In connected car news areStoneridge, Geotab, E Ink, BMW, Kinetic Technologies, Flock Safety, Magna, Ford and Lincoln.
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Stoneridge to Unveil Centralized EVO ECU Platform for Software-Defined Commercial Vehicles
Geotab Introduces Geotab Investigations Platform for Telematics Incident Reconstruction
E Ink and BMW Unveil Color-Changing iX3 Flow Concept Featuring Segmented Electrophoretic Surface Technology
E Ink Corporation and BMW Group have detailed their fifth collaborative concept vehicle, the BMW iX3 Flow Concept, featuring dynamic exterior surface actuation driven by full-color E Ink Prism electrophoretic display technology. On display at BMW Welt in Munich through September 2026, the one-off demonstration vehicle integrates programmable ePaper panels across the vehicle exterior. The surface system executes a ten-second animated visual sequence utilizing microencapsulated charged particles that shift optical states via targeted electrical signals, consuming power exclusively during state transitions.
The project highlights ongoing engineering advancements in non-planar digital surface integration, scaling from the initial monochrome iX Flow presented at CES 2022 to multi-segment full-color surface architectures used in the i Vision Dee and i5 Flow NOSTOKANA. Developed as a promotional showcase vehicle tied to Sony Pictures and Marvel theatrical media, the iX3 Flow concept demonstrates low-power customizable vehicle exteriors, dynamic OEM brand communication, and flexible surface personalization for future battery-electric vehicle platforms.
Kinetic Technologies Launches KTS1642Q Automotive Load Switch
Kinetic Technologies has introduced the KTS1642Q, an AEC-Q100 qualified load switch engineered to simplify compliance with ISO 16750-2 and ISO 7637-2 power transient standards. Designed for automotive ECUs, ADAS modules, and digital instrument clusters, the 6A device operates within a 4V to 40V range and features robust protection against -28V reverse battery conditions, 35V load dump, and electrical transients. The integrated solution includes a 41mΩ MOSFET, fixed 20.3V over-voltage protection (OVP) with a 360ns response time, and thermal protection with auto-retry functionality. By consolidating critical power management and protection circuitry, the KTS1642Q enables automotive system designers to reduce component counts and minimize power loss within increasingly complex electronic architectures. The device, which provides fault reporting and input ESD protection compliant with IEC61000-4-2, supports operation across a wide -40°C to +125°C temperature spectrum. It is housed in a 4mm × 4mm TDFN package and is currently available in both active high and active low enable configurations.
Flock Safety Tightens ALPR Data Retention and Access Controls Following Surveillance Misuse Inquiries
Surveillance hardware and automated license plate recognition (ALPR) provider Flock Safety has announced a series of system architecture and governance updates following documented instances of law enforcement personnel misusing database access. In response to unauthorized query incidents, CEO Garrett Langley issued a public apology acknowledging oversight lapses across the company’s network of approximately 120,000 operational camera endpoints nationwide.
The primary architectural modification reduces the platform’s default cloud data retention window from 30 days to seven days, restricting extended data storage strictly to an active Evidence Mode for ongoing criminal investigations. Flock is also enforcing mandatory case-code entry for all search queries, enabling agency-level filtering for permissible offense categories, and mandating automated behavioral audit tools by year-end to flag and lockout anomalous query activity prior to administrative review.
Automotive Backup Camera Recalls Surpass 21 Million Units Amid Infotainment and Hardware Integration Failures
Automakers have recalled approximately 21 million passenger vehicles due to rearview camera system malfunctions since federal backup visibility regulations took effect eight years ago, according to a Bloomberg analysis of National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) data. The total expands to nearly 28 million units when incorporating commercial chassis, recreational vehicles, and multi-passenger transit fleets, with nearly 6 million vehicle recalls logged in 2025 alone.
System defects stem from multi-point architectural failure modes across vehicle computing networks, including central infotainment processing lag, software stack crashes, wiring harness degradation, and thermal management failures that cause blank screens or display latency. As automotive architectures increasingly route safety-critical optical feeds through domain controllers and consolidated digital cockpits, backup camera subsystems have ranked consistently among the top ten most error-prone vehicle components in JD Power quality indices.
Magna Integrates RGB-Infrared Driver and Occupant Monitoring Behind Interior Rearview Mirrors
Tier-1 automotive supplier Magna has engineered an integrated RGB-infrared Driver and Occupant Monitoring System (DOMS) packaging high-resolution optical sensors, infrared emitters, and processing electronics behind interior rearview mirror glass. The centralized overhead architecture eliminates direct line-of-sight obstructions common to steering column and instrument cluster modules, providing an unoccluded field of view to evaluate driver attention, track eyelid closure, analyze head poses, and detect cognitive fatigue.
The plug-and-play mirror assembly scales across manual, auto-dimming, and full-display video units without requiring instrument panel or dashboard structural revisions. In addition to primary Level 2 and Level 2+ driver availability verification, the optical footprint supports cabin-wide occupant classification, child presence detection (CPD), and seatbelt status tracking across multiple passenger seating geometries.
The integrated packaging addresses tightening automotive safety mandates, including the European Union General Safety Regulation (GSR) and updated Euro NCAP protocols that require direct eye-tracking driver engagement systems. Following series production initiation, Magna is deploying the in-mirror vision hardware through supply agreements with European and German OEMs across regional vehicle platforms.
Ford and Lincoln Deploy In-App Generative AI Assistant Across Eight Million Connected Vehicles
Ford Motor Company has expanded deployment of its generative AI assistant across the Ford and Lincoln companion mobile applications, scaling vehicle-specific digital support to approximately eight million connected vehicle owners. The smartphone-first deployment architecture leverages existing cloud-linked vehicle profiles to automatically contextualize user prompts based on specific model year, powertrain, and trim configurations without requiring manual input from the user.
Integrated directly with real-time CAN bus telemetry, the multimodal assistant processes live vehicular health metrics, including tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) readouts, state of charge (SoC), oil degradation tracking, and diagnostic trouble code (DTC) warnings. The system also delivers technical guidance for onboard ADAS features, such as BlueCruise hands-free highway driving calibration and operational parameters, while accepting text inputs and image uploads for component troubleshooting.
The companion app deployment builds on the Ford Pro commercial fleet AI interface launched earlier this year and serves as the software precursor to native dashboard integration targeted for 2027. In parallel, Ford is deploying Google Gemini as an opt-in conversational agent alongside the Ford and Lincoln Digital Experience to manage in-cabin infotainment and digital cockpit workflows.