via the Moovit app as well as the SIXT app. The autonomous robotaxi offering will be included in SIXT’s holistic mobility platform ONE, which combines in just one app products for ride hailing as well as car rental, car sharing and car subscriptions. By integrating the services of cooperation partners like Mobileye, the ONE mobility platform gives SIXT customers worldwide access to more than 200,000 vehicles, 1,500 cooperation partners, around 1.5 million drivers and soon even robotaxi services.
Intel Investment in Europe
To make his point, Gelsinger reminded the audience that Intel has plans to build at least two new leading-edge semiconductor factories in Europe with plans for future investments that could reach 80 billion euros over the next decade. He also detailed elements of the company’s previously announced IDM 2.0 strategy and shared how those programs will apply specifically for the automotive and mobility industries in the European Union.
Intel Foundry Services, announced in March, is actively engaged in discussions with potential customers in Europe – including automotive companies and their suppliers. Today, the majority of automotive chips are manufactured using legacy process technologies. As automotive applications transition to rely on more high-performance processing, chips are also beginning to migrate to more advanced process technologies. Intel is partnering with leading automotive players and committing significant resources in Europe to help drive this transition around the globe in the coming years. The company announced plans today to establish committed foundry capacity at its fab in Ireland and launch the Intel Foundry Services Accelerator to help automotive chip designers transition to advanced nodes. For this, the company is standing up a new design team and offering both custom and industry-standard intellectual property (IP) to support the unique needs of automotive customers.
Mobileye: From the Garage to the Streets
To emphasize Intel’s commitment to the promising future of self-driving, Gelsinger welcomed Mobileye CEO Amnon Shashua via a video segment. Shashua outlined Mobileye’s approach to both the driver assistance and autonomous driving opportunities. He described the sensing configuration, that aims for both scale and safety at all levels of autonomy, and stated that, like Intel, Mobileye shares “the dream of autonomy – anywhere, anytime, for everybody,” and is leading the industry with solutions that will help realize those dreams.
Keynote attendees were treated to the unveiling of Mobileye’s first production AV equipped with the Mobileye Drive™ self-driving system and bearing the MoovitAV services branding. “Mobileye is passionate about bringing autonomous vehicles to consumers,” Shashua said. “The new Mobileye AV, accessible through the MoovitAV service, is an important milestone on the way to a driverless world.”
Speaking in front of a largely German audience, Gelsinger emphasized Germany’s first-mover status on AV regulation, citing the law passed earlier this year that enables commercial operation of driverless AV services. The new law enables Mobileye to bring autonomous ride-hailing into operation with Munich-based Sixt SE starting in 2022. Intel and Mobileye believe that autonomous vehicles will take off in places with the right regulatory framework in place, and Germany’s action provides a strong blueprint for other countries to enable the industry to move toward the promise of full autonomy.
IEEE AV Safety Standard in Final Stages
Intel Fellow and Mobileye Vice President of Automotive Standards Jack Weast joined Gelsinger on stage to discuss the recently completed draft of IEEE 2846. Expected to be an approved standard by the end of the year, IEEE 2846 will be the first AV safety standard to address the question, “How safe is safe enough?” Weast explained that IEEE 2846 was initiated following Mobileye’s pioneering Responsibility-Sensitive Safety (RSS) model published in 2017 that formalizes the reasonably foreseeable assumptions humans make every day and that AVs need to make in order to balance risk and usefulness. “IEEE 2846 will give regulators the essential tool they need to welcome AVs to roads everywhere,” said Weast.
LG Display Displays Transparent OLED
LG Display, the world’s leading innovator of display technologies, will showcase its latest state-of-the-art Transparent OLED technology at the International Motor Show (IAA) 2021 held in Munich, Germany, from September 7th to 12th, together with world-leading material science and smart glass technology company Gauzy at its booth, Hall A1 – Booth number 93.
Through its first collaboration with Gauzy at IAA 2021, LG Display will let visitors experience the many entertainment and informative experiences that its 55-inch Transparent OLED panels can bring public transportation services when replacing their vehicle windows. Moreover, with its transparent OLED technology, the company will cooperate with Gauzy to replace windows in various types of transportation vehicles to enable smart and dynamic transparent displays.
LG Display is set to unveil a total of two 55-inch Transparent OLED displays. One is equipped with IGU (Insulated Glass Unit) technology, a special tempered glass that provides the strength to handle impact and vibration. The second product is laminated with Gauzy’s SPD(Suspended Particle Device) Smart Glass technology, which enables high contrast ratios, thereby making the OLED even more adaptable to bright environments and shifting light conditions.
While SPD is on, a Transparent OLED screen can deliver clear visual content to show what is behind the display, increasing its potential for future Head-Up displays while making it a viable replacement for all greenhouse glazing where both information and a view of the outside is desired.
To create greater contrast when direct light hits while also providing shade for passengers to enhance the safe and comfortable travelling experience, SPD technology dims the Transparent OLED panel to any desired opacity, blocking up to 99 percent of light and allowing high contrast and rich colors through day and night. With outstanding application potential in both automotive and built environments, this newly-unveiled Transparent OLED presents the future of signage to all kinds of settings.
Not only does LG Display’s Transparent OLED displays for mobility boast strength and durability, but it also allows passengers to check transportation information at a glance and watch entertaining content on board, while giving advertisers the opportunity to get their products noticed.
“LG Display is pleased to showcase Transparent OLED displays designed for trains in the European market for the first time ever,” said Cho Min-Woo, head of the Transparent OLED business at LG Display. “LG Display will bring new possibilities with its Transparent OLED to the signage and mobility markets while delivering innovative and trendy new ways for all kinds of companies to display information through eye-catching spatial designs and interior effects.”
Eyal Peso, Gauzy CEO adds, “The future of displays is transparent, and it’s here now. The ability to make any window active, multifunctional, and the ability to provide both visual and thermal comfort alongside communication is one of Gauzy’s core goals. By adding our LCG® smart glass technologies to glass and other technologies like transparent OLED’s with SPD by LG Display, together, we are setting a new standard in signage.
Last year, LG Display began replacing subway train windows in Beijing and Shenzhen, China, with the world’s first Transparent OLED panels for transportation, which now provide commuters in these cities with useful travel information like subway times, transfer information and flight schedules, on top of other daily information like real-time weather forecasts and news. The company also broke new ground by extending these futuristic displays to Japan’s overground trains, which helped the East Japan Railway Company receive the Digital Signage Consortium award for outstanding performance.
The company already showcased OLED’s potential in the mobility industry at CES 2020, showing how the innovative tech can elevate the consumer experience on airplanes and in vehicles. The following year, LG Display expanded the Transparent OLED experience to lifestyle settings outside the world of transportation, which included transforming the way we order food at sushi bars or watch TV from the foot of bed.
LG Display’s Transparent OLED is already being utilized in various areas. The company most recently collaborated with South Korea’s Kakao Mobility to install Transparent OLED panels in the parking lot of Seoul’s Trade Tower. With the installment of these displays, these unique panels add a vibrant and futuristic feel to an otherwise ordinary parking garage. Transparent OLED not only sports innovative technology to display content clearly but also a high level of transparency that makes striking spatial interior effects possible.
What’s more, LG Display has delivered numerous Transparent OLED panels to a popular Korean clothing store where it displays the brand’s advertisements while heightening the store’s atmosphere by seamlessly blending into the interior without compromising space.
Transparent OLED displays are not only extremely convenient and aesthetically pleasing, they also elevate the product and consumer experience in innovative, never-before-seen ways. This is thanks to OLED display’s self-emissive nature and no backlight, which allows a high level of transparency as well as a thin, lightweight and flexible design. Already having installed Transparent OLED displays as shop and subway train windows and in multiple signage forms, LG Display plans to expand the presence of this groundbreaking panel display in autonomous cars, aircrafts, and even home furniture in the future.
Mobileye
–What’s New: Mobileye, an Intel company, today unveiled the 6-passenger, road-ready electric autonomous vehicle (AV) that will be used for commercial driverless ride-hailing services in Tel Aviv and Munich starting in 2022. Equipped with the Mobileye Drive™ self-driving system featuring 8 EyeQ™5 SoCs in the AVKIT58, the all-electric Mobileye AVs will operate under the MoovitAV service branding.
“Mobileye is passionate about bringing autonomous vehicles to consumers. The new Mobileye AV, accessible through the MoovitAV service, is an important milestone on the way to a driverless world.”
–Prof. Amnon Shashua, Mobileye chief executive officer
Why It Matters: Getting to full autonomy requires solutions that can scale. Mobileye’s AV was designed from the ground up to scale both economically and geographically while addressing the essential attributes of efficiency, accessibility and safety. It is the first AV to employ all features of the Mobility trinity, including the True Redundancy™ sensing solution with cameras, radar and lidar sensors, Mobileye’s crowd-sourced Roadbook™ AV map, and Responsibility-Sensitive Safety (RSS) driving policy.
About More Uses: The same Mobileye Drive self-driving system used in Mobileye’s AV can be used in a variety of vehicle types for the movement of goods and people, making it perhaps the most versatile self-driving solution available today. For example, Mobileye plans to collaborate with Schaeffler to build a self-driving chassis that can be used in building autonomous shuttles. Mobileye also previously announced an agreement with Udelv to supply Mobileye Drive for the autonomous Udelv Transporter for last-mile goods delivery. Also previously announced was an agreement with Transdev and Lohr to produce and deploy autonomous shuttles in France and Germany.
About Moovit AV Services: Intel subsidiary Moovit, with its global consumer and transportation network, offers the ideal platform to put forth Mobileye’s AVs for commercial driverless ride-hailing. Mobileye AVs will wear the MoovitAV services branding to help consumers know where to go to hail one of the new AVs. The new service is expected to begin operations in Munich in 2022 in cooperation with Sixt SE, as well as in Tel Aviv.
More Context: As Mobileye continues to execute its plan to enable autonomous driving, the versatility and scalability of the company’s portfolio comes into view. Customers from across the mobility-as-a-service landscape are able to use Mobileye products and solutions to transition to driverless capabilities. In addition to Sixt SE and Schaeffler, Mobileye has previously announced joint autonomous efforts with Transdev and Udelv.
Brain Interfaces Showcased by Mercedes-Benz at IAA
Selecting the navigation destination by thought control, switching the ambient light in the interior or changing the radio station: Brain-computer interfaces (BCI) enable this new form of machine control. They will not be available in everyday life tomorrow. But they are no longer science fiction either. In medical research, for example, BCI applications are considered a viable option for helping people with physical handicaps to become more independent. Mercedes-Benz is now integrating the first BCI approaches into its pioneering VISION AVTR concept vehicle. At the IAA MOBILIY 2021 from September 7th to 12th in Munich, the brand with the three-pointed star will present how BCI technology works and, for the first time, give a preview of mind control as a new dimension of human interaction with the vehicle. After a short calibration process, a BCI device attached to the user’s head analyzes the measured brain waves and triggers a defined function. At the stand at the Munich fairgrounds in Hall B3, visitors can experience controlling the user interface in the vehicle with their own thoughts and interacting with it in real time.
“Mercedes-Benz is setting another milestone in the merging of man and machine with the research and development of brain-computer interface applications in cars. BCI technology has the potential to further enhance driving comfort in the future, for example,” said Britta Seeger, Member of the Board of Management of Daimler AG and Mercedes-Benz AG, responsible for Sales. “Mercedes-Benz has always pioneered intelligent, innovative solutions to provide our customers with the best product and service experience. BCI technology works completely independently of speech and touch. This opens up revolutionary possibilities for intuitive interaction with the vehicle.”
“With the continuous further development of our ‘Hey Mercedes’ voice assistant and the zero-layer concept of the MBUX Hyperscreen, we’ve already simplified vehicle operation radically,” said Markus Schäfer, Member of the Board of Management of Daimler AG and Mercedes-Benz AG; responsible for Daimler Group Research and Mercedes-Benz Cars COO. “BCI technology can make it possible to relieve the user even more, in order to be able to focus on the driving experience. The VISION AVTR underlines the courage and pioneering spirit of our brand and is exactly the right concept to test and further develop BCI applications. This concept vehicle impressively depicts the future of mobility in which man, nature and technology are in harmony with each other.”
A live experience at the IAA: controlling the user interface in the vehicle through brain activity
With the integration of Brain-Computer-Interface technology, Mercedes-Benz continues the revolutionary story of the VISION AVTR. The biometric interaction with the vehicle is complemented by a direct connection to the human brain. At the IAA, the first approaches to mind control based on visual perception will be demonstrated in the visionary seat mockup of the VISION AVTR. For this purpose, light dots are projected onto the fully digital dashboard. A BCI device with wearable electrodes attached to the back of the user’s head records brain activity and establishes a direct connection to the vehicle after a one-minute calibration. The brain reacts to the visual stimuli on the dashboard. The BCI device measures the neuronal activity at the cortex in real time. It analyzes the measured brain waves and recognizes on which light points the user directs his focus and full attention (attention-sensing interface). The stronger the focus, the higher the neuronal activity. The device then triggers the targeted function in the vehicle.
Using several functions linked to BCI technology, visitors to the trade fair can experience this ground-breaking form of interaction with the vehicle live. They will experience how quickly their own brain connects with the vehicle – similar to the neuronal connection between the Na’vi and the nature in the visionary Hollywood blockbuster “AVATAR.” By focusing on points of light, they can use the power of their thoughts to perform various functions in the digital VISION AVTR worlds displayed on the dashboard: for example, generate wind, grow plants, select parking spaces to charge or turn day into night.
VISION AVTR – inspired by AVATAR
The Mercedes-Benz VISION AVTR was presented for the first time at the 2020 CES (Consumer Electronics Show) in Las Vegas. It is the result of an extraordinary global collaboration between one of the most innovative brands in the entertainment industry, Disney, and the eighth most valuable brand in the world, Mercedes-Benz (according to Interbrand Ranking 2020). The name of the ground-breaking concept vehicle stands for ADVANCED VEHICLE TRANSFORMATION and embodies the vision of Mercedes-Benz designers, engineers and trend researchers for mobility in the distant future. The biometric connection enables a completely new interaction between man, machine and nature in the autonomous-driving concept vehicle.
The stretched “one-bow” design and organic design language combine exterior and interior into an emotional whole. Sustainable materials such as vegan DINAMICA® leather made from recycled materials, fast-growing Karuun® (rattan) that can only thrive in biodiversity, and organic, compostable battery technology create a closed-loop economy. 33 bionic flaps on the back of the vehicle can communicate with the outside world – with and through the driver – using naturally flowing movements in subtle gestures. Instead of a conventional steering wheel, the VISION AVTR has a multifunctional control element in the center console. By placing the hand on the control, the interior comes to life and the vehicle recognizes the passenger by their heart rate. Simply raising the hand projects a menu selection onto the palm of the hand, allowing the user to intuitively choose between different functionalities.
Porsche’s Future Mission R 800kW
Porsche is to provide a spectacular look into the automotive future. The Mission R concept car combines state-of-the-art technologies and sustainable materials, such as natural fibre-reinforced plastics, with a passion for racing. In addition to a progressive design, the extremely low-slung, all-electric competition car features the characteristic lines of the sports cars from Stuttgart-Zuffenhausen. The two newly developed electric motors incorporated in the Porsche Mission R deliver up to 800 kW (1,088 PS) in so-called qualifying mode. The battery capacity of around 80 kWh and the innovative recuperation system make sprint racing possible with no loss of output.
“Porsche is the brand for people who fulfil their dreams. This is also true in motorsports. We experience our innovative strength on the race track, demonstrate courage in pursuing new avenues and delight car owners with sporting performance,” says Oliver Blume, Chairman of the Executive Board of Porsche AG. “In addition to our involvement in the Formula E World Championship, we are now taking the next big step forward in electric mobility. The concept study is our vision of all-electric customer motorsports. The Mission R embodies everything that makes Porsche strong: performance, design and sustainability.”
Customer motorsports enjoy a high level of esteem at Porsche. Since the start of the Porsche Carrera Cup Deutschland 31 years ago, the sports car manufacturer has produced and delivered more than 4,400 Cup cars from Weissach. A total of 30 one-make cup series are held worldwide on the basis of these reliable, high-performance racing cars. The latest version of the 911 GT3 Cup was not launched until the start of this year’s 2021 motorsport season and is based on the 992 model generation. The Porsche Mission R provides an indication of what the future of one-make series with all-electric cars could look like.
The all-wheel drive car delivering just under 1,100 PS in qualifying mode accelerates from zero to 100 km/h in less than 2.5 seconds. Top speed: over 300 km/h. On the race track, the electric racer achieves the same lap time performance as the current Porsche 911 GT3 Cup. Thanks to newly designed electric motors and battery cells – all equipped with innovative direct oil cooling – the Porsche Mission R concept study produces a constant power output of 500 kW (680 PS) in race mode. So-called derating, i.e. reduction of the battery‘s power output due to thermal conditions, has been eliminated. An electric motor with up to 320 kW (435 PS) powers the front axle, while a maximum of 480 kW (653 PS) is delivered to the rear. Thanks to advanced 900-volt technology and Porsche Turbo Charging, a good 15-minute break from racing is all that is needed to charge the battery from 5 to 80 per cent SoC (state of charge). Charging can take place with up to 340 kW. The Mission R also features a further development of Porsche Active Aerodynamics (PAA) with Drag Reduction System (DRS) on the nose section and rear wing. It comprises three louvres in each of the two side air intakes on the nose section as well as an adjustable, two-section rear wing.
In addition to the innovative, battery-electric drive concept, the body of the concept car also focuses on CO2 reduction and sustainability: it is largely made of natural fibre reinforced plastic (NFRP), the basic material of which is made from flax fibres obtained from farming. This ecological material is also used for the front spoiler lip, the diffuser and the side skirts. NFRP is used extensively in the interior of the Mission R, such as the interior door panels, the rear bulkhead and the seat.
The interior design focuses on the driver in all areas. An ergonomically placed display between the controls on the steering wheel shows relevant data during the race. The monitor above the steering column shows the images from the side mirror cameras and the central rear-view mirror camera. A touch display to the right of the seat can be used to call up the driver’s biometric data, for instance. Numerous other cameras in the interior can be used to provide exciting sequences for a live stream transmission.
With the Mission R project, Porsche is bringing real and virtual racing closer together than ever before. The monocoque driver’s module in exactly the same form also doubles as an esports simulator. The safety structure made of carbon fibre composite material combines high protection potential for the driver with low weight and a distinctive look. Porsche engineers and designers have named the newly developed carbon roof structure the “exoskeleton”. It combines safety cage and roof skin. At 4,326 millimetres in length, the Porsche Mission R is slightly shorter than the current 718 Cayman series, but it is noticeably wider at 1,990 millimetres and with an external height of 1,190 millimetres is also significantly lower.
In the course of the last few years, with the Mission E (2015) and Mission E Cross Turismo (2018) concept studies, Porsche has given unmistakeable previews of its first all-electric sports car model series to come. The Porsche Taycan sports saloon (2019) and the Taycan Cross Turismo cross-utility vehicle (2021) closely resemble the two concept studies in terms of appearance and technology, and have already been successfully launched on the world markets – mission accomplished in other words. Now, with the Mission R, Porsche is presenting its vision of what customer motorsports will look like in the future. The show car celebrated its world premiere today at the IAA MOBILITY in Munich.
Valeo Offers New Tech
Six Valeo technology innovations presented at IAA Mobility in Munich (September 7-12) address the need for safer, cleaner and more diverse mobility.
The Covid-19 crisis has raised awareness for the importance of health and safety. Valeo is responding to these concerns with innovations that are aligned with today’s needs. One example is Valeo’s development of an ultraviolet-ray air purifier for buses and coaches that eliminates more than 95% of viruses, microbes and bacteria while the vehicle is on the move with passengers on board. For cars, Valeo has developed highly effective air filters that block 96% of allergens and 99.4% of viruses, including coronaviruses. One in two new models will be fitted with such a filter within the next five years.
Valeo’s technologies are so efficient that they now go beyond vehicles. In collaboration with several hospitals and research institutes*, Valeo has developed a vital sign detector that can evaluate a patient’s health risks and, in particular, assess whether they are likely to have Covid or not, using a contactless process that takes less than two minutes to complete. Presented for the first time at the IAA Mobility show, the device is based on Valeo’s Driver Monitoring System (DMS), which will soon be integrated into series-produced cars.
For safer mobility, Valeo has made advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) a key technology focus. As a result, one in four new vehicles produced worldwide now is fitted with one of Valeo’s ADAS solutions, making Valeo the world leader in this area. Valeo’s expertise covers the entire system from A to Z. This includes both hardware – with the most extensive portfolio of sensors in the automotive industry, as well as central electronic control units that merge the data collected – and software, which plays an increasingly important role in vehicles.
Among other Valeo innovations presented at the show is the company’s Automated Valet Parking system, which allows a car to park autonomously in parking lots. A natural extension of onboard driving assistance systems, Valeo cameras and software installed in car parks play a key role in enabling vehicles to perform these autonomous maneuvers.
IAA Mobility also gives Valeo an opportunity to demonstrate its prototype Valeo Drive4U autonomous car. Equipped exclusively with sensors that are already series produced by Valeo (LiDARs, cameras, radars, ultrasonic sensors, etc.), the prototype will travel on the open road in Munich, reaching level 4 autonomy. The prototype’s safety-enhancing features include Valeo Drive4U Locate technology, which pinpoints the vehicle’s location with centimeter-level precision, and the Valeo MovePredict.ai system, which detects vulnerable people around the car and brakes before they move.
Visibility solutions such as lighting and wiper systems – areas in which Valeo is a world leader – are also a powerful driver of improved safety. Valeo’s new smart lighting systems are becoming valuable driving assistance features. These systems include headlamps that trace the shape of the road and indicate upcoming turns in the driver’s field of vision. Rear lamps, which are connected to the vehicle’s cameras and surroundings via the 5G network, will signal hazards by displaying safety messages visible to all road users.
As the European Commission formalizes new measures to further reduce carbon emissions and mark a radical transformation in mobility, Valeo is already in the starting blocks. Valeo can electrify all types of vehicles, including cars, as well as all kinds of new urban mobility solutions: bikes, scooters, delivery droids etc. These developments are being demonstrated at IAA Mobility, as well as on the streets of Munich.
Valeo’s technological electrification platforms cover all segments and uses, from affordable 48V solutions to the most powerful systems – thanks to the products it has developed as part of the Valeo-Siemens eAutomotive joint venture.
IAA Mobility 2021 also features the flagship vehicle from a premium German automaker’s electrified range, powered entirely by a Valeo-Siemens eAutomotive electric system (motors, transmission and inverter – the brains of the electric powertrain system). By 2023, more than 90 vehicle models will be fitted with the joint venture’s technologies.
In addition to its portfolio of electric technologies, Valeo also tackles thermal management. Without it, the electrification revolution would not be possible. Valeo plays a key role in the development of the electric vehicle through its comprehensive expertise covering battery cooling, heat pumps and electric compressors, as well as optimized management of in-vehicle thermal comfort.
Today, Valeo is branching out even further in the electrification ecosystem with new charging stations that are being shown for the first time at the Munich show. Suitable for all types of electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles, they can be used for charging when electricity is cheapest or when it comes from a green source such as solar panels or wind power. They also can redistribute electricity not used by the vehicle, either to the power grid or to a specific electric device. Valeo’s charging stations are a natural extension of the onboard chargers Valeo designs and produces for electric vehicles.
As the IAA Mobility 2021 show in Munich clearly demonstrates, mobility is no longer just about vehicles. Today, it also includes the ecosystem surrounding them. Valeo – which has made innovation central to its strategy – is perfectly positioned for this change. Its automotive technologies are now being used not only in vehicles, but also in infrastructure. This helps to ensure technical continuity between vehicles and their surroundings. It also enables mobility operators and users to benefit from the cost savings and quality standards of series-produced automotive products.
* The Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Liège (Belgium); mobile Covid detection centers at the Ecole Polytechnique in Palaiseau (France) and in Breves and Huy (Belgium); the APHP Henri Mondor university hospital in Créteil (France); the Rabin Medical Center in Jerusalem (Israel); and Hôpital Régional Dr Mohamed Ben Salah de Moknine (Tunisia).
ZF Next Gen Mobility
At IAA Mobility in Munich, ZF, as a comprehensive system provider for sustainable mobility, presents its innovations – setting the tone for e-mobility and powerful central computers.
“Next Generation Mobility. Now.” – Seldom has a ZF motto been so fitting as is it is for IAA Mobility 2021 in Munich – when society’s mobility needs are in a state of upheaval. However, ZF sees great potential for the future of mobility. The technology group is therefore focusing on sustainable and comprehensive new mobility and driveline concepts. The technologies for these are already available. Under the auspices of IAA, ZF presents both a world premiere and a European premiere.
“Sustainable mobility is becoming tangible for people. With its products and solutions, ZF is helping to establish this in society, making it increasingly visible in everyday life,” says ZF CEO Wolf-Henning Scheider at IAA Mobility. “Never before has an IAA been better suited to talk about mobility as a whole. This suits us at ZF very well, because we are at home in almost all areas of mobility.”
World premiere: Modular eDrive Kit
The world premiere of the Modular eDrive Kit shows just how powerful ZF is in the e-mobility arena. It bundles the entire expertise of ZF’s e-mobility team into systems solutions, components and software control in a flexible platform. All new e-drives of the Modular eDrive Kit offer significant improvements in power density, weight, and efficiency. Optimized transmissions, as well as highly efficient cooling and lubrication concepts, reduce mechanical losses by up to 70 percent. To achieve this, ZF draws on its particular expertise in the field of transmissions. In addition, patented innovations in power electronics are included in the modular system. This offers tangible advantages for the automotive industry: “Among all the key figures of our Modular eDrive Kit, one is most important to us: The 50th percentile. Because we reduce the development times for new e-drives by up to 50 percent. We achieve this through a common technical base and cross-platform development of the components, through synergy effects and with a higher degree of maturity from the very beginning,” explained Scheider.
ZF’s Modular eDrive Kit also gives manufacturers a great deal of leeway in the design priorities between maximum performance and efficiency because it offers the widest possible spread – from compact cars to the premium segment: Configurations from 75 to 400 kW of power and from 350 to 540 Nm of torque are possible. The consistent modular approach of the Modular eDrive Kit serves as an optimal complement to the platform strategies for ZF customers: from established vehicle manufacturers to new automotive customers and tech companies. As a result, ZF now offers the exact foundation automotive manufacturers need for the next generation of battery electric vehicles.
European premiere: most flexible and powerful supercomputer for the automotive industry
Automated and autonomous vehicles require the computing power of supercomputers on wheels. The heart of future vehicles is therefore the central computing unit because this enables new functions with appropriate performance – for the benefit of safety, efficiency and comfort.
ZF has therefore developed a high-performance computer as a base – the ZF ProAI. The latest generation of the ZF ProAI is celebrating its European premiere at IAA Mobility. It is currently the most flexible and powerful supercomputer for the automotive industry. In combination with a high proportion of standardized components, ZF offers a unique combination of the most important factors for such a system with this solution.
Up to 66 percent stronger, up to 70 percent more efficient
The ZF ProAI is available in scalable performance levels from 20 to 1,000 TeraOPS. Compared to the previous version, ZF has increased performance by up to 66 percent and reduced energy consumption by up to 70 percent. This results in an outstanding energy efficiency of three TeraOPS per watt. At the same time, all variants of the ZF ProAI have been implemented on a uniform platform measuring only 24 x 14 x 5 cm. This means it takes up less floor space than an iPad. The ZF ProAI is suitable for every vehicle type and for all levels of automated or autonomous driving: from Level 2 to Level 5.
“ZF placed its strategic focus consistently on technologies for next-generation mobility years ago. This is now paying off: We are not showing ideas for the future at the IAA, but production-ready solutions that our customers can order and that will soon be shaping people’s mobility on the road,” said Wolf-Henning Scheider. “In our estimation, autonomous driving after Level 4 or 5 will become established in the commercial vehicle segment initially, and urban passenger transport. We are already active in the market for autonomous shuttle systems, among others.”
Green Power Roadmap: Climate neutral ten years earlier
ZF has secured, in a Green Power Roadmap, how all ZF activities will become climate-neutral by 2040 – ten years earlier than envisaged in the Paris Climate Agreement.
Sustainability is an obligatory criterion for ZF – as an important milestone, CO2 emissions at ZF locations are to be reduced by 80 percent by 2030 compared to 2019. ZF also assumes responsibility for its supply chain and the use phase of its products. The goal: to reduce, by 2030, the so-called Scope 3 emissions by 40 percent compared to 2019.
And employees can also play a pioneering role: Already, 80 percent of newly ordered company cars at ZF in Germany are electrified. In addition, ZF subsidizes the installation of private charging facilities for company cars. Furthermore, there will be workplace charging facilitites at every ZF location, worldwide, by the end of 2021. In Germany, more than 50,000 employees can also lease through ZF, a bicycle or e-bike.
“And that’s not all: we are also playing a major role in shaping the generation of energy from renewable sources,” said Wolf-Henning Scheider. “Today, 25 percent of all wind turbines already contain a ZF transmission. These turbines alone can supply up to 100 million households with renewable energy – and another million are added every month.”