What We’re Reading
CES 2024: 5 car trends we’re expecting to see (Mashable, December 31, 2023)
As CES had evolved over the past few years into a key platform for automakers to showcase new technology, here are five trends that are expected to garner headlines at the upcoming annual event in Las Vegas January 9-12.
1. A continued focus on new EV technology with a deemphasis on automation due to growing pessimism surrounding the near- term commercial viability of consumer AVs.
2. Emphasis on real-world technologies that should be available on current or new vehicle models.
3. The debut of Honda’s widely anticipated new “global EV series models and several key technologies that illustrate the significant transformation Honda is currently undergoing.”
4. The unveiling of Hyundai’s e-Corner Driving System that enables all four wheels to turn up to 90 degrees, allowing the vehicle to drive in virtually any direction.
5. Automakers are expected to downplay the significance of AI in safety critical applications, while showcasing the still unproven technology in lower-stakes applications such as vehicle personalization.
Tesla overtaken by China’s BYD as world’s biggest EV maker (Financial Times, January 2, 2024)
The Chinese automaker BYD has officially overtaken Tesla as the world’s best-selling EV maker, reporting record sales of 526,000 in the fourth quarter, with Tesla trailing behind with 484,000. While Musk has dismissed the Chinese automaker in the past, he now calls BYD “highly competitive.”
“For any doubters left in the west,” says Tu Le, founder of Sino Auto Insights, “ I hope this is the final data point that points to BYD’s strength and, as importantly, how ‘China EV Inc’ has bullied its way on to the global stage.”
Two Pittsburgh startups are in a race to build driverless trucks for the military (Pittsburgh Post Gazette, December 27, 2023)
Although autonomous technology startups have faced significant recent headwinds, two Pittsburgh-based companies are aggressively pursuing solutions to aid the U.S. military in automating combat vehicles. Neya Systems and Carnegie Robotics were recently granted a rather short window to design and deliver a driverless system that could be deployed in army convoys, which would allow the slow-moving vehicles to operate without exposing human soldiers to life-threatening attacks.
“It is a challenging timeline for the amount of work we need to get done. But we're not starting from ground zero,” said Eric Soderberg, program manager for Carnegie Robotics. “The short timeline is especially challenging because the Army wants a fully deployable solution that could be built into multiple combat vehicles,” Mr. Soderberg added.
“It's a big stepping stone for us,” Nya Systems division manager Kurt Bruck said of the contract. “It shows that we’re experts in this field, and we’re ready to take the next step into larger vehicles.” “We’re very excited to be part of programs that save lives,” Mr. Bruck added. “All of these trucks are currently driven by multiple soldiers. This removes the soldiers. It protects them.”