Self-driving cars: when does marketing come?

On 16 January 20165 February 2016 By Carlo IacoviniIn Electric vehicles and Charging infrastructures, english blog, Sharing mobility and beyondLeave a comment

#CES2016 proved (again) how autonomous cars can be ready to market much earlier than Governments and consumers are. Technology seems not to be a big issue (autonomous engineers might disagree about it), specially if we see how big car automakers are confident in showing their new products.

We all know about Tesla autopilot-mode, Volkswagen had a keynote speech about how the management is shaping a new company for electric, connected, smart and autonomous driving range of products. Mercedes just been licensed to drive autonomous E-Class in Nevada roads, FaradayFuture showed a great concept car, not a production one and not even really close to their real plan, which aims to deliver new models since 2017, with autonomous driving in their path.

Toyota showed long term concepts cars and Ford CEO talked much about new regulations required as the industry is ready. General Motors after investing $500mln in ridesharing bolt company Lyft, just unveiled the new Bolt. Even those companies not exhibiting at the CES made rumors about this coming future technology. Next-EV grows in San Josè R&D facility. The company team won the first ever world Formula-E championship last year and they think global with facilities in US, Europe, China. I can’t miss to mention Alphabet new tailored company Google Self Driving car further than Apple Car project that everyone knows about (.. but please don’t talk much as it’s a secret). I apologize if I don’t dive in describing Nissan pilot projects and Volvo existing self driving cars in Goteborg, but I only remind that the first ever self driving car fleet comes from Italian Parma University R&D company Vislab that drove (actually they didn’t) more than 13.000km from Milan to Shanghai in autonomous driving back in 2010.

Too many news… confirm that industry is almost ready, so what’s next? If we all believe that products will be enough to make the market, we’ll be terribly wrong. Further than that the overall car industry needs to point few more milestones to shape a new mobility business case:

Regulations. Detroit announce by US Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx about the 4B plan to set standard rules and promote self driving technology was the right think in the right moment (and at the right place, being at NAIAS show).

Market(ing). Are we really sure people will accept so easily such a disruptive new technology? Probably new generation does, Millennians already prefer sharing mobility more than ownership, but there are more adults on the streets than young ones driving around. It took years to make people familiar in using an electric car.. and you are still driving them. I am highly passionate about new technology so I know industry has to be forward thinking through a new smart approach to self driving cars. Marketing strategies will soon become a key issue to success into this new business industry and certainly it’s a different game compared to sell cars.

More comments to come, stay tuned.- Carlo

Toyota shows long future concepts at #CES2016

On 9 January 2016 By Carlo IacoviniIn Electric vehicles and Charging infrastructures, english blog

Attendees at the International Consumer Electronics Show are getting a first-hand look at the future of mobility, and it is cleaner, safer and more convenient. Toyota is showcasing a host of automated, connected and zero-emission technologies at CES 2016,

“At Toyota, we see the vehicle of the future as more than just a mode of transportation,” said Bob Carter, senior vice president of automotive operations for Toyota Motor Sales (TMS), U.S.A. Inc. “Instead, it will be something more useful, accessible and exciting than ever before. These next generation connected and automated vehicles will optimize their own operational capabilities and deliver comfort, convenience and joy to passengers – and they’ll be arriving sooner than you think.”

Technologies on display include:

The TOYOTA Smart Center, the heart of Toyota’s vision for a Smart Mobility Society that connects people, vehicles and communities. The powerful, secure and private cloud-based computing system collects secure vehicle data, analyzes information from millions of vehicles around the globe and provides customers with personalized services that make life easier.
Next generation connected service systems such as Agent+, which leverages multiple factors including day, time, location and driving history to predict likely destinations and help guide you there quickly and efficiently.
The Mobility Teammate Concept, which demonstrates Toyota’s more than 20 years of research and development into automated driving technologies. The vehicle showcases Toyota’s approach to automated driving – building relationships between people and cars to help them team up in pursuit of safe and enjoyable driving. This approach acknowledges the utility of automated driving technologies while maintaining the fun experience of driving itself.
A deep learning and artificial intelligence display, where scale model Prius connected vehicles learn from and share with each other in real time to create a safe driving environment.
Toyota FCV Plus concept vehicle, which demonstrates Toyota’s vision of a connected, sustainable hydrogen society. The concept vehicle showcases the potential of hydrogen fuel cell technology beyond just the automotive industry, and is capable generating electricity directly from hydrogen stored outside the vehicle and thus operating as a stable source of electric power for use at home or on the go.
The Toyota Kikai, meaning “machine” which brings the machinery of the vehicle out from beneath the body and makes an open display of its beauty.

While many of the vehicles and technologies on display at the Toyota exhibit are future concepts, some – like telematics systems such as Agent+, may be coming soon to Toyota vehicles

Mobilità elettrica: le prime novità del 2016 al CES

On 3 January 2016 By Carlo IacoviniIn Electric vehicles and Charging infrastructures

Il CES di Las Vegas è sempre più una fiera multisettore. Oltre all’elettronica oggi spazia al 3dprinting, fitness, sport mentre l’automotive concentra sempre più presentazioni in questa vetrina di inizio anno. L’edizione che si aprirà tra pochi giorni sembra assecondare tutte le principali aspettative.

Volkswagen in America ha una grossa macchia di immagine da recuperare dopo il Dieselgate. Per l’occasione ha annunciato la presentazione di un VW_ces nuovo concetto di veicolo elettrico, che secondo i rumors dovrebbe ricordare il celebre Van del secolo scorso, con una piattaforma tecnologica dalle lunghe percorrenze e costi più contenuti. Non solo rumors ma anche un primo video teaser da consultare per chi non sa aspettare.

La cenerentola dell’elettrico è invece FaradayFuture, “misteriosa” start up che negli ultimi mesi è uscita sempre più alla ribalta per annunci di innovazione. Un nuovo concetto di veicolo, di servizio e di visione. Un accordo con lo stato del Nevada che costruire una fabbrica ex-novo che promette 4500 posti di lavoro. Si sa che l’azienda ha grandi capitali c4e700b7-8742-4401-871c-1d497b29ebee disponibili dal magnate Cinese Jia Yeuting, CEO del Web video service Leshi TV. Grandi attese da parte di operatori e media e tutti attendono la prova di “credibilità”.

Anche le grandi industrie americane non mancano di novità. General Motors ha in programma la presentazione della Bolt nella sua veste bolt definitiva pronta per la produzione. Vettura media, compatta e di prezzi contenuti. Ford annuncerà la formale collaborazione con Google per la realizzazione di auto a guida autonoma. Aston Martin potrebbe mostrare il prototipo della Rapid-E recentemente svelata in UK, anche in base alla collaborazione che è stata siglata da poco con il gigante cinese LE-Tv (la stessa azienda che ha fondato Faraday-Future) per un sistema di auto connessa di ultima generazione.. sempre descritta in un video di presentazione. Presente anche il gruppo FCA (ecco qui non si attendono notizie di nuovi prodotti con tecnologia elettrica stante la diffidenza del gruppo a questo settore), mentre dall’Italia sarà presente anche Energica Motor Company, l’azienda modenese che sta lanciando nei mercati internazionali una gamma di moto elettriche sportive.

E se queste sembrano essere alcune delle novità più “annunciate”, molte altre sono previste direttamente nei giorni della fiera.