In connected car news are Keysight Technologies, SiMa.ai, Advantech, Diodes Incorporated, Karma Automotive, Lytx, Octo, Volkswagen Group Info Services, Indie Semiconductor, Tada and Mazda.
In this Article
Keysight Launches Automotive Ethernet Receiver Compliance Test Solutions
Keysight Technologies (NYSE: KEYS) has introduced new automotive Ethernet receiver (Rx) compliance test solutions at the Automotive Ethernet Congress in Germany. These solutions are engineered to support validation across a spectrum from 10BASE-T1S to 10GBASE-T1, facilitating the industry’s transition toward high-speed zonal architectures and software-defined vehicles (SDVs). As modern vehicle platforms become more data-intensive, robust Rx testing has become a mission-critical requirement for maintaining network reliability and safety in scalable automotive environments.
The 10BASE-T1S Receiver Test Solution, developed in partnership with BitifEye Digital Test Solutions GmbH, focuses on emerging multi-drop Ethernet architectures for edge-controller applications. The suite provides automated software for physical layer (PHY) compliance with the Open Alliance TC14 PMA Test Suite 5.2.1 specification. It further enables Bit Error Rate (BER) verification under impaired channel and coupled-noise conditions using specialized media converters, ringing boards, and MDI adapters to ensure resilient performance in complex zonal network designs.
For future high-bandwidth requirements, Keysight also debuted the nGBASE-AU optical physical-layer testbed, which addresses EMI resilience and long-reach communication needs. This solution is fully compliant with IEEE 802.3cz Amendment 7 and Open Alliance TC7 specifications. The testbed includes a TDFOM measurement suite for advanced signal quality assessment and utilizes high-performance oscilloscopes, such as the DCA-M N1092A/C, to provide both conformant and developer-level test configurations. These tools are designed to equip automotive OEMs and suppliers with the high-speed testing infrastructure necessary for next-generation, software-driven communication networks.
SiMa.ai And Advantech Launch Modalix PCIe HHHL Card For Edge AI
SiMa.ai has expanded its Physical AI portfolio with the Modalix PCIe Half-Height, Half-Length card, developed in collaboration with Advantech. The hardware utilizes the Modalix MLSoC to double the performance of previous iterations while maintaining a power envelope under 10W. This architecture supports multimodal models, large language models, and convolutional neural networks directly on the SoC, eliminating host CPU overhead and the need for auxiliary power or dedicated active cooling in industrial PC environments.
The solution integrates direct GMSL camera interfaces and Ethernet connectivity to support 16 video channels for real-time vision reasoning. Designed for seamless integration into legacy and new IPC platforms, the card is available in commercial and industrial temperature variants with 8GB or 16GB memory configurations. Sampling is currently underway with general availability scheduled for the second quarter, targeting deployments in smart retail, manufacturing, transportation, and defense sectors.
Diodes Incorporated Expands Automotive-Compliant N-Channel MOSFET Portfolio
Diodes Incorporated (Nasdaq: DIOD) has expanded its PowerDI8080-5 automotive-compliant N-channel MOSFET range with the introduction of high-efficiency 40V to 100V devices. The portfolio is headlined by the 100V-rated DMTH10H1M7SPGWQ, which features an industry-leading ultra-low RDS(ON) of 1.5mΩ, optimized for 48V brushless DC (BLDC) motor drives in power steering and braking systems. These gullwing-leaded devices are engineered to minimize conduction losses and maximize thermal efficiency across battery electric (BEV), hybrid (HEV), and internal combustion engine (ICE) platforms.
The product line also includes a 40V-rated DMTH4M40SPGWQ with a maximum RDS(ON) of 0.4mΩ, targeting 12V BLDC motors and DC-DC conversion. For microcontroller-driven applications such as fan controls and actuators, the 40V DMTH4M40LPGWQ logic MOSFET provides 0.64mΩ at a 4.5V gate-source voltage. The PowerDI8080-5 package occupies only 64mm², approximately 40 percent of the footprint required by legacy TO-263 (D2PAK) packages, and utilizes copper clip die bonding to achieve thermal resistance as low as 0.3°C/W. This thermal performance supports drain currents up to 847A, while the gullwing configuration facilitates automated optical inspection (AOI) for robust automotive manufacturing.
Unit pricing for the new MOSFETs in 5,000-piece quantities ranges from $1.11 for the DMTH4M72SPGWQ to $1.89 for the 80V-rated DMTH81M2SPGWQ. The 100V and 40V high-performance models are priced at $1.71 and $1.65, respectively. In addition to automotive-compliant versions, standard-compliance models are available for broader industrial and commercial applications requiring high power density and small-footprint form factors.
Karma Automotive Launches Engage By Karma Luxury Mobility Pilot
Karma Automotive has introduced Engage by Karma, an on-demand luxury mobility and lifestyle program debuted in Las Vegas. The initiative utilizes Flexdrive by Lyft’s fleet management technology to operate a dedicated fleet of Revero sport sedans. The system provides real-time geolocation and movement pattern monitoring to automate service requirements and optimize vehicle utilization, targeting ultra-luxury consumers through a white-glove, app-based access model.
The pilot leverages Karma’s established presence in the Las Vegas market, including its partnership as the Official Luxury Vehicle of the Las Vegas Raiders. By integrating Flexdrive’s logistical backbone, the program manages high-touch operations without the traditional constraints of ownership or leasing. The pilot phase is scheduled to continue through summer 2026 to validate operational workflows, customer demand, and multimodal partner integrations.
Lytx 2026 Road Safety Report Analyzes Fleet Risk Trends
Lytx Inc. released its 2026 Road Safety Report based on 341 billion miles of driving data, indicating a stabilization in national collision rates with a 4% increase in 2025. Severe crash rates per mile declined by 4%, while moderately severe collisions saw a 41% reduction, aligning with National Safety Council data reporting a 12% decrease in motor vehicle fatalities despite record mileage. Conversely, low-severity incidents rose 16% and minor collisions increased 5%, with the construction sector experiencing a 28% year-over-year spike in total collisions.
The analysis identifies a 23% drop in near-collisions from previous record highs alongside a 40% surge in device-use coaching aimed at distraction mitigation. Risk density remains highest on urban roadways near major airports, with July identified as the peak month for driver fatalities. The report provides granular data on risky driving behaviors, regional hazard concentrations, and the efficacy of telematics-based driver coaching programs in reducing overall fleet liability and enhancing operational safety.
Octo And Volkswagen Group Info Services Strategic Data Integration
Octo has entered a strategic partnership with Volkswagen Group Info Services AG to integrate direct OEM vehicle data from Volkswagen Passenger Cars, Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles, Škoda, Seat, Cupra, and Audi. The collaboration expands data solutions for EU fleet operators by utilizing embedded telematics to support maintenance, geo-location, and utilization use cases without the requirement for aftermarket hardware installations.
The integration provides Octo’s platform with secure access to vehicle parameters including mileage, fuel consumption, EV status, and diagnostic warning messages. These data points facilitate advanced mobility services such as automated damage management, fraud detection, driving behavior analysis, and corporate car sharing. The technical framework ensures full compliance with GDPR standards while optimizing fleet efficiency through high-fidelity sensor data directly from the vehicle CAN bus. Leveraging direct OEM data allows Octo to offer enhanced fleet management and e-mobility solutions across Europe, connecting sovereign vehicle data with Octo’s AI-driven analytics.
Indie Semiconductor Expands Quantum Photonics Portfolio With UV DFB Laser
Indie Semiconductor (Nasdaq: INDI) introduced the ELA350028, a 399 nm Ultraviolet (UV) Distributed Feedback (DFB) single-frequency laser diode designed for quantum computing systems utilizing cooled Ytterbium atoms. This expansion into the UV spectrum complements the existing LXM-U and narrow-linewidth visible DFB laser portfolios, targeting adjacent markets including humanoids and advanced sensing. The semiconductor source provides a compact alternative to traditional external cavity gratings or frequency-doubling schemes, delivering up to 30 mW of optical power in a TO-56 package with potential scaling to several hundred mW via DFB-MOPA architectures.
The device features a patent-pending architecture that ensures mode-hop-free performance and sub-MHz linewidth, addressing specific Ytterbium transitions required for atom cooling and trapping. Technical specifications include a single spatial mode (TEM₀₀) and high side-mode suppression, optimized for the high-volume manufacturing of scalable quantum platforms. Currently sampling with customers, the ELA350028 signifies a strategic pivot toward photonics-driven quantum architectures, prioritizing spectral precision and low-noise operation for secure communications and computing applications.
Tada Enters New York City With Zero-Commission Model
TADA announced its formal expansion into the United States with a launch in New York City, following 150 million completed trips globally. The platform utilizes a specialized economic framework that replaces percentage-based commissions with a fixed platform fee per ride, allowing drivers to retain the full fare after mandatory regulatory deductions. Driver registration commenced March 3, 2026, with a controlled beta deployment scheduled for May and a full public launch anticipated for Summer 2026.
The company established local operations in Long Island City and is currently navigating the New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission (TLC) approval process. TADA leadership, including MVL Founder Kay Woo, positioned the entry as a structural alternative to existing high-cost rideshare models where commissions typically range from 20% to 30%. The New York expansion follows technical validation in the U.S. market through a partnership with the Denver Drivers Cooperative and infrastructure testing during the ETHDenver conference. Operational features include integrated non-custodial digital wallets for transparent activity tracking and activity-based incentives for verified trip completions.
Mazda Advanced Driver Assistance Systems Yield Significant Crash Reductions
A longitudinal study by the Highway Loss Data Institute (HLDI) analyzing 2015–2023 Mazda vehicles confirms that bundled advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) provide compounding safety benefits. The analysis of six feature configurations and four standalone systems—including automatic emergency braking (AEB), lane departure prevention, and driver monitoring—demonstrates a direct correlation between system integration and reduced insurance claim rates. While basic AEB bundles yielded a 13 percent reduction in property damage liability (PDL) claims, the most comprehensive suites achieved a 39 percent reduction in PDL and a 21 percent reduction in bodily injury liability (BIL) claims.
Specific hardware performance highlights include the effectiveness of rear AEB in eliminating low-speed parking collisions and the impact of blind spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, which lowered BIL claim frequency by 13 percent. Although the integration of modern sensors can increase the severity (cost) of individual claims due to replacement expenses, nearly all Mazda safety bundles were associated with lower total losses under PDL coverage. This data reinforces the transition toward holistic, human-centric crash avoidance architectures as a foundational component for reducing overall insurance losses in the automotive sector.