In connected car news are Honda, KIOXIA, Diodes, UVeye, Dassault, BMW, Stoneridge, Infinenon and Volkswagen.
In this Article
KIOXIA Samples UFS Ver.4 Flash Memories
KIOXIA America, Inc. announced sampling1 of the industry’s first2 Universal Flash Storage3 (UFS) Ver. 4.0 embedded flash memory devices3 designed for automotive applications. These new, higher performing devices deliver fast embedded storage transfer speeds in a small package size and are targeted to a variety of next-generation automotive applications, including telematics, infotainment systems and ADAS4. The improved performance5 of UFS products from KIOXIA – including approximately +100% for sequential read and approximately +40% for sequential write – enables these applications to take advantage of 5G’s connectivity benefits, leading to faster system startup times and a better user experience.
The first to introduce UFS technology6, KIOXIA continues to move the technology forward. Its new UFS Ver. 4.0 devices integrate the company’s innovative BiCS FLASH™ 3D flash memory and a controller in a JEDEC-standard package. UFS 4.0 incorporates MIPI M-PHY 5.0 and UniPro 2.0 and supports theoretical interface speeds of up to 23.2 gigabits per second (Gbp/s) per lane or 46.4 Gbp/s per device. UFS 4.0 is backward compatible with UFS 3.1.
The new KIOXIA devices support High Speed Link Startup Sequence (HS-LSS) features, enabling Link Startup (M-PHY and UniPro initialization sequence) between device and host to be performed at a faster HS-G1 Rate A (1248 megabits per second7) than that of conventional UFS. This is expected to reduce the time for Link Startup by approximately 70% compared to the conventional method.
New, advanced features and functionalities have been included in UFS Ver. 4.0 to address demanding automotive application requirements, including:
- Refresh Feature: Improves data reliability by refreshing degraded data to prevent data corruption even in the harsh, demanding in-vehicle environment.
- Extended Diagnosis Feature: Enables users to view important information from the UFS device, allowing preventative action to be taken.
Available in capacities of 128, 256 and 512 gigabytes (GB), the new KIOXIA devices support a wide temperature range, meet AEC8-Q100 Grade2 requirements and offer enhanced reliability capabilities that complex automotive applications require.
“KIOXIA continues to demonstrate its leadership in UFS memory with the introduction of the industry’s first UFS Ver. 4.0 device for automotive applications,” said Maitry Dholakia, vice president, Memory Business Unit, for KIOXIA America, Inc. “The accelerated processing power and increased data storage capacity it provides will enable the next generation of automotive systems that can that take advantage of 5G, IoT and artificial intelligence.”
Diodes New Power Switches
Diodes Incorporated (Diodes) (Nasdaq: DIOD) has introduced its first automotive-compliant, dual-channel, high-side power switches—the ZXMS82090S14PQ, ZXMS82120S14PQ, and ZXMS82180S14PQ—as an expansion of its IntelliFET® self-protected MOSFET portfolio. These intelligent switches deliver high power within a compact footprint while also providing robust protection and diagnostic capabilities. The series is designed for driving 12V automotive loads, such as LEDs, bulbs, actuators, and motors in automotive body control and lighting systems.
The trio all feature a dual 41V-rated n-channel MOSFET array with onboard circuitry that protects against short circuits, manages inrush currents, and safeguards against overvoltage conditions including load dumps. In addition, the switches provide overtemperature protection with auto-restart, plus protection against electrostatic discharge damage. Loss of ground and reverse polarity protection can also be implemented with the aid of a few external components.
A dedicated current sense pin provides precise analog current monitoring of the outputs and fault indication for short-to-battery, short-to-ground, and open-load detection.
These IntelliFETs provide efficient, reliable, smaller footprint alternatives to relays, fuses, and discrete circuits. They are also form, fit, and functional equivalents for existing power switch devices, where customers need improved product supply.
The ZXMS82090S14PQ, ZXMS82120S14PQ, and ZXMS82180S14PQ are qualified to AEC-Q100, manufactured in IATF 16949 certified facilities, and support PPAP documentation. They are supplied in the thermally efficient SO-14EP package and are available at $1.37 in 2,500 piece quantities.////
UVeye Scanning for GM Dealerships
UVeye, in collaboration with Connexion Mobility and General Motors, is set to improve the way GM dealerships manage their loaner and rental fleet operations. The integration introduces an elevated experience for rental and loaner customers, continuing to modernize and enhance customer service.
Building on the success of the OnTRAC platform for loaner and rental fleet management, and UVeye’s AI-powered inspection systems, this new solution improves the accuracy and efficiency of loaner fleet vehicle inspections for dealers.
A new standard of customer experience for dealers
In this collaboration, UVeye’s technology – already operational at hundreds of US GM dealerships – will power a seamless experience for dealers by populating real vehicle images and a full condition report automatically within OnTRAC.
This enables dealers to easily identify damage during loaner vehicle handovers, including tire damage (sidewall, rim, and tread depth), underbody issues, such as leaks or broken parts, and exterior damage, such as scratches and dents. The transparent damage documentation is then made available to customers via SMS, fostering trust and transparency in every transaction.
Connexion’s integration with UVeye’s technology not only drives cost efficiency for dealers, but also accelerates the loaner vehicle process. With a substantial reduction in visual walkaround time and a streamlined inspection process, dealers can save valuable minutes per vehicle, offering customers quicker and more efficient service.
David Marsh, Executive Director, GM Customer Care and Aftersales said: “This is a significant announcement for General Motors dealers. The integration of OnTRAC and UVeye will not only streamline the loaner fleet process but also enhance the overall customer experience.”
This collaboration signifies a commitment to industry leadership, as General Motors becomes the first global OEM to integrate automatic inspection into its loaner vehicle process.
Dassault & BMW 3D Experience
Dassault Systèmes (Euronext Paris: FR0014003TT8, DSY.PA) and BMW Group today embarked on a long-term strategic partnership to develop BMW Group’s future engineering platform featuring Dassault Systèmes’ 3DEXPERIENCE platform at its core. More than 17,000 employees across multiple engineering disciplines at the premium automobile manufacturer will rely on the 3DEXPERIENCE platform to accelerate the development of all vehicles, from their ideation to their production.
In an industry where quick time to market of sustainable mobility solutions with advanced technology is a competitive differentiator, the partnership between Dassault Systèmes and BMW Group is testimony to the fundamental role of the 3DEXPERIENCE platform in enabling companies to deliver products faster. The platform’s virtual twin experiences streamline enterprise-wide collaboration and deliver data-driven approaches to manage the exponential complexity carmakers are facing in connected, autonomous vehicle engineering.
“We will only optimize our engineering process if we think digital, work connected and rely on an integrated data. For the BMW Group the 3DEXPERIENCE platform will support this approach and help to reach a higher level of quality in our processes,” said Julien Hohenstein, Vice President Processes, Digitalization, Governance Idea to Offer at the BMW Group research and development.
With the 3DEXPERIENCE platform at the core of BMW Group’s future product development environment, all BMW Group engineering disciplines will be working on a virtual twin of a vehicle that can be configured for the variants of each model with real-time, integrated data. Teams can reuse components more easily, master the complexity of car variability, and improve the engineering to manufacturing cycle time. In addition, BMW Group can seamlessly migrate data from its existing IT solutions and extend its engineering platform to other disciplines such as modeling and simulation.
The strategic partnership between Dassault Systèmes and BMW Group marks the next phase in their long-term collaboration. For decades, the two companies have pooled their knowledge and know-how to advance technological innovation in areas including production planning and scheduling, part design and production efficiency.
“BMW Group and Dassault Systèmes are technology-driven companies that are entering a new era of shared innovation to deliver best-in-class products,” said Laurence Montanari, Vice President, Transportation & Mobility Industry, Dassault Systèmes. “With the 3DEXPERIENCE platform, BMW Group can rethink its engineering development process to deliver the most personalized and sustainable experiences to its customers.”
Stoneridge Camera Monitor System Exempt from FMCSA
Stoneridge, Inc. (NYSE: SRI) announced that its Federal Motor Carrier Safety Association (FMCSA) exemption for its MirrorEye® Camera Monitor System (CMS) has been renewed for an additional five years. The exemption, originally granted in 2019, allows owners of MirrorEye-equipped trucks to remove the conventional rear-view mirrors and operate with an integrated system of cameras and digital displays.
“This exemption renewal reinforces the benefits of our MirrorEye system from both a fuel economy and safety perspective,” said Jim Zizelman, president and CEO of Stoneridge. “MirrorEye provides enhanced, real-time visibility from nearly every angle of a commercial truck, which can reduce the frequency and severity of accidents, especially when turning, during lane changes and in close-corner maneuvers. In addition to its important safety benefits, MirrorEye-equipped trucks can achieve a 2-3% increase in fuel savings when traditional mirrors are removed, which translates to roughly 2.5 tons of CO2 reduction annually per vehicle*.”
MirrorEye was the first camera monitor system to receive this exemption. Since then, the company has partnered with more than 40 fleets in North America to equip the system on existing vehicles through retrofit applications. In addition, MirrorEye has been integrated on multiple original equipment commercial truck and bus platforms in North America and Europe.
“During the last five years, we’ve worked closely with our fleet and OEM partners to validate the benefits of MirrorEye and make it the leading camera mirror system on the market today,” continued Zizelman.
Infinenon for Honda
Infineon Technologies AG today announced that Infineon and Honda Motor Co., Ltd. have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to build a strategic collaboration. Honda selects Infineon as semiconductor partner to align future product and technology roadmaps. The two companies also agreed to continue discussions on supply stability, as well as to encourage transferring mutual knowledge and collaborate on projects aimed at accelerating the time to market of technologies.
“Infineon’s system understanding, our broad product portfolio and outstanding quality have made us an appreciated partner to Japan’s automotive industry,” said Peter Schiefer, President of the Automotive Division at Infineon. “We are honored to be the semiconductor partner for a strategic collaboration with Honda. Intensifying a long-standing partnership even further is always a confirmation of the added value created and at the same time an expression of the trust in contributing to future successes.”
Infineon will support Honda with technologies to enable competitive and advanced vehicles. The technical support will focus on the area of power semiconductors, Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS), and E/E architectures, where both parties will collaborate on new architecture concepts.
VW AI Lab
In the future, digital products based on artificial intelligence (AI) will play a key role for the Volkswagen Group. New infotainment and navigation applications, high-performance speech recognition, extended vehicle functions and the deep integration of digital ecosystems in the car will bring considerable benefits to customers, enhancing the product experience. This is why Volkswagen has established a specialized “AI Lab”. The company will act as a globally networked competence center and incubator. AI Lab will identify new product ideas for the Volkswagen Group, and coordinate them internally within the Group. As the need arises, this will also include collaboration with the tech sector in Europe, China and North America. By adopting this approach, the Volkswagen Group intends to simplify collaboration with technology companies with a view to making optimum use of the innovation potential and speed of the AI sector. The objective is to rapidly develop digital prototypes and transfer them to the Group brands for implementation.
“We want to offer our customers genuine added value with artificial intelligence. We aim to link external digital ecosystems with the vehicle, creating an even better product experience,” says Oliver Blume, CEO of the Volkswagen Group and Porsche AG. “Collaboration with technology companies is crucially important for us. In future, we intend to simplify cooperation in organizational and cultural terms.”
The Volkswagen Group is committed to continually integrating new digital products with artificial intelligence in its vehicles and offering customers added value going beyond their cars.
Among other items, Volkswagen sees considerable potential in high-performance speech recognition and services that connect users’ own digital environments with the vehicle. Extended vehicle functions will be equally important. These can include AI-optimized charging cycles for electric vehicles, predictive maintenance and the networking of vehicles with infrastructure, such as customers’ own homes (“smart home”).
AI Lab will not manufacture production models, but will serve as an incubator for the Volkswagen Group. The company will identify new product ideas connected with artificial intelligence throughout the world. AI Lab will then develop highly promising concepts together with partners where the need arises, to produce early prototypes. AI Lab will have a team of artificial intelligence experts and will work closely with all the brands. High-ranking representatives of the brand groups will form the Supervisory Board.
AI Lab’s slim and powerful organization and the direct involvement of the brand groups in the Supervisory Board will enable communication among equal partners in the dynamic AI sector, expedite processes and simplify collaboration between the automotive industry and tech companies.
“With our new ‘AI Lab’, we are combining technological expertise, flexibility and speed in collaboration with external partners. This will be crucial in the highly dynamic AI sector,” says Michael Steiner, Head of Research and Development of the Volkswagen Group and Member of the Executive Board, Research and Development of Porsche AG. “We will pursue highly promising initiatives in the marketplace, together with partners where this is necessary, irrespective of existing arrangements and other links in series production.”
Exploratory talks on the first products are already underway with international tech companies.
The Board of Management of AI Lab will include Carsten Helbing as CEO and Carmen Schmidt as CLO & CBO. Recognized artificial intelligence experts will be responsible for technical management functions. The Supervisory Board will consist of members of the Boards of Management of the Volkswagen, Audi and Porsche brands.