Intelligence

The launch of three automotive connectivity trackers highlights the impact of the technology

Connectivity is now an essential technology in consumers lives and yet it has been slow to manifest as a must have service for US drivers. This tracker looks at how connectivity packages continue to evolve. When Wards intelligence started to look at this back in 2021 there were on average 15 connectivity features offered with the maximum being 23. As the tracker now shows the average is 19 features with the maximum being 34.

This connectivity market forecast looks at the number of vehicles being sold and global parc of operational vehicles that have factory installed connectivity from 2014 and forward looking to 2034. 

The cloud to car continuum is an essential part of the new automotive business model. It enables the new vehicle platforms and upends the design paradigms of the last 100 years. This tracker presents the shifts in technology and the dynamics of the individual companies that have different ideas and approaches to address the diverse areas required to fulfil the potential of the connected car.

Mercedes is pushing the autonomy envelope by being the first automaker to receive approval from a U.S. state for a Level 3 feature in the 2024 S-Class and EQS models as Nevada confirms compliance with state regulations.

A recent Wards Intelligence survey finds three key elements driving the ongoing SDV transformation: the timely introduction of new features OTA, more efficient product development and the enablement of Level 2+ and Level 3 automation. Nevertheless, the results suggest that perceived SDV benefits vary significantly according to a company’s position in the automotive value chain. 

AEye and PAVE partnered in November to conduct a Safer Mobility Survey to identify issues drivers, pedestrians and bicyclists are concerned about on the roads and in cities, and how technology and city planning might enable safer streets for us all.

Qualcomm’s Nakul Duggal discusses what defines a software-defined vehicle and what it will take to get there. 

NVIDIA remains a leader in autonomous driving and shows an increased focus on infotainment, but the spotlight is on its metaverse technology. Omniverse will support the testing of autonomous vehicles, cloud-native software development for software-defined vehicles, vehicle manufacturing and even retailing.

Luminar scores another major customer as Volvo will include Luminar’s Iris lidar in its 2024 flagship EX90 electric SUV as part of Volvo’s plan to incorporate all the hardware needed for Level 4 capability in the future.

A software-defined future is inevitable, but implementing software-defined vehicles is a complex undertaking that will require intense industry-level collaboration and standardization. Nevertheless, that could ultimately lead to commoditization. 

Volkswagen has been in the news lately and it’s not all good.  VW and Ford closed their Argo joint venture in October.  This month, VW announces it will end Audi’s Artemis AV project.  Meanwhile, the company is selling more EV models based on its MEG architecture.