The latest Investing Matters Podcast with Jean Roche, Co-Manager of Schroder UK Mid Cap Investment Trust has just been released. Listen here.
We are thrilled to announce that, for the first time in our history, 202,530 BMW M vehicles were delivered worldwide in a single year.
This marks 2023 as a record-breaking year for our sales volume, with a 14.3% increase compared to the 2022 financial year. The all-electric BMW i4 M50 was once again the best-selling model, and the BMW M3 Sedan became the most successful high-performance BMW M worldwide, showing our success across all drive-trains and our audience’s trust in the M logo as a seal of quality.
In addition to the upcoming model revision for the three most successful high-performance series BMW M3, BMW M4 and BMW M2, the new edition of the BMW M5 is in the starting blocks for the upcoming model year 2024. The new generation of the high-performance model in the luxury class will not only be available as a sedan, but as the BMW M5 Touring it will also provide further impetus for the conquest of new target groups. Prior to this, the BMW i5 M60 xDrive Touring will complement the range of all-electric performance cars.
A huge thank you to all of our customers, supporters, and fans for an incredible year – we look forward to continuing to drive the BMW M brand this upcoming year.
Boon
Search the Magna press from 9th Jan. Here’s the text.
AURORA, Ontario, Jan. 09, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- At CES 2024, leading mobility technology company Magna introduced a breath and camera-based pre-development technology designed to combat impaired driving. The cutting-edge solution represents a significant milestone in the ongoing efforts to enhance road safety.
The new safety technology determines if drivers are “fit to drive” in a fast, reliable and affordable way. The integrated solution combines key elements of the interior sensing system, which utilizes camera technology to detect driver distraction, drowsiness and intoxication through pupillary signals, with infrared sensor technology developed by Senseair, a leader in air and gas sensing.
The best bit….
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.
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.
This is only new vehicles so the existing aftermarket is probably 50-100 times this.
If $30 month monitoring + $1000 hardware on a 6 yr contract then each unit brings in $3000.
Far higher than a $10-12 car unit as a one off.
6/10 SEE
American EVs: 10 Vehicles We're Looking Forward To In 2024
https://www.topspeed.com/american-evs-we-are-looking-forward-to/#lucid-gravity
Fisker stock on the rise following EV deliveries update
In its December business update, Fisker announced it had built 10,142 Ocean electric SUVs this year, delivering roughly 4,700.
“We became a revenue-generating company in 2023,” CEO Henrik Fisker explained. The growth comes despite several supply chain issues that led to early delays. Fisker said the company has “largely overcome” them as it looks ahead to a new year.
Fisker began delivering vehicles in June. The company said EV deliveries rose over 300% from Q3 to Q4.
With 1,097 Ocean EVs sold in Q3, that suggests Fisker delivered around 3,600 EVs in the fourth quarter. Fisker began delivering in Canada in December and is now in 12 markets in total.
Most of the EVs delivered were the Fisker Ocean One launch edition, starting at around $69,000. Earlier this week, Fisker handed over its first Ocean Sport model. The electric SUV features up to 231 miles EPA range and starts under $40,000.
https://electrek.co/2023/12/29/fisker-fsr-stock-bounces-ev-deliveries-climb-300/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=linkedin
The Internet of Things (IoT) refers to the interconnected network of physical devices, vehicles, buildings, and other objects embedded with sensors, software, and connectivity capabilities. These devices can collect and exchange data with each other and central systems, enabling real-time monitoring, analysis, and control. IoT has profoundly impacted various industries by enabling more innovative and more efficient operations, data-driven decision-making, and improved customer experiences.
AI encompasses a range of technologies that enable machines to learn, adapt, and make decisions, mimicking human intelligence. AI algorithms can analyse vast amounts of data, identify patterns, make predictions, and optimise processes, leading to automation and intelligent decision-making. Big Data refers to the massive volume, high velocity, and varied nature of data generated by IoT devices, social media interactions, online transactions, and other sources. This data is too complex and voluminous to be processed by traditional data management methods.
IoT, AI, and big data have transformed manufacturing, healthcare, agriculture, retail, transportation, and smart cities industries. In manufacturing, these technologies enable the monitoring and controlling machinery and equipment, optimising production processes and reducing downtime. AI & IoT devices are used in healthcare for remote patient monitoring, efficient inventory management, and improved patient care. Agriculture benefits from IoT powered by AI and big data are helping by enabling precision farming techniques, efficient irrigation systems, and real-time crop health monitoring. IoT & AI technologies enhance customer experiences in retail through personalised offerings, inventory management, and smart checkout systems. Smart cities leverage IoT to optimise resource utilisation, enhance public safety, and improve infrastructure management.
https://www.metrorailnews.in/addressing-transport-challenges-and-preparing-for-the-future/
The automotive industry has entered into a new era of vehicular safety, where in-car systems initially designed to keep you alive are also being marketed as quality-of-life improvements. What once was something only discussed with your insurance adjustor is now technology you might covet on your next commute.
While virtually every car on the road today offers some aspect of advanced driver assistance system, or ADAS, a choice few go above and beyond. No longer marketed just to concerned parents, they’re increasingly positioned as next-generation helpers, onboard luxury assets for stressed-out business people with the promise of reducing blood pressure at the touch of a button.
For the first time in North America, we even have a Level 3 automated system where, in limited circumstances, the car is capable of driving itself, its manufacturer liable for any collision.
But which of these competing systems with aspirational names like Super Cruise and Full Self-Driving is best at making your commute easier? And, are any of them worth their considerable price of entry?
The cars
These are the systems we tested and the cars in which we tested them:
BMW Highway Assistant: 2023 BMW i7 xDrive60
Chevrolet Super Cruise: 2023 Chevrolet Suburban 4WD High Country
Ford BlueCruise: 2023 Ford Mach-E Premium AWD
Mercedes-Benz Active Distance Assist Distronic with Active Steering Assist and Drive Pilot: 2023 Mercedes-Benz EQS
Tesla Full Self-Driving: 2021 Model Y with FSD beta software version 11.4.2
That leaves the hands-off systems from BMW, Ford and Chevrolet to duke it out for top honors. The lack of automatic lane changes in BMW’s current implementation of Highway Assistant makes it feel less advanced, but that feature is coming soon.
Both Ford BlueCruise and Chevrolet’s Super Cruise performed remarkably well, more or less on par. Super Cruise’s hands-off lane changes and broader ODD give it a slight edge. But, that Ford has evolved its system to this point in only two years, and Super Cruise has been on the market for more than five, means that the Blue Oval has the momentum here.
https://techcrunch.com/2023/12/28/how-tesla-bmw-ford-gm-and-mercedes-driver-assist-systems-compare/?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAAFdZpLrRN_NmNeRhGIXx9b1-O9X-i9gPQ84bUknHckuhZjyUbVAA63XMiM5oNqHediZ_ZYdev_eO8Zn5dWWGzXxdz2nM9L0kFViC4a4BGbCrabv6itBoUZfBCVEogaVLpYDNDwFYK28XfrSxntgb5LU-vbRS7laoJi8R4QuCXRZb
Seize
I will put my hand up as being frustrated last 12 months for sure.
Iam split 97% SEE & 3% So YTD is even worse than your + 100% & -10%
SEE -17%
SEYE + 135%
Every £100k in SEYE is now £235k
Every £100k in SEE is £83k
Too right iam bleedin frustrated..............
Still holding in there as expect some good things early 2024
Ford announced Thursday that its F-Series trucks achieved a historic milestone, having held the title of America’s best-selling truck and best-selling vehicle for over four decades.
Ford said 2023 will mark the 47th consecutive year that it made the best-selling truck in the U.S., while it will also be the 42nd consecutive year with the best-selling vehicle in America.
"It’s a streak that spans four generations (and started when I was only four) and has lasted longer than the entire lifespan of many other popular consumer products, including compact discs and mp3 players, and the entire brick-and-mortar video rental industry," Rob Kaffl, director of U.S. marketing and sales for Ford, wrote on the company website. "But this accolade is not a walk down memory lane; F-Series continues to grow and in 2023, remained the best-selling vehicle in the nation for the 42nd year in a row," he added.
Ford F-Series trucks also celebrated achieving what the company called the "Truck Triple Crown" – having made the best-selling full-size electric truck and best-selling full-size hybrid truck in addition to the top-selling pickup truck in 2023.
https://www.foxbusiness.com/markets/ford-celebrates-historic-milestone-for-f-series-trucks
New FAA Administrator Michael Whitaker said he has asked the panel led by former National Transportation Safety Board member Mark Rosekind, a sleep expert, to make recommendations in about six weeks.
The three-member panel will begin work in January and "examine how the latest science on sleep needs and fatigue considerations could be applied to controller work requirements and scheduling."
Whitaker told Reuters he wants "to have a better understanding of what the risk is" of controller fatigue. He said he is concerned about the impact of long-term six-day work weeks.
https://www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/panel-review-us-air-traffic-controller-fatigue-after-near-miss-incidents-2023-12-20/
Kelly Funkhouser, the nonprofit organization’s associate director of vehicle technology, tells TechCrunch she discovered it’s still possible to cover the cabin camera while using Autopilot, meaning drivers can neutralize one of the two main ways the car monitors if they are paying attention to the road.
What’s more, Funkhouser says she did not notice any differences when activating or using Autopilot’s flagship feature, Autosteer, outside of the controlled-access highways where Tesla says the software is designed to be used.
While the testing isn’t comprehensive, it shows questions remain unanswered about Tesla’s approach to driver monitoring — the tech at the heart of the recall.
The group, which has a long history of critically evaluating both Tesla’s tech and its vehicles, plans to do more extensive testing in the coming weeks. Funkhouser says Consumer Reports has not yet evaluated other changes, like more prominent visual alerts on the Model 3 sedan and Model Y SUV, because it has only received the over-the-air software update on its Model S sedan.
Tesla also added a suspension policy that will deactivate Autopilot for one week if “improper usage” is detected, which Funkhouser said she did not encounter during two drives lasting between 15 and 20 miles each.
https://techcrunch.com/2023/12/20/tesla-autopilot-recall-consumer-reports/amp/?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvLnVrLw&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAAM3mFqJxksQ68AgZ3e2FCL8N_r2Qs-8vO3j7-vn2KKutYiEBfQ1UMx7Z1K3HLvBYrN86lAfLrFYaZEk9dJQiUsmnAfQ197vdFkivJP2ax1p3_4IB2pEFUINFT9xvfrLT0jlsRKI0r8RndUl5w_YgNhQnhdIW-VE4JnXtQRwI2BYG
Https://lnkd.in/gFKa3PrU
Who would have expected this headline 5 years ago? This is an excellent and thorough review that shows why BMW is doing well with their BEV transition. It is obvious an electric BMW is still first and foremost, a BMW.
https://www.greencarreports.com/news/1141797_2024-bmw-i5-ev-test-drive-review
Thats BMW and Mercedes testing in China now.
Mercedes-Benz has started tests of its Level 3 system, which allows conditional hands-free driving, on designated expressways in Beijing, said the German premium carmaker on Monday.
The company said it aims to work with relevant authorities to develop the Level 3 system for the Chinese market. It has been conducting proving ground tests of automated driving in China since 2021.
Mercedes-Benz said its R&D team in China has been working to adapt the system to local infrastructure and traffic conditions, such as the country's unique road signs, markings, construction zones, special lanes such as bus lanes and tidal lanes.
In Germany, it has already introduced an optional Level 3 system into the S-Class and the all-electric EQS in compliance with local regulations.
The system, called DRIVE PILOT, can free the hands of the drivers under certain conditions in heavy traffic or congestions on suitable expressway sections in Germany at a speed-up to up to 60 km/hour.
In China, Mercedes-Benz has introduced Level 2 plus functions into the all-new long-wheelbase E-Class sedan.
The company said the system was developed specially in China, led by the local R&D team. Among other things, it enables the vehicle to initiate a lane change while the driver monitors the process, stay away from trucks, and overtake slower vehicles on expressways.
Mercedes-Benz has started tests of its Level 3 system, which allows conditional hands-free driving, on designated expressways in Beijing, said the German premium carmaker on Monday.
The company said it aims to work with relevant authorities to develop the Level 3 system for the Chinese market. It has been conducting proving ground tests of automated driving in China since 2021.
Mercedes-Benz said its R&D team in China has been working to adapt the system to local infrastructure and traffic conditions, such as the country's unique road signs, markings, construction zones, special lanes such as bus lanes and tidal lanes.
In Germany, it has already introduced an optional Level 3 system into the S-Class and the all-electric EQS in compliance with local regulations.
The system, called DRIVE PILOT, can free the hands of the drivers under certain conditions in heavy traffic or congestions on suitable expressway sections in Germany at a speed-up to up to 60 km/hour.
In China, Mercedes-Benz has introduced Level 2 plus functions into the all-new long-wheelbase E-Class sedan.
The company said the system was developed specially in China, led by the local R&D team. Among other things, it enables the vehicle to initiate a lane change while the driver monitors the process, stay away from trucks, and overtake slower vehicles on expressways.
a busy end to the year for the hashtag#dms industry, with a new program award announced by seeing machines. the tier-1 is likely to be valeo, but a "new european oem" isn't so easy to identify and could be either jlr or maybe a stellantis sub-brand such as groupe psa.
in announcing the latest award, seeing machines said: "we continue to work closely with our small hashtag#ecosystem of tier-1 customers, where deep relationships underpin joint pursuit of business and ensure our ability to deliver, which is very important as regulatory deadlines in europe fast approach."
the two leading dms suppliers are now confirmed with dramatically differing go-to-market strategies. smart eye is pursuing a role as a "software tier-1," its first award is probably with general motors and is clearly chasing more wins in this capacity.
the pace of hashtag#innovation and hashtag#technology development in the dms sector is breathtaking. gen-2 systems only first reached start of production (sop) in 2021. feature set requirements are growing exponentially, and requirements can expand from rfq to sop as new features are introduced. the first dms for the hashtag#digital hashtag#****pit is set for sop in 2025, with the first dms in the rear-view mirror coming to sop in 1q24. occupant monitoring has barely started, and interior sensing and interior perception lie ahead. the integration of hashtag#adas with the dms signals requires deep engineering expertise, so too combining adas with the digital ****pit on a single hashtag#soc in cross-domain computing. unresolved is also the uncertainty created by a discontinuity of what a dms actually does, with the us, eu, china and hashtag#ncap all pursuing slightly different requirements across safety, convenience, distraction, drowsiness and impairment.
within that environment, tier-1 suppliers such as bosch, magna international and valeo will play a critical role in integrating dms and hashtag#oms to meet regulatory requirements and hashtag#oem needs. they bring deep systems expertise, financial resource, and engineering muscle to meet tight regulatory deadlines in europe, and uncertain requirements in the us and china.
the never ending questions about who will be the largest dms software supplier are meaningless. there is a saying in formula 1: "to finish first, first you must finish."
automotive and f1 are two brutal industries, but the key to success is the same: choose the right partners.
for institutional investors and financial analysts seeking an expert third-party source to discuss these developments in more detail, i can be booked for telephone-based consultancy via glg and guidepoint. just ask for me by name.
David
I guess you didnt realise SEE is sponsored by Snakes & Ladders board game. Frustrating but lets see what January & February brings?
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Kids-Play-Ladders-Players-Learning/dp/B08CJBYDYZ/ref=asc_df_B08CJBYDYZ/?tag=googshopuk-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=463108470184&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=1191808928019586736&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9045295&hvtargid=pla-950663325789&psc=1&mcid=228fc491f903399ebab568128b0f3d6b
South Korea is set to overhaul its national driving test in preparation for the expected increase in automated and autonomous cars on the road.
Starting next year, it has been confirmed that applicants for a license in the Asian nation will be educated in the safe use of automated driving systems.
Currently, those seeking a license have to negotiate a test on both a defined course and public roads, and also take a written exam during which their knowledge of how to operate a vehicle is assessed.
The new section of the test will cover humans’ responsibilities when traveling in cars with automated functionality, with a particular focus on when they should assume control from the vehicle.
The move is a proactive step toward addressing an issue that is becoming increasingly prevalent: as more cars gain more autonomy, how can the humans behind the steering wheel be made aware of the limitations of the tech?
It’s a problem that has resonated with automakers, with, for example, General Motors launching a “Hands-Free Eyes On” initiative in the United States earlier this year that aims to increase consumer understanding of advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS).
https://www.iotworldtoday.com/transportation-logistics/korean-driver-s-license-applicants-to-be-trained-on-automated-cars#close-modal