Member Info for terrym

With over 7,500 uk Fleets lets hope :)

CANBERRA, Australia, March 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Seeing Machines Limited (LSE: SEE), the advanced computer vision technology company that designs AI-powered operator monitoring systems, and the UK's leading fleet operator accreditation scheme, FORS (the Fleet Operator Recognition Scheme), have joined forces to support companies in promoting driver safety and wellbeing.

https://markets.ft.com/data/announce/detail?dockey=600-202403260400PR_NEWS_EURO_ND__EN70624-1#:~:text=Together%2C%20FORS%20and%20Seeing%20Machines,Guardian%2C%20as%20an%20exclusive%20offering.

Seeing Machines logo

Together, FORS and Seeing Machines will work with FORS accredited operators to implement a new programme: FORS Drive Safe. Through this exclusive collaboration, Seeing Machines will be offering FORS operators its world-leading driver fatigue and distraction solution, Guardian, as an exclusive offering. The solution is based on Seeing Machines' automotive grade safety technology – driven by decades of Human Factors research – with monitoring and intervention by people. Used by more than 800 fleets globally, Guardian combines artificial intelligence with computer vision to monitor a driver's state and intervene when necessary to prevent the potentially devastating consequences of fatigue and distraction.

Lets hope others follow :)

In January 2024, new car sales in Europe increased by 11% with Volkswagen the top-selling brand in Europe and the Dacia Sandero Europe’s favorite car model.

https://www.best-selling-cars.com/europe/2024-january-europe-car-sales-and-market-analysis/#:~:text=The%20top-selling%20car%20brands,up%20by%20nearly%20a%20fifth.

When your Mcap is $25b & you turnover over $500m per Qtr & expected to grow next few years $40m is peanuts in the aftermarket space.

A business division that is 2% of your turnover with 130 staff, which most are based in Israel in a global market place is obviously looked at as a waste of time. They are sticking to at manufacture and know this will grow and aftermarket will shrink for them.

With trucks lasting Upto 10-15yrs and legislation coming in SEE will be in the aftermarket for a long time still Iam sure. But slowly will be built in at manufacture.

ZF have set up a ADAS aftermarket division & Iam sure SEE will find new partners to work along with in the future. SEE will do ok with what we do now for many years to come.

Looking forward to the next 3 TPIs to see how the Fleet business doing.

Munich. Strong products, strong demand, strong results: Following a successful 2023, in which the Automotive Segment reported its highest-ever operating result, the BMW Group aims to continue on its profitable growth course in the current financial year. Fully-electric vehicles (BEVs) and models from the upper premium segment should remain the main growth drivers again in 2024 – including the BMW 7 Series models, the BMW X7 and the Rolls-Royce model family, with the fully-electric Rolls-Royce Spectre*.

In both segments, the BMW Group expects to see significant double-digit growth in the current financial year. In addition, the BMW 5 Series models, including the BMW i5*, which will also be available for the first time as a fully-electric Touring model this year, plus vehicles from BMW M GmbH, will contribute as well.

Overall, the BMW Group expects to see a slight increase in deliveries in the Automotive Segment in 2024.

“The more challenging the framework conditions become, the more important it is to implement a consistent strategy. As a result, strong products and a high degree of responsiveness will remain our key success factors in 2024. This will continue to make us a reliable partner for customers, investors and stakeholders in the future,” said Oliver Zipse, Chairman of the Board of Management of BMW AG, on Thursday.

R&D spending and capital expenditure to peak in 2024, as planned

The company will maintain its strategic course, as planned, in 2024, with extensive investment in its plants, its range of premium vehicles and innovative technologies. This is seen in the construction of the plant in Debrecen (Hungary) and high-voltage battery assembly facilities in Shenyang (China), Woodruff (USA), San Luis Potosì (Mexico) and Irlbach-Straßkirchen (Lower Bavaria). With extensive expansion at Plant Munich and electrification of the MINI plant in Oxford, capital expenditure is set to peak in 2024. Digitalisation of the company and its products also necessitate higher spending.

https://www.press.bmwgroup.com/global/article/detail/T0440518EN/strong-today-strong-tomorrow:-bmw-group-maintains-course-for-successful-future-building-on-strong-2023?language=en

The automotive industry is gearing up for a major shift toward hands-free driving. While current vehicles offer basic driver-assistance features such as lane-change assist, autonomous emergency braking and adaptive cruise control, the future promises a true hands-off experience. However, the current sensor suite, relying mainly on cameras and low-resolution radar, simply doesn’t cut it.

https://www.wardsauto.com/industry-news/path-toward-truly-safe-hands-free-driving

Today’s drivers are still required to keep their hands on the wheel in most situations. However, companies including BMW and Mercedes-Benz already offer limited hands-free options under specific conditions, and Chinese automakers also are pushing for more advanced features to gain a competitive edge in the market. Analysts predict 30% of new vehicles will boast hands-free capabilities within four years. The key hurdle? Building trust. Drivers need to have complete confidence in the system's reliability to truly relinquish control. Any misstep could shatter consumer confidence and stall progress.

The Role of Advanced Sensors

While crucial for providing data in challenging situations such as poor weather and long distances, current radars suffer from limitations. Their low-resolution struggle to accurately pinpoint smaller objects, detect the boundaries of vehicles and map free space, in addition to high false alarm rates due to few physical channels, hinder their effectiveness.

Likewise, cameras – despite their inherent resolution and color sensitivity – lack the ability to understand object materials and can be susceptible to weather and lighting variations. They may even require cleaning systems for volatile environments, highlighting the need for redundancy in the sensor suite. Additionally, optical sensors such as cameras and lidars fall short in providing crucial information like doppler (object speed and angular direction), long range and depth, limiting their effectiveness for 360-degree sensing.

Next-Gen Radar Technology

Perception radar is built based on a high channel count enabling both high resolution and a very low false alarm rate. This combination provides detailed and reliable information that enhances the safety of advanced ADAS features, including hands-free and eyes-off features. Perception radar provides real-time speed and depth data for all objects in the scene and is the only sensor that can detect small objects, like lost cargo at a 325-yard (300-m) range.

A synergy of cameras and high-resolution imaging radar is ideal. By addressing each other's weaknesses, these two technologies offer a combined sensing capability crucial for reliable hands-free driving. The combination of perception radar and cameras in the sensor suite will enable OEMs to make the leap to hands-free driving that is reliable, consistent and, of course, safe.

Wonder if coincidence no CFP when SEYE bad news arrives ;)

Smart Eye just announced that we have completed a directed share issue. We were pleased to see great interest from investors, resulting in oversubscription and a low discount. 

We realize some people may wonder why we have decided to raise capital at this point.

There are 3 main reasons behind this:

1. This was a smart way to raise capital. After weighing different financing alternatives, we concluded that a directed share issue at this time was our best option. This capital raise comes from position of strength, and we believe the timing was ideal.

2. This capital raise allows us more strategic flexibility. By increasing the financial robustness of the company, we are de-risking Smart Eye as an investment case. After taking this action, we can feel very comfortable with our funding going forward.

3. We have had success beyond any expectations. The last six months have been incredible successful for Smart Eye, with multiple groundbreaking automotive deals won – both as a Tier 2 and Tier 1 supplier. Just this week we announced a major contract with one of the world’s largest truck manufacturers for our AIS #DriverMonitoring System (#DMS). On top of this, we have started winning business for our Automotive #InteriorSensing AI. In order to both catch up with our recent success and to keep winning future business, we want to strengthen our financial situation.

In the video below, Smart Eye’s CEO and Founder Martin Krantz and CFO Mats Benjaminsson offer more detail on the share issue, the reasons behind it, and Smart Eye’s financial strategy.

At 15.00 CET / 10 am ET today, Martin and Mats will participate in a Q&A hosted by Redeye AB to answer questions from investors. The link to the live stream will be posted shortly.

https://www.linkedin.com/posts/smart-eye_smart-eyes-ceo-cfo-comments-on-the-directed-activity-7176842333840162817--CyL?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_ios

Today it is a bit

87.45 SEK −7.80 (8.19%)today

22 Mar, 09:20 CET • Disclaimer

I do admire their RNS writer though. Delivers good news great & even makes bad news sound appealing. We should head hunt them.

Background and reasons for the Issue

The market for both of Smart Eye’s business areas, Automotive and Behavioral Research, remains very strong. During 2023, Smart Eye achieved an organic growth of 33 per cent and the organic growth for the fourth quarter of 2023 as compared to the fourth quarter of 2022 was 50 per cent.

The Company’s net sales during the first quarter of 2024 are expected to be in line with that of the fourth quarter of 2023. Behavioral Research net sales are expected to decrease slightly during the first quarter of 2024 as compared to the fourth quarter of 2023, largely explained by seasonal variation in demand amongst customers, where the first quarter is generally relatively weaker due to the customers’ budget cycles. Automotive net sales are expected to increase slightly during the first quarter of 2024 as compared to the fourth quarter of 2023, with the reservation that the Company does not have full insight into production volumes or license revenues before its customers report them, which occurs 4-6 weeks after the end of each quarter.

Furthermore, the Company assesses that the cash flow during the first quarter of 2024 will be more negative than that of the fourth quarter of 2023, primarily as a result of extraordinary items as well as accrual effects in the Company’s working capital, of which the latter is expected to have the opposite effect on the cash flow in the second quarter of 2024.

The EU’s Technical Committee on Motor Vehicles (TCMV) met behind closed doors this week and approved two ‘hands-off’ level 2 driver assist systems from Ford (‘BlueCruise’) and BMW for use across the EU. These systems do not meet current EU safety regulations but will now be permitted under an exemption procedure.

21-Mar-24 16:35:08 5.00 1,000,873 Buy* 4.96 5.00 50.04k UT

Seize

I think Valeo are our main T1 so lets hope, this being their 2nd win in a Week it filters down to an RNS soon for SEE :)

The next-generation BMW iX3 electric SUV will be the first model to debut on the company's Neue Klasse platform, with a concept providing a glimpse of what to expect.

The 2026 BMW iX3 has been previewed with the unveiling of the Vision Neue Klasse X concept, ahead of its public debut at the Beijing motor show next month.

Using BMW's new-generation design language – first previewed on the i Vision Dee concept in January 2023, and later on the Vision Neue Klasse concept sedan – the Neue Klasse X is expected to form the basis for the next iX3 electric SUV, due to launch in the second half of 2025.

The designs are a departure from the brand's current range of vehicles, which have been widely criticised for their oversized grilles and arguably disproportionate shapes.

According to BMW Group's Design Director, Adrian van Hooydonk, all future 'X' badged SUVs from the German car maker will feature upright 'kidney' grilles – as previewed on this latest SUV concept, borrowing from models from the 1980s – rather than the wide integrated grilles shown on the i Vision Dee.

Van Hooydonk says BMW will adopt LED lights where chrome would previously feature.

VIDEO: BMW previews future electric 3 Series with colour-changing concept

https://www.drive.com.au/news/bmw-vision-neue-klasse-x-previews-future-ix3/

General Motors (GM) looks to get back on track this year as executives believe EV “production hell” is behind it. After missing EV sales targets for the past two years, will 2024 be the year of execution, as GM says it will?

Is GM putting production hell behind it?

After delivering 75,883 EVs last year, GM (again) missed its target of selling 100,000 alone in the second half of 2023.

The automaker encountered freight delays, software glitches, and other issues that delayed timelines. After almost three months, GM lifted the Blazer EV stop-sale earlier this month. GM issued the stop-sale in December, four months after opening orders.

GM confirmed it was pausing sales to fix a software glitch. Chevy said the measure was non-safety-related and impacted a limited number of Blazer EV owners.

To make matters worse, GM ended production of its best-selling Chevy Bolt EV at the end of 2023, which accounted for 62,045 or over 81% of EV sales last year.

GM aims to build 200,000 to 300,000 Ultium-based EVs, or about 20 times more than it did in 2023. The goal is still well short of its previous target of making 400,000 EVs through mid-2024.

According to GM Authority sources, the start of regular production (SORP) for the 2025 Buick Enclave is scheduled to start on June 17th, 2024. Production will take place at the GM Lansing Township plant in Michigan. Additionally, GM Authority has learned that order banks for the all-new Enclave are expected to open on May 2nd, 2024.

Note that these dates are tentative and subject to change.

When it does finally make splashdown, the all-new 2025 Buick Enclave will debut new exterior styling that follows the brand’s latest design language, as pioneered by the Buick Wildcat EV concept unveiled in 2022. The new styling will include thin, angular upper lighting signatures, as well as prominent Y-shaped styling lines around a trapezoidal front intake. Squared-off lighting elements on the sides of the fascia will provide the primary forward lighting.

The cabin space will be totally overhauled as well, and will feature large digital screens, with a widescreen display for infotainment and a digital gauge cluster, similar to the Cadillac Lyriq. The GM Super Cruise system may be optional as well. The new Enclave is also expected to offer a fully loaded Avenir trim level with all the usual top-shelf goodies.

https://gmauthority.com/blog/2024/03/heres-when-2025-buick-enclave-production-will-start/amp/

I wish we had their PR & Marketing dept. Its amazing they announce a $14m lifetime contract and announce it. I cant believe we havent won anything.

Even the National Express article stating Guardian from a few days ago nothing from our PR or Marketing dept on it.

Pi55 poor really

Looks very impressive so hopefully help with sales in the Fleet space.

Steven Jenkins, Vice President of Technology Strategy, Magna joined Grayson Brulte on The Road to Autonomy podcast to discuss Magna’s partner approach to developing autonomous driving systems.

The conversation begins with Steven discussing how Magna is approaching safety systems.

Magna is one of the only real few suppliers that has the entire set of enablers to make it happen and do a complete system. So we are thinking about the whole system as a package rather than individual pieces of the package, and that allows us to develop these market leading products that deliver the enhanced safety and convenience for the driver. – Steven Jenkins

The software defined vehicle will unlock continuous updates to the vehicle, unlocking new features and functions. Eventually these software updates will be able to upgrade vehicles to enable autonomous driving functionality depending on their sensor package.

As vehicles become more advanced with higher levels of autonomy, the debate around driver monitoring creeps into the conversation and ultimately leads to the question; when is the right time to introduce driver monitoring? That question ultimately comes down to the OEM. While the OEM makes that decision, Magna is working on a series of in-cabin monitoring solutions that benefit the driver and the passengers.

This approach will benefit their OEM customers as they introduce higher levels of autonomy. Magna is approaching autonomy as as a step-wise approach.

In a kind of autonomous scenario you are really taking a kind of huge leap in terms of what you can do with a vehicle, but you are not taking as big as a leap when it comes to technology. A lot of things are pretty similar. – Steven Jenkins

A hybrid market that comprises of both robotaxis and personally owned autonomous vehicles could emerge at some point in the future. How the economics of these models emerge will depend on the companies that make the product available and take the risk from a financing perspective. Either way, Magna will be there from a technological standpoint to help their partners and customers usher in the future of autonomy.

Wrapping up the conversation, Steven shares his opinion on the future of mobility.

Chapters:

0:00 Introduction

0:39 Magna'a Safety Complete System Approach

3:29 Software Defined Vehicles

5:09 Neural Network Approach to Autonomous Driving

9:28 Driver Monitoring

15:38 Magna's Approach to Autonomous Driving

30:10 New and Emerging Technologies

35:56 Staying Ahead of the Market

37:43 Future of Mobility

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=7eWk5Li6UKc

“This confirms the strong customer appeal of the compact class models built in Regensburg, the BMW X1 and the BMW X2,” underlined Ebner. The second generation of the BMW X2 went into production in Regensburg in November. The global market launch of the vehicle manufactured exclusively at BMW Group Plant Regensburg took place on 2 March. Its main markets will be China, the US and Europe.

Ebner anticipates a further increase in the number of vehicles produced in Regensburg in 2024. To be more precise, the plant will be able to manufacture well over 300,000 units per year, if justified by market demand. Production of electric models, in particular, is expected to increase significantly. In 2024, at least one in three BMWs leaving the BMW Group’s Bavarian vehicle plants should be an electric car – and the same applies to Regensburg.

“With the BMW iX1 and BMW iX2, we will continue to inspire customers around the world with fully-electric driving pleasure from Regensburg,” said Ebner. Europe is a particularly important sales market for the fully-electric BMW iX2. In its domestic market of Germany, for instance, the BMW iX1 was Germany’s ninth most popular electric car, with 14,694 new vehicle registrations in 2023, according to the Federal Motor Transport Authority (KBA).

https://www.automotiveev.com/bmw-group-ramps-up-investment-and-hiring-in-upper-palatinate-plant-regensburg/