In connected in car news are dSPACE, SDVerse, Renesas Electronics Corporation, Toyota, Denso Corporation, Uber Technologies, SpotHero, IDEMIA Secure Transactions, Hyundai Motor Group, Microsoft, Greater Than, Honda, Panasonic Automotive Systems, Nissan, Qualcomm, AMD, AGL, SOAFEE, Driivz, Vontier, XLR8 America, MIPI Alliance, JEDEC, Samsung, Robert Bosch GmbH, Bid Helpers and Toshiba Electronics.
In this Article
Dspace Joins Sdverse To Accelerate Software-Defined Vehicle Validation
dSPACE has joined SDVerse, the automotive industry B2B marketplace for software, to streamline the discovery of its validation and simulation portfolio. This move integrates dSPACE hardware-in-the-loop and software-in-the-loop (HIL/SIL) systems, sensor and scenario simulation, and AI-supported test automation into a centralized ecosystem. By providing OEMs and Tier-1 suppliers direct access to these tools, dSPACE aims to reduce complexity in the development of high-performance software-defined vehicles (SDV) and advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS).
The partnership emphasizes the transition toward software-centric architectures requiring continuous validation and scalable cloud-based testing. dSPACE is increasingly embedding AI into its workflows, covering automated virtual ECU generation and intelligent test farm management. Through the SDVerse platform, dSPACE facilitates more efficient collaboration across the automotive supply chain, helping manufacturers design and homologate complex vehicle software while maintaining rigorous safety and quality standards for autonomous driving functions.
Renesas R-Car V4H SoC Powers Toyota RAV4 ADAS Control Unit
Renesas Electronics Corporation announced its R-Car V4H system-on-chip (SoC) has been integrated into the TSS(LSS) control unit for the new Toyota RAV4, which debuted in December 2025. Supplied by Denso Corporation, the R-Car V4H manages critical ADAS processing, including camera and radar sensor fusion, driver monitoring, advanced parking assistance, and panoramic view systems. The hardware is specifically engineered to optimize safety performance through high-efficiency compute for autonomous and semi-autonomous driving functions.
The R-Car V4H utilizes on-chip image recognition and AI neural networks to process front-camera data within the TSS(LSS) unit. This architecture allows for the precise detection of vehicles, pedestrians, and obstacles by combining visual data with radar inputs. By leveraging advanced semiconductor solutions, the platform provides the high-accuracy sensor fusion r
Uber To Acquire Spothero To Integrate Native Parking Reservations
Uber Technologies has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire SpotHero, an industry-leading parking reservation platform with a network of over 13,000 locations across 400 cities in North America. The acquisition aims to integrate native parking reservations directly into the Uber app, targeting commuters and travelers at airports, venues, and event spaces. This strategic move expands Uber’s ecosystem beyond ride-hail and micro-mobility, offering a multimodal interface for users who choose to drive while providing Uber One members with specialized parking benefits.
The transaction, expected to close in the first half of 2026 pending regulatory approval, will allow parking operators on the SpotHero network to access Uber’s extensive consumer base and fleet partner infrastructure. For Uber, the integration of digital parking assets serves as a critical touchpoint for capturing driver data and facilitating vehicle charging logistics. By folding SpotHero’s established digital parking network into its platform, Uber enhances its position as a comprehensive mobility-as-a-service provider, streamlining the transition between personal vehicle use and on-demand transit services.
Idemia Secure Transactions Partners With Hyundai Motor Group For Connected Car Management
IDEMIA Secure Transactions (IST) has partnered with Hyundai Motor Group (HMG) to deploy its eSIM and Connectivity Manager across the Hyundai, Kia, and Genesis brands. The collaboration utilizes a cloud-based management platform hosted on Microsoft Azure, allowing HMG to dynamically switch mobile network operators (MNOs) across global markets. This architecture eliminates the requirement for region-specific SIM variants, streamlining supply chain logistics while enabling out-of-the-box connectivity for several million vehicles produced annually.
The integration supports HMG’s transition toward software-defined vehicle (SDV) architectures by facilitating secure over-the-air (OTA) updates for telematics and infotainment systems. IST’s GSMA-certified eSIM technology ensures reliable data throughput for navigation and safety features starting with deployment in Middle Eastern markets in 2025. By decoupling hardware from specific carriers, the platform optimizes operational costs and enhances the delivery of internet-based services, ensuring consistent connectivity throughout the vehicle lifecycle.
Greater Than And Honda Partner To Commercialize Ai-Powered Crash Risk Map
Greater Than has entered into a commercial agreement with Honda to launch an AI-driven crash risk map based on anonymized data from Honda’s Connected Car Program. The SaaS solution utilizes pattern recognition to visualize crash probability across specific geographic road stretches, providing actionable risk insights for infrastructure planning and mobility management. Honda will lead sales and marketing efforts for the platform, while Greater Than provides the underlying risk intelligence technology.
The crash risk map is scheduled for an initial launch in Japan in 2026, with a phased global rollout planned for subsequent years. By transforming telematics data into predictive infrastructure models, the partnership enables stakeholders to prioritize safety interventions and data-driven road improvements. This initiative aligns with Honda’s software-defined vehicle (SDV) strategy, leveraging fleet connectivity to enhance road safety and optimize long-term commercial revenue through scalable risk intelligence services.
Panasonic Secures Industry Endorsement For Virtio Standardization In Sdvs
Panasonic Automotive Systems has consolidated industry support for the standardization of VirtIO, an open-source device virtualization technology, to accelerate software-defined vehicle development. Major stakeholders, including Toyota, Honda, Nissan, and global semiconductor leaders such as Qualcomm, Renesas, and AMD, have endorsed the initiative to decouple software innovation from hardware lifecycles. The company has finalized a VirtIO-compliant in-vehicle software platform for cockpit domain controllers, facilitating a hardware-agnostic architecture across disparate vehicle models and generations.
The standardization effort leverages vSkipGen, a virtual hardware solution that enables cloud-native development with environmental parity on physical electronic control units. By adopting VirtIO as a common I/O interface, manufacturers can initiate software validation and AI-supported testing before physical hardware prototypes are available. This approach, supported by industry groups such as AGL and SOAFEE, addresses the complexity of modern automotive virtualization and ensures scalable, high-precision verification across cloud and edge environments.
LG Electronics will debut its next-generation smart telematics solution at MWC Barcelona 2026, marking the Vehicle Solution Company’s first official participation at the event. The new architecture integrates a telematics control unit and an antenna into a single module, supporting 5G, GPS, V2X, and satellite communications. This consolidated design improves signal processing efficiency, reduces wiring complexity, and eliminates the need for external shark fin antennas, allowing for streamlined vehicle aesthetics.
The transition from software-defined vehicles to AI-defined vehicles serves as the strategic backdrop for LG’s private B2B showcase for global automakers. LG maintained a 23 percent share of the global telematics market in 2025 and is currently expanding its LG AlphaWare suite, which includes specialized modules for in-vehicle entertainment, AR-enhanced cockpits, and AI-driven driver monitoring. The integrated module meets international cybersecurity standards and is designed to facilitate stable, high-speed data exchange essential for advanced autonomous driving and cabin infotainment systems.
Driivz And XLR8 America Partner To Optimize EV Charging Network
Driivz, a Vontier company, has announced a strategic partnership with EV Charging as a Service provider XLR8 America to manage and optimize its network of over 5,000 charging sites. The partnership utilizes the Driivz hardware-agnostic software platform to enhance reliability and scalability across diverse locations, including hospitality venues, multi-dwelling units, and large-scale retail environments. By integrating smart energy management and self-healing algorithms, the collaboration aims to maximize network uptime and operational profitability while addressing local grid constraints through data-driven load balancing and renewable energy integration.
The implementation includes a comprehensive suite of tools designed for high-density charging operations, featuring a configurable billing engine for varied monetization strategies and 24/7/365 network operations support. XLR8 America will deploy the Driivz driver application and web portal to provide transparent billing and seamless navigation for end-users. This end-to-end solution provides XLR8 America with the technical infrastructure necessary to scale its CaaS model while maintaining high service standards for both public and private charging segments.
INRIX Expands AI-Powered Traffic Management Portfolio
INRIX has launched a new generation of AI-driven traffic products aimed at helping transportation agencies and logistics organizations shift from reactive to proactive operations. Key additions include an AI-generated radio traffic reporting system, globally expanded volume profiles, speed distribution analytics for identifying speeding risks, improved map-agnostic incident referencing, and enhanced signal analytics for continuous intersection monitoring — all designed to help agencies do more with fewer resources.
MIPI Alliance Announces UniPro v3.0 and M-PHY v6.0 Specifications
The MIPI Alliance has released major updates to its foundational specifications, MIPI UniPro v3.0 and MIPI M-PHY v6.0, designed to provide the interconnect layer for the forthcoming JEDEC Universal Flash Storage 5.0 standard. These updates introduce a high-speed gear (HS-G6) utilizing PAM4 signaling to double interface bandwidth to 46.694 Gbps per lane. The new specifications target edge AI workloads in mobile, automotive, and industrial applications, prioritizing low-latency, high-bandwidth data processing and improved power efficiency.
Technical enhancements in M-PHY v6.0 include a new 1b1b line encoding to reduce PHY coding overhead and optional link equalization for enhanced interoperability. Parallel updates to UniPro v3.0 introduce a new transport framing structure, Reed-Solomon forward error correction, and a 64-bit cyclic redundancy check to ensure a bit error rate of less than $10^{-22}$ at the application layer. These releases, developed in collaboration with industry leaders including Qualcomm, Samsung, and Robert Bosch GmbH, maintain backward compatibility with previous versions while reducing link start-up latency to support next-generation SoC and storage integration.
Strategic Procurement Integration Via Bid Helpers For Change
Strategic procurement ecosystems in the automotive and industrial sectors increasingly rely on specialized bid facilitation to manage RFP complexity. Organizations focusing on these workflows provide the necessary technical oversight for SoC and SDV integration within public sector contracts and private infrastructure projects.
Maintaining compliance with V2X and ADAS standards is essential for suppliers navigating the Tier 1 and Tier 2 manufacturing landscape. Facilitation entities ensure that technical bids align with emerging safety protocols and hardware-software parity requirements to secure market positioning in the software-defined vehicle era.
Toshiba Launches Automotive Ideal Diode Controller For Redundant Power
Toshiba Electronics Europe GmbH has introduced the TPD7110F, an ideal diode controller designed for high-side switch applications in automotive body control modules, battery management systems, and head-up displays. The device integrates a charge pump and internal capacitor, allowing it to drive an external N-channel MOSFET as a low-loss ideal diode. Housed in a compact 2.9mm by 2.8mm PS-8 package, the controller reduces the required mounting area by 50% compared to traditional MSOP-8 solutions, supporting high-density PCB designs in space-constrained automotive environments.
The TPD7110F provides essential safety features, including reverse-polarity protection and a reverse-current-blocking function that prevents load-to-battery backflow by monitoring drain-source voltage (VDS) across the MOSFET. These capabilities facilitate the development of redundant power supply rails and electronically controlled ON/OFF load switches. Efficiency is prioritized with a typical operating current of 100µA and a standby current of 2µA. The device also offers a disable function for the reverse-current-blocking feature, accommodating systems that require bi-directional energy flow for battery storage applications.