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Colin said this at CES. So somethings coming for sure.
have seen it for myself at #ces2024. Here is the Magna International Seeing Machines #driver and #occupant #monitoring #mirror #DMS #OMS. That's me in the back taking the picture. In a Q&A Tuesday, Magna's Peter Spencley confirmed that the solution is fully compliant with Euro NCAP - For Safer Cars, Vans & Trucks 2023 test protocols for both owl and lizard movement detection. The occupant monitoring mirror was clearly installed in the ID.7 on display at the Cerence/VW press conference Monday, so must be due to go into production imminently. There's a second generation product in the works too, but that is Magna's story to tell. Based on what I have seen here at CES, this product is simply miles in front of everything else. If you are attending The Autonocast party tonight, come and ask me about it.
Everyone has to ask themselves do you trust Colin or the moaners & derampers more?
Brock
As Colin Said in 2024 VW has started. But BMW is really ramping up. Lots new models with idrive 8.5 & 9 with SEE in.
The all new BMW X2 and the first ever BMW iX2 @BMW @BMWM @bmwuk @BMWUSA The BMW X2 is the car that first introduced the vehicle concept of a Sports Activity Coupé (SAC) for the premium compact segment. And now the even more distinctive, even sportier and even more forward-looking second generation is taking to the stage. Significantly larger dimensions and a pronounced coupé silhouette clearly showcase in its exterior design the development leap taken by the new BMW X2. The worldwide market launch will get underway in March 2024
https://automobilemag.co.uk/the-all-new-bmw-x2-and-the-first-ever-bmw-ix2/
BMW equips Steyr plant for New Class electric drive production.
BMW has completed the new halls for the future production of New Class electric drive systems at its Austrian plant in Steyr and is now starting to set up the plant. Pre-series production is scheduled to start there in July.
Around 300 machines and production facilities will have to be set up in the coming months so that pre-series production can start on schedule in July of this year, according to BMW. In total, the BMW Group is investing around one billion euros in electric drives at the Steyr site by 2030. In future, the Steyr plant will produce over 600,000 drive systems per year – in parallel with diesel and petrol engines.
https://www.electrive.com/2024/02/02/bmw-equips-steyr-plant-for-new-class-electric-drive-production/
Considering October strikes in USA it could be worse. The serious bit started in 2024 now though.
We need great TPIs from here onwards but also need to start seeing some auto wins for the future.
With the likes of bmw ramping up & VW starting this Qtr the next 2 TPIs really need to start climbing.
Tech offerings are the same as what you'll find in the 5-series and i5 sedans, including a huge curved display screen on the dashboard and the latest iDrive 8.5 software with an in-car gaming platform. There's also an available hands-free driver-assist function that can operate under certain conditions on the highway.
https://www.caranddriver.com/news/a46671178/bmw-5-series-wagon-revealed/
Ford continued to build momentum behind its software-enabled services. Total paid software
subscriptions across all segments rose 8% sequentially in the fourth quarter to about 630,000.
During 2023, the company expanded availability of Ford’s BlueCruise advanced driverassistance system to Great Britain, Germany and Spain, a first in that country – in addition to
the U.S. and Canada. More than 290,000 BlueCruise-equipped Ford and Lincoln vehicles are
now on the road, with customer use exceeding 2.3 million hours and 156 million hands-free
miles – and counting
https://s201.q4cdn.com/693218008/files/doc_financials/2023/q4/2-6-24-Ford-Delivers-Solid-2023-Provides-Outlook-for-Healthy-24-Company-Declares-Regular-Supplemental-Stock-Dividends.pdf
Ford (F) assembled a “super-talented skunk works team” to build a low-cost EV platform. The small team consisted of “some of the best EV engineers in the world,” according to Ford’s CEO Jim Farley. It will be used to launch several new software-defined electric models.
Ford is “secretly” developing a low-cost EV platform
Following Tuesday’s Q4 and full-year 2023 earnings results, Farley explained that Ford is adjusting its capital while switching gears to focus on smaller EVs.
Ford’s leader said on the company’s earnings call that the company made a bet in silence two years ago to develop a low-cost EV platform. Ford put together a small team with “some of the best EV engineers in the world.” The project was separate from Ford’s main operations.
Meanwhile, Ford’s hands-free BlueCruise driving passed 150 million miles, up 25% from Q3. BlueCruise gross margins are at +70% as Ford doubles down on software-defined vehicles.
https://electrek.co/2024/02/07/ford-buildin-low-cost-ev-platform-tesla/
Phil
Upto now Lincoln has always been the same system as Fords Bluecruise. They called it Activeglide for a Year but changed last Year. What the future holds 2026/27 some models may be dual sourcing.
Like BMW showed you need to still get it to SOP and make it work or they could change suppliers ;)
Just last week, the refreshed 2025 Ford Explorer debuted with a revamped trim level lineup, a simplified powertrain range, and the typical exterior and interior styling updates – plus the arrival of the all new Ford Digital Experience infotainment system. Thus, it was clear that it was only a matter of time before the Explorer’s more luxurious counterpart – the 2025 Lincoln Aviator – was also fully revealed. Now, that’s precisely the case, as FoMoCo has officially pulled the covers off the latest version of that model, too.
https://fordauthority.com/2024/02/2025-lincoln-aviator-debuts-with-new-tech-bluecruise/amp/
Seeing Machines
This is one of the great unknown success stories to come out of the Australian National University. Its progress toward profitability offers fascinating insights into the consequences of years of R&D investment in a technology that was once ahead of its time.
The company’s driver monitoring systems, which are used to combat fatigue and reduce car accidents, have been sold to a range of original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) which sell products to global carmakers including BMW and General Motors.
CEO Paul McGlone says the company is at an inflection point because the amount spent on R&D as a percentage of revenue will fall from about 60 per cent to 20 to 30 per cent as revenue surges. In other words, a plunging R&D ratio will be a positive sign.
Seeing Machines, which is listed on the AIM market in London, has forecast a doubling in revenue to $US125 million by 2026.
The critical aspect of that forecast is that revenue from royalties will rise about nine-fold to as much as $US68.75 million.
McGlone says the royalties, which come from long-term contracts with OEMs, have a profit margin of about 95 per cent.
It would not be surprising if the valuation of Seeing Machines cracks $1 billion in the next two years as the market re-rates the stock on the back of higher revenue and the arrival of cashflow break even.
https://www.afr.com/technology/what-investors-can-learn-from-analysing-r-and-d-spending-20240204-p5f2a9
Munich. Additions to the line-up of drive systems and the range of optional extras are set to further increase the appeal and diversity of the BMW product range from spring 2024. The BMW i5 Sedan and BMW iX2 fully electric models will each be available from March 2024 with an additional drive system variant. The drive system offerings for the BMW X2 and BMW XM have also been expanded. The innovative Highway Assistant will bring increased comfort levels over longer journeys to more of the brand’s model series. And additional exterior paint finishes will be offered for the BMW 5 Series Sedan, BMW X2 and BMW iX2. Customers will also be able to order the business sedan with new variants of the BMW Individual Merino leather trim.
Attractive new features will also be introduced in spring 2024 in the area of digital services. These include easier use of the voice assistant Siri (as part of the integration of the Apple iPhone into cars specified with BMW Operating System 9), and the optimised display of ratings for charging stations for fully electric and plug-in hybrid BMW models. The steady expansion of the range of functions for the My BMW App also continues.
https://www.press.bmwgroup.com/global/article/detail/T0439303EN/bmw-model-update-measures-for-spring-2024?language=en
200,000 annual sales but how many will be bluecruise?
New 2025 Ford Explorer. Active, ST-Line, ST, and Platinum trims. 2.3L and 3.0L Ecoboost engines. 13.2" Touchscreen with SYNC 4, Alexa, and Google Maps. Blue Cruise standard on ST-Line, ST, and Platinum, requires subscription.
The 2025 Explorer version features new interiors, available BlueCruise—Ford’s autonomous driving solution that allows for hands-free highway driving—and an enhanced digital experience. Google Assistant is the default voice assistant and while parked, customers can watch YouTube videos and stream movies.
“We’re very proud of Explorer,” says Jim Baumbick, Ford’s vice president of product development operations and quality. The new vehicle should appeal to buyers in the millenial generation—people born between 1981 and 1996.)
https://www.barrons.com/amp/articles/2025-ford-explorer-cd5d3a89
GM Vehicles Coming In 2024
New vehicle launches this year, on the internal combustion side, include the redesigned Chevy Equinox, Traverse, Tahoe, and Suburban as well as the GMC Acadia and next-generation Buick Enclave. On the EV side: Silverado EV and GMC Sierra EV, Equinox EV, Cadillac Escalade IQ and Celestiq all continue production or launch.
Barra said there are more than 100,000 reservations for electric pickups that the automaker expects to fill this year and next. Overall, GM is hoping to deliver 200,000-300,000 EVs this year, depending on demand. The pace of EV demand has slowed, creating some uncertainty, but Barra said she still thinks EV share in the U.S. will increase from 7 percent in 2023 to 10 percent in 2024 in the U.S. If GM EV sales surpass 200,000 EV sales, GM will record variable profit on them, says Chief Financial Officer Paul Jacobson.
https://www.motortrend.com/news/gm-ceo-mary-barra-chevy-blazer-ev-software-cruise-self-driving-issues/
Seize
As you know we are the mushrooms kept in the dark. BMW should start really ramping up soon but numbers wise?
Spring 2024: The Enhanced Highway Assistant Coming to More BMWs
BMW has updated its Highway Assistant feature, which is part of the optional Driving Assistance Professional Package on various models like the iX, 5 Series, 7 Series, X5, X6 (except M Competition models), X7, and standard on the XM. This feature allows hands-free driving up to 85 mph where it’s safe and legal. The previous version of the Highway Assistant, which is offered in most 2022 models, had a speed limit of 40 mph and required the driver to keep their eyes on the road at all times. The new version, however, will increase the speed limit to 85 mph and use an advanced eye-tracking system to monitor the driver’s attention level. This means that the driver can relax more and enjoy the ride, as long as they are ready to take over when needed.
https://www.bmwblog.com/2024/01/30/spring-2024-the-enhanced-highway-assistant-coming-to-more-bmws/#:~:text=BMW%20has%20updated%20its%20Highway,where%20it's%20safe%20and%20legal.