In connected car news are Diodes Inc., Mercedes-Benz, Hyundai Mobis, Sibros, Honda, NVIDIA, Hyundai Mobis and IIHS.
Diodes Incorporated AH4930Q Lidar
Diodes Incorporated has introduced the AH4930Q, its first automotive-compliant 3D linear Hall-effect sensor, capable of detecting magnetic fields across X, Y, and Z axes for high-precision, contactless rotary motion and proximity detection. Targeted applications include rotary selectors in infotainment systems, gear shifters, door handles, locks, and powered seat adjusters. The AH4930Q features a 12-bit temperature sensor for accurate on-chip compensation and offers high-resolution measurements with a 12-bit data converter, achieving positional accuracy down to 1 Gauss per bit. It supports communication via an I²C interface at speeds up to 1Mbps, facilitating real-time data exchange and adjustments. The sensor provides multiple operating modes, including an ultra-low-power mode consuming 13µA at 10Hz and a fast-sampling mode at 3.8mA for 3.3kHz measurements. Operating within a supply voltage range of 2.8V to 5.5V and a temperature range from -40°C to +125°C, the AH4930Q is housed in a 6-pin SOT26 package and is priced at $0.50 per unit for 1,000-piece quantities.
Luminary Cloud Unveils AI Model for Automotive Aerodynamics with Honda and NVIDIA
Luminary Cloud has announced the rollout of a groundbreaking open-source foundation model and dataset aimed at transforming aerodynamic design in the automotive industry. With monthly updates and staged releases tied to dataset milestones, the initiative will deliver the largest open-source AI model database focused on SUV aerodynamics using high-fidelity DDES CFD simulations across diverse vehicle configurations and flow conditions.
The project benefits from strategic contributions by Honda, which is providing design variations to ensure real-world relevance, and NVIDIA, which is supplying GPU acceleration and Omniverse Blueprint technology to support real-time digital twins and model training using NVIDIA’s PhysicsNeMo framework. This collaboration enables highly accurate AI predictions and broad accessibility for automakers and engineers seeking customizable, data-driven design solutions.
Disney+ Comes to Mercedes-Benz MBUX
Mercedes-Benz is bringing Disney+ to its in-car infotainment system, MBUX, offering passengers premium streaming access starting this year. Available in select 2024 model year vehicles—including the E-Class, CLE, GLC, C-Class, and the upcoming CLA—this integration spans over 40 countries and enhances the in-vehicle entertainment experience.
To access Disney+, users need an active MBUX Entertainment Package Plus and a Disney+ subscription. Passengers can enjoy high-definition streaming from Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, and National Geographic, directly from their seats. Optional features like the 3D- or 4D Burmester Sound System and co-passenger display provide a cinematic experience on the road, while driver safety is ensured by screen restrictions when the car is in motion.
The Disney+ app supports personalized profiles, allowing users to pick up where they left off from other devices, making the transition from home viewing to car travel seamless.
Mercedes-Benz MBUX Update with Google Satellite View, AI Voice, & Offroad Adventures
Mercedes-Benz has launched a sweeping over-the-air (OTA) update—MBUX 2.6—bringing advanced navigation, AI-powered voice capabilities, and offroad exploration features to over two million vehicles worldwide. Unveiled at Google Cloud Next 2025, the update introduces Google Satellite View and Live Alternative Routes to enhance electric vehicle navigation, integrating real-time charging and traffic data.
A key highlight is the ChatGPT-powered MBUX Voice Assistant, now reaching up to three million vehicles, including older models with the first-generation MBUX system. This upgrade enables natural, conversational interactions with live search results and contextual understanding—all while keeping drivers’ hands on the wheel.
Also introduced is Offroad Track, a new feature in the Mercedes-Benz Stories app, allowing drivers to share, record, and explore curated 4×4 routes with integrated video and telemetry data. Available on models with second-generation MBUX and all-wheel drive, it caters to adventure-seeking drivers.
This update underscores Mercedes-Benz’s commitment to evolving in-car digital experiences post-purchase, enhancing convenience, safety, and connectivity across its global fleet.
Sibros and Electra Vehicles BMS
Sibros, a leader in connected vehicle software, has announced a strategic partnership with Electra Vehicles, an AI-driven cleantech company specializing in battery optimization. This collaboration integrates Sibros’ Deep Logger®—a real-time vehicle data collection platform—with Electra’s EVE-Ai™ 360 Adaptive Controls, a suite of machine learning tools designed to enhance battery performance, safety, and longevity.
The combined solution empowers automakers, energy storage operators, and fleet managers to predict battery faults up to three months in advance, improve State of Charge accuracy to within 1%, and extend battery lifespan by up to 30%. Additionally, it accelerates battery development cycles by up to 90% through advanced modeling and real-world fleet data. Together, Sibros and Electra are enabling smarter energy management and transforming the way connected vehicles manage and optimize battery system.
IQE and X-FAB GaN Power Device Platform
IQE plc, a global leader in compound semiconductor materials, and X-FAB Silicon Foundries, a top analog/mixed-signal foundry, have entered a Joint Development Agreement to create a Europe-based gallium nitride (GaN) power device platform. The two-year collaboration will focus on developing a 650V GaN device targeting applications in automotive, data centers, and consumer electronics.
By combining IQE’s GaN epitaxy expertise with X-FAB’s manufacturing capabilities, the partnership aims to deliver a ready-made, high-performance GaN solution to fabless semiconductor firms. The platform is designed to accelerate innovation and reduce time-to-market, while laying the groundwork for future power electronics products that extend beyond 650V.
Hyundai Mobis Hosts Mobility Day in Detroit
Hyundai Mobis shifted its annual Mobis Mobility Day to Detroit, aiming to strengthen partnerships with North American startups in robotics, cleantech, and mobility. The event, now in its fourth year, showcased Mobis’s innovation strategy in software-defined vehicles, electrification, and automotive electronics to over 200 attendees. With growing global orders from North America, the company sees Detroit’s emerging mobility ecosystem as vital for collaboration and product promotion. Hyundai Mobis, through its innovation arm Mobis Ventures Silicon Valley, has invested over 200 billion won in startups and plans to expand strategic support for proof-of-concept projects and market-driven tech partnerships.
Sibros & Electra to Supercharge EV Battery AI and Real-Time Data
Connected vehicle software leader Sibros has formed a strategic partnership with Electra Vehicles, a cleantech and AI specialist, to advance battery performance and intelligence in EVs. The collaboration merges Sibros’ Deep Logger®—a real-time data collection system—with Electra’s EVE-Ai™ 360 Adaptive Controls, an AI-driven platform designed to optimize battery health, safety, and lifespan. The integrated solution offers predictive fault detection up to three months in advance, near-perfect state-of-charge accuracy, and up to 30% longer battery life. It also accelerates R&D cycles by as much as 90%. Together, the companies aim to provide OEMs, fleet managers, and BESS operators with powerful tools for smarter energy management, predictive maintenance, and enhanced vehicle ROI.
Daylight Saving Debate Offers No Clear Safety Winner,
At an April 10 congressional hearing on the future of daylight saving time, David Harkey, president of the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), told lawmakers that changing the clocks twice a year has minimal overall impact on road safety, urging instead a focus on protecting vulnerable road users in low-light conditions.
Harkey’s testimony emphasized that pedestrian and cyclist safety—especially after sundown—deserves greater attention, as U.S. crash deaths have surged past 42,000 annually, a 30% increase since 2014. IIHS’s 30×30 initiative aims to cut that number by 30% by the end of the decade.
An IIHS study found modest trade-offs between daylight saving and standard time: DST brings fewer pedestrian deaths but more vehicle occupant fatalities, while the reverse occurs under standard time. Net impact? A nearly neutral exchange—26 fewer pedestrian/cyclist fatalities but 29 more vehicle occupant deaths each year.
Rather than focusing on time policy, Harkey encouraged proven countermeasures like better lighting, pedestrian beacons, lower speed limits, and traffic-calming infrastructure to reduce risks during dark hours.