In 2013 RFT became the first business in Australian to adopt the Bluetree (now Orbcomm) telematics solution which allowed it to track vehicles as well as provide data that enabled it to score how well drivers – as well as vehicles – were performing against set parameters, including speed, idling, harsh braking, and over revving.
Around the same time, RFT came across Seeing Machines’ driver monitoring technology for the first time.
“They were in the mining industry but I looked around the world what was available and everything else told you after the event, whereas Seeing Machines told you in front. But I said the drivers will never accept it unless you put a forward-facing camera as well as a driver-facing camera and they made a decision to go-ahead and do that and since then we’ve had them in every vehicle we operate,” he says.
RFT’s Driver Safety System comprises a driver-facing camera and a forward-facing camera to monitor a driver’s eyes and head position to identify potential fatigue and distraction events.
This real-time device alerts the driver by a seat vibration and alarm in the case of a fatigue event and also sends an alert to RFT’s operations team.
Since that point in time I’ve had monitoring on all our vehicles and progressed through various stages of monitoring.
“It’s the greatest thing as far as I’m concerned that I’ve ever seen in technology for safety improvement,” Finemore says.
https://roadboss.com.au/transport-titan/
Good news for us!
Ford EV sales climb in February following price cuts
After EV sales slipped 11% last month in EV sales last month, Ford saw a big improvement in February with 6,368 all-electric vehicles handed over, up 80.8% over last year.
Ford sold 2,930 Mustang Mach-E models in February, up 64.3% YOY. However, Mach-E sales were down 20% through the first half of 2023 as Ford retooled its Cuatitlan, Mexico plant, where the EV is assembled.
Ford’s CFO John Lawler told investors in October that the company has “taken out some Mustang Mah-E production,” citing market demand.
Meanwhile, Ford F-150 Lightning sales nearly doubled (+93%) YOY, with 2,930 EV trucks delivered. That’s up from the 2,258 Lightning models sold in January.
The growth comes after Ford announced it was cutting Lightning production in January. Ford said the move was to “achieve the optimal balance of production, sales growth and profitability.” E-Transit sales were also up 112.9% last month, with 860 electric vans handed over.
MINI’s New Autonomous Driving Features And Hidden Tech That Powers It
But the feature we’re most excited about is optional Level 2 autonomy MINI is calling Driving Assistant Professional. With the Driving Assistant Professional, the MINI Cooper and Countryman has partially automated Level 2 driving on highways for the first time. If you’ve been following MotoringFile all year you’ll remember us exclusively reporting on this feature last spring.
When engaged, Driving Assistant Professional allows the driver to take their hands off the wheel at speeds of up to 37 mph (60 km/h), as long as they have their eyes on the road (as determined by an eye tracker) and are ready to intervene at any time.
The small grey strips in the wheel light-up to tell you when the system is working or needs your attention.
We’ve used this system in BMW’s extensively and it really does work as advertised – you can take your hands off the wheel entirely as long as your eyes are on the road. The car will stop, go, turn and even change lanes on command using the turn signal.
In autonomy, you have developed Super Cruise, the driver-assistance platform in some GM cars, which allows hands-free driving on certain highways. There is also Cruise, your robotaxi arm. More to come here, as well?
We launched Super Cruise in 2017. If I had a do-over, I would have rolled it out more quickly. But it was new technology, and we held it up to make sure it was right. We just doubled the number of miles covered by hands-free driving to 750,000. I use it. I love it.
What slowed us down was the chip shortage. If we waited to equip vehicles with Super Cruise, we weren’t going to be able to ship them. So, we’re not as far along as we wanted. But we still have a robust plan to put it in many models. We’ve taken tremendous costs out of Super Cruise while making it better, adding automatic lane changes, adjustments for towing, and more miles.
Super Cruise is targeted at Level 2 and Level 3 driver assistance, which allows hands-free driving, but it still requires drivers to pay attention. The big leap is to Level 4, where the car takes over. Do you expect GM to sell Level 4 cars to consumers anytime soon?
It depends how you define “soon,” but I believe we will have personal autonomous vehicles. The technology has taken longer than expected, but we have already validated that our Cruise robotaxi vehicle is safer than a human driver. I believe we’ll have personal AVs by the latter part of this decade.
Will I be able to read Barron’s while the vehicle “drives”?
You’ll be able to watch a movie, or doze off. Or read Barron’s. Imagine you are in your daily commute: Wouldn’t it be great to get your morning emails and texts done before you get to the office? I still believe that people are going to want to drive, because driving is fun. But there are times when it isn’t fun. If the vehicle can get you where you’re going and you can be doing something else, it just makes you more productive.
https://www.thelayoff.com/t/1rlnfVPD#google_vignette
BMW ramping up.
Production launch of the MINI Countryman Electric at BMW Group Plant Leipzig
The main driver behind the volume increase is the MINI Countryman. During the course of 2024, output will rise to almost 500 units a day – on top of the 800 or so BMW vehicles the plant is producing. What’s more, thanks to its flexible production system, Plant Leipzig is in a position to respond quickly to customer demand, for example by increasing the share of fully electric vehicles.
More staff and nightshifts for increased production volume
Higher production volume means secure employment and up to 900 additional employees in vehicle production alone. By the end of 2024, Plant Leipzig will employ around 7,000 BMW staff. Working hours will need to be adjusted in all technologies, with nightshifts in assembly starting for the first time in September of this year and cars being produced round the clock in three shifts.
https://www.press.bmwgroup.com/global/article/detail/T0439929EN/production-launch-of-the-mini-countryman-electric-at-bmw-group-plant-leipzig
The Silverado's Hands-Free Super Cruise Tows A Trailer Better Than You
My first experience with any kind of hands-free driving assistance was behind the wheel of a Cadillac CT6 Platinum, the launch vehicle for GM’s Super Cruise technology. Since that 2020 outing, Super Cruise has expanded to the Escalade and CT5, as well as the GMC Hummer EV and Buick Envision, among others.
And on certain models—the 2021–present Cadillac Escalade, Chevrolet Suburban and Tahoe, and GMC Yukon; and the 2022–present Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and GMC Sierra 1500—Super Cruise will even activate with a trailer in tow, all the way up to the specific vehicle’s load rating. Sensors in the brakes, accelerator, and suspension closely estimate the weight of the trailer and cargo on board, and the driver assistance suite compensates with appropriate following distances.
We should all be skeptical of new technology, especially that which promises hands-free driving with a trailer in tow. So I wanted to experience Super Cruise Trailering myself. Chevrolet set me up with a 22-foot enclosed trailer weighing about 3,500 pounds hitched to a loaded 2024 Silverado 1500 High Country, then put me on the legendarily traffic-snarled Interstate 105 near Los Angeles International Airport for 45 minutes. It would be an excellent real-world test consisting of freeway interchanges, stop-and-go traffic, and lane closures. TL;dr, the Silverado came through it without a single hiccup.
https://www.motor1.com/features/710675/chevrolet-silverado-super-cruise-towing/amp/
Cash is king but they seem to be selling and going over to dealership plan. Let’s hope they find a backer/partner. It’s tough out there for recent non Chinese EV start ups.
Preliminary Fourth Quarter 2023 Financial Highlights
Fisker's total revenue was $200.1 million, an increase of $128.3 million compared to revenue of $71.8 million in Q3 2023, as vehicle deliveries increased by 2,721 units sequentially to 3,818.
The most affordable EV you could buy with more than 250 miles of range in 2024 is an overachiever, offering so much value for under $35,000.
Consumers continue to pay more for an electric vehicle (EV) compared to their internal combustion engine (ICE) equivalents, but that gap is slowly narrowing down as time passes by. According to Cox Automotive, the average price that customers paid for a new EV in December 2023 was $50,798, down from $52,362 from the month prior. The same research firm attributes this lower transaction price mostly to significant price cuts from Tesla. As a result, average EV prices in December were down 17.7 percent from January 2023.
Additionally, most affordable EVs tend to have lower range compared to their more expensive counterparts. Batteries, after all, are the single most expensive item in an EV, which is why the affordable ones tend to have smaller batteries. This now leads us to the question of what's the most affordable 250-mile EV you could buy in 2024, a range that's flexible enough for an EV to become a primary car for most Americans. Well, it's an entry-level model from Chevy and it's called the Equinox EV.
https://www.topspeed.com/most-affordable-new-electric-car-over-250-miles-range/
Prob our biggest Auto customer by April after all the March additions.
Make it two years in a row for Bimmer.
Consumer Reports (CR) named BMW (BMWYY) the top overall pick in its 2024 Brand Report Card rankings, with the German automaker becoming the first back-to-back winner since 2017. It cements BMW as one of the few luxury brands owners can count on for overall satisfaction — something unusual in CR’s rankings.
CR’s coveted brand rankings list is based on the average overall score that combines road-test scores, predicted reliability, owner satisfaction data, and safety criteria for all of the tested models from each automaker.
https://uk.finance.yahoo.com/news/consumer-reports-bmw-named-top-pick-in-overall-brand-rankings-subaru-top-mainstream-brand-151110247.html
We get regular new models weekly and monthly but no expansion RNS. Latest one.
Available GM Super Cruise now joins the technology list for the 2024 Chevy Traverse.
https://gmauthority.com/blog/gm/chevrolet/traverse/2024-chevrolet-traverse/
Seye good at marketing and beefing up the news. If my maths is right.
So if $13m over 7yr model lifespan that’s $2m year on 34 models so it’s $60,000 per year per model at $5 per unit it’s average of 12,000 extra cars per model extension. And all in the future estimates basis.
We should start announcing our model extensions though.
Strange they don’t mention models decreasing though like BMW.
GM Authority has obtained photos of the all-new 2025 Buick Enclave in the flesh with no camouflage. It unsurprisingly wears the new corporate face of Buick that we’ve seen permeate throughout the brand’s smaller crossovers like the Envision, Encore GX, and Envista. The flagship Enclave is the last Buick model to adopt the new design language.
The body of the new Enclave is decidedly boxier than the soft, flowing curves of the outgoing model. It gives the Buick Enclave a closer family resemblance to the Chevy Traverse, GMC Acadia, and smaller Cadillac XT6. Another interesting touch is the spoiler integrated into the middle of the liftgate, which should help with aerodynamics and make minor improvements to efficiency and cabin noise.
Judging by some of the updates we’ve seen in the officially unveiled, all-new 2024 Chevy Traverse and 2024 GMC Acadia, we can make a few predictions about what to expect in the 2025 Buick Enclave. One big update we’re expecting is the availability of the Super Cruise hands-free driving system. Another safe bet is an Avenir trim comparable to the GMC Acadia Denali, which has luxurious features like a unique appearance package with available 22-inch wheels, an 8-inch head-up display, leather seating for the first two rows, and power-folding third-row seats.
https://gmauthority.com/blog/2024/02/heres-the-2025-buick-enclave-before-youre-supposed-to-see-it-photos/
Redeye provides a research update on Smart Eye following the Q4 2023 report. The year-end report was further proof that the investment case is progressing as expected. The main issue for the stock market right now is the risk for additional capital raising due to the low cash and high burn rate.
Dont seem to worry mr market?
82.10 SEK
+5.50 (7.18%)today
Jury Clears SMR In Car Mirror Patent Infringement Suit
By Carolyn Muyskens
Law360 (December 15, 2022, 8:55 PM EST) -- A Michigan federal jury on Thursday cleared auto supplier SMR USA of liability for infringing rival Magna's driver's side car mirror patents, instead finding that the asserted patent claims were invalid as obvious, and rejecting Magna's bid for $24 million in damages.
Over the course of the weeklong trial in Grand Rapids, Magna International had sought to prove that SMR and three foreign affiliates caused automakers Ford and Fiat to infringe Magna's patents for a car mirror assembly that eliminates the blind spot. Magna had argued SMR supplied the mirrors for cars that were later imported into the U.S. for sale.
But after roughly four hours of deliberations, the jury was persuaded by SMR's case that Magna's invention was not groundbreaking when compared with a trailer-towing mirror made for a Dodge Ram model that was on the market first. That earlier mirror used a similar design involving an auxiliary "spotter" mirror to help drivers see into the blind spot.
"SMR is grateful to the jury for their time and careful consideration in finding all patents invalid because the invention is obvious. SMR is an innovator and independently designed its blind-zone-eliminating mirror," said SMR attorney Maximilian A. Grant of Latham & Watkins LLP in a statement emailed to Law360.
While the jury deliberated, U.S. District Judge Jane M. Beckering presided over a bench trial on SMR's separate claim that Magna deceived the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office during the patent prosecution.
In the bench trial, SMR pressed Magna Mirrors' Chief Technical Officer Niall Lynam on whether he misled the patent examiner about the dates that aspects of the invention were conceived of and reduced to practice in order to get around a publication that the patent office initially flagged as anticipating the patent claims. SMR homed in on statements Lynam made in declarations to the USPTO as evidence of alleged inequitable conduct.
SMR also said Lynam knew about the Dodge Ram mirror and should have disclosed it to the patent office as prior art.
The bench trial wrapped up Thursday afternoon after the jury verdict was delivered, and Judge Beckering is expected to issue her verdict on that matter later.
https://www.lw.com/en/people/admin/upload/SiteAttachments/Jury%20Clears%20SMR%20In%20Car%20Mirror%20Patent%20Infringement%20Suit.pdf
Seize
Dont take any notice of patents, dont seem to worth the paper they written on so far. How many patent infringement cases have you seen in Auto over last 5 years as ADAS systems developed? Ive not seen one!
Since the Expedition had a complete refresh in 2022, the latest model sees only minor updates, keeping most of the features we know and love. The main additions are a new exterior color, an integrated audio platform, and hands-free driving technology. A 90-day trial of Ford BlueCruise is now available on Platinum trims, while complimentary connected navigation has been reduced from three years to one.
https://www.hotcars.com/2024-ford-expedition-overview/
Tech will also change in the 2025 Explorer, as this will be the first-ever model to feature the new Ford Digital Experience infotainment system. This Android-based infotainment system will feature native Google Maps as its navigation system and will lean on Google Assistant for voice recognition. This will also be the first time the Explorer features available BlueCruise — Ford’s hands-free driving system. It’ll also now feature standard adaptive cruise control.
Finally, the 2025 Ford Explorer’s lineup will shrink to just four trim levels — half of the 2024 model. Its trims will be Active, ST-Line, Platinum, and ST.
https://www.carsdirect.com/2025/ford/explorer
Must be 10 with SEE in here.
The ongoing business impact of the coronavirus pandemic has slowed auto development and production, but manufacturers’ plans to introduce electric vehicles (EVs) continue unabated. In fact, dozens of pure electric models are set to debut by the end of 2024.
https://www.consumerreports.org/cars/hybrids-evs/hot-new-electric-cars-are-coming-soon-a1000197429/
Seize its a head duck ;)
We seem to be in 8.5 and 9 platform, maybe some 8s?
From July 2023, the BMW models BMW 7 Series, BMW iX, BMW i4, BMW X5, BMW X6 and BMW X7 as well as the BMW M models BMW X5 M, BMW X6 M and BMW XM will initially be produced with BMW Operating System 8.5.
BMW model update measures for spring 2024.
31.01.2024 PRESS RELEASE
+++ Start of sales for the third fully electric model variant of the new BMW 5 Series Sedan +++ Additional drive system variants for the fully electric BMW iX2, the BMW X2 and the BMW XM +++ Highway Assistant now also available for the BMW 7 Series, BMW XM, BMW iX, BMW X5, BMW X6 and BMW X7 +++ Upgraded smartphone integration for vehicles with BMW Operating System 9 and optimised display of charging stations +++ Extended functionality for My BMW App +++ New exterior colours for selected models +++
https://www.press.bmwgroup.com/global/article/detail/T0439303EN/bmw-model-update-measures-for-spring-2024?language=en
Then adding next year
The BMW 1500 debuted at the 1961 Frankfurt Motor Show as the first of the Neue Klasse models (meaning New Class in English). These vehicles were unlike anything the brand had ever produced, with crisp lines and chiseled shapes influencing the automaker's design language well into the 1990s. Until Chris Bangle showed up.
BMW has a new Neue Klasse on the horizon that, much like the original, aims to revolutionize the brand. And not just stylistically. The modern Neue Klasse name represents an entire architecture for next-generation electric vehicles.
We've already seen the Neue Klasse in concept form (twice, in fact), but the first of those new EVs won't debut until 2025. In the meantime, here's what we know.
https://www.motor1.com/features/707438/everything-we-know-bmw-neue-klasse/
The new BMW i5 comes equipped with Plug & Charge capability and five separate accounts that can be stored in its iDrive system from different charging networks. Spring will bring an over-the-air software update to BMW Operating System 9, which was previously 8.5 on the other i5 models, in addition to the release of the i5 xDriv4e40.
The update includes improved integration with smartphones, such as enabling iPhone users to use Siri voice commands and updating BMW Maps to display local charging stations more effectively.
https://www.cbtnews.com/bmw-set-to-launch-new-i5-all-wheel-electric-variant-in-march-as-2025-model/
Whatif
I dont get too excited about these partnerships, all the chip companies work with everyone so it depends who the T1 is?
They work with Bosch, who working with SEYE atm?
Its a tangled web that is hard to unravel. But if you got partners in various forms in the supply chain theres always a chance :)