A look into the past, a ride into the future: Bosch celebrates three decades of Motorcycle ABS safety

Industry News

Milan, Italy – Thirty years ago, Bosch launched its first production-ready motorcycle ABS system on the market, marking a major milestone in the evolution of rider safety. Since then, Bosch has continuously advanced two-wheeler safety, evolving from foundational ABS units to sophisticated systems such as Motorcycle Stability Control (MSC) and cutting-edge rider assistance technologies. “At Bosch, our mission over the past 30 years has been clear: to make riding safer through innovation, precision, and intelligent technology,” said Geoff Liersch, head of Two-Wheeler & Powersports at Bosch, at EICMA 2025. At the trade fair, Bosch presents its latest advancements in two-wheeler and powersports technology, celebrating three decades of continuous innovation while offering a glimpse into the connected and intelligent riding experience of the future. Bosch’s work on motorcycle ABS began in 1986, building on passenger-car technology that was launched in 1978, and culminated in the first production motorcycle equipped with Bosch ABS in 1995, the Kawasaki GPZ1100 ABS. The company’s sustained commitment led to the establishment of a center of competence for two-wheeler safety technology in Japan in 2007, forming the foundation of a global development hub and a specialized engineering pool. Subsequent milestones include the launch of motorcycle ABS 9 in 2009, the arrival of the compact and lightweight ABS 10 light and base designed for emerging markets in 2016, and the ABS 10 enhanced package tailored to high-performance bikes in 2018. The development of inertial-measurement-based MSC in 2013 marked the start of Bosch’s expansion into advanced active safety systems for motorcycles. Enhancing motorcycle safety beyond ABS Bosch’s Motorcycle Stability Control system, or MSC, provides critical protection in situations where motorcyclists are particularly vulnerable, such as when leaning into bends and during dynamic maneuvers. Combining wheel-speed sensors and a high-frequency inertial measurement unit (IMU), MSC evaluates vehicle dynamics up to 100 times per second to manage braking and acceleration control, even when a motorcycle is pitched and rolled on a corner. Beyond cornering functions, Bosch continues to develop value-added features enabled by MSC, including rear-wheel lift-up control, vehicle hold control for use on slopes, and rear-wheel slide control for performance on the racetrack. A Bosch Accident Research study indicates that, if every motorcycle were equipped with MSC, ABS combined with MSC could prevent or mitigate more than 30 percent of motorcycle accidents involving personal injury in Germany alone. Making these benefits accessible to a broader global audience, Bosch introduced MSC for smaller vehicles in 2023 and is ready to supply MSC solutions to markets where smaller-displacement bikes predominate, including India, China, and ASEAN countries. Since introducing its first production-ready motorcycle ABS system three decades ago, Bosch has continuously advanced two-wheeler safety. Today, ABS is not just a standard; it is a cornerstone of modern motorcycle safety systems. This evolution is reflected in global regulations: the European Union mandated ABS for motorcycles over 125 cc in 2016, followed by India in 2018. Singapore will take this commitment a step further, becoming the first country worldwide to require ABS on all new motorcycles, including those under 125 cc, starting April 1, 2027. This progressive move highlights the growing global focus on rider protection and sets a benchmark for other countries. Bosch continues to lead in this space, providing advanced solutions and integrating connectivity features to enhance both safety and the riding experience across all motorcycle segments. A ride into the future: Bosch innovations at EICMA 2025 At EICMA 2025, Bosch is also showcasing its innovations of today in hall 18, booth E66. In anticipation of the new EU regulation mandating a digital passport for every battery starting February 2027, Bosch is at the forefront of supporting motorcycle manufacturers with robust solutions. The Digital Battery Passport is designed to meet the EU requirements, providing full transparency on a battery’s condition throughout its lifecycle via static and dynamic data. Bosch offers comprehensive digital services that enable OEMs to fulfill these new documentation requirements and manage crucial battery data securely. This solution seamlessly integrates data from multiple sources, offering clear and user-friendly access for OEMs, workshops, dealers, and riders. It also streamlines compliance and enhances battery management. To complement the Digital Battery Passport, Bosch is introducing Battery in the Cloud, a service designed to help motorcycle manufacturers continuously monitor, predict, and improve battery health. This innovative system creates a digital battery twin in the Cloud, which accurately reflects the real battery’s condition using sophisticated data analysis and AI-based models. As a result, it’s possible to detect stress factors and anomalies early on, significantly reducing failures and extending battery life. Battery in the Cloud provides precise insights and forecasts on battery performance and reliability, which supplies manufacturers and owners with critical information. Furthermore, the usage certificate generated by the system confirms the battery’s condition in a tamper-proof manner, providing crucial support for residual value estimation when reselling the vehicle. Further elevating the connected riding experience, Bosch is presenting the Connectivity Cluster 4.2” Round, the latest addition to its expanding Connectivity Cluster series. Addressing the common need for a second display for navigation, which often requires separate holders, this innovative cluster seamlessly integrates connectivity functions. Simply by connecting their smartphone to the Connectivity Cluster, riders gain access to essential features such as navigation, music, and telephony, all while the cluster displays crucial riding information such as warning messages and current speed. Bosch powers two-wheel mobility with advanced drive systems To address the increasing shift toward electrified mobility, Bosch has developed a range of solutions tailored to different two-wheeler segments. Its vehicle control unit and integrated electric drive are designed to enable electric mobility with 6 kW. For smaller vehicle classes, which are particularly popular in markets such as India and southeast Asia, Bosch offers additional in-hub drive systems and corresponding controller solutions. The new Bosch 3 kW drive control unit supports manufacturers in bringing electrification to compact vehicle segments. This unit combines the inverter, engine management, and vehicle control functions within a single compact component. When paired with a wheel hub motor, it enables comfort features such as…

Your electric car. Your electric charger. Perfectly matched.

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Images are for editorial use only. British design brand Simpson & Partners is redefining what an electric vehicle charger can be, transforming it from a purely functional device into a beautifully crafted design statement that enhances both car and home. Hand-built in the Cotswolds, every Simpson & Partners charger is engineered with precision, designed with intent and available in over 130 curated colour options with prices starting at £649.00. For car enthusiasts and collectors seeking something truly personal, the brand can offer a colour-matching service*, allowing buyers to match their charger to their electric vehicle. “For us, it’s about quiet, intelligent beauty elevating the everyday without shouting for attention,” says co-founder and Creative Director Mandy Simpson. “A charger shouldn’t fight with a home or a car, it should feel like it was always meant to be there.” Unlike the glossy plastic boxes and neon LEDs that dominate today’s market, Simpson & Partners takes a different approach, one rooted in the principles of Quiet Luxury and British craftsmanship. Chargers are available in a choice of premium metal finishes, tactile textures and natural-inspired tones, meaning they complement rather than clash with their surroundings. Whether mounted on a Cotswolds stone wall, a modern architectural façade, or installed discreetly at a private members’ club or automotive showroom, they are designed to elevate, not interrupt. Customers can choose between two power options (7kW and 22kW), with or without tethered cable, wall mount or freestanding, with smart app control, solar integration and load balancing ensuring they meet the needs of electric car drivers. “Engineering shouldn’t be loud to be powerful,” adds co-founder and Technical Director David Simpson. “We build chargers that last decades not just years, with precision electronics, solid metal construction and zero reliance on plastic housings.” Simpson & Partners represents a new era in home charging — one where design, engineering and personal expression finally meet. With demand for considered, design-led home technology rising fast, Simpson & Partners look to become the charger of choice for architects, premium developers and discerning EV owners. Every unit is hand-assembled to order at the company’s Cotswolds workshop and available to purchase through a curated network of specialist installers and premium automotive partners, as well as directly at Simpson-partners.com Innovative, Sustainable. Beautifully British.This is EV charging, redefined. *Additional cost payable Ends About Simpson & PartnersFor media inquiries or more information, please contact: Karen Parry Email: karen@kpworks.co.uk Simpson & Partners EV Ltd, founded by husband-and-wife team Mandy and David Simpson, operates from the picturesque Cotswolds, UK. Dedicated to championing British engineering, the company designs and manufactures domestic and commercial EV chargers that blend sustainability, craftsmanship, exceptional design, and intuitive cutting-edge technology. www.Simpson-partners.com

Xpeng to launch three robotaxi models next year

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Xpeng will introduce three robotaxi models in 2026 and begin pilot operations, marking a major step in the company’s transition to “physical AI”. The vehicles will feature Xpeng’s self-developed AI chips and the second generation of its Vision-Language-Action model. Xpeng has announced plans to launch three fully autonomous robotaxi models in 2026, each equipped with the company’s self-developed AI hardware and software systems. The vehicles were designed from the outset for driverless operation and supposedly require no modifications from standard production models. They can thus be built using the same mass-production processes as its electric passenger cars, significantly reducing costs. The new models will utilise Xpeng’s second-generation Vision-Language-Action system, known as VLA 2.0, which is designed to enable adaptive operation across all global traffic patterns without relying on high-resolution maps. According to the company, the VLA 2.0 model enables vehicles to process visual inputs directly into action commands through an end-to-end learning approach. “VLA 2.0 represents a new physical model paradigm,” said Xpeng Chairman and CEO He Xiaopeng. “It allows vehicles to understand and interact with the physical world in real time.” The model has been trained on approximately 100 million real driving video clips — equivalent to 65,000 years of human driving experience. According to the carmaker, it enables the system to handle rare or complex scenarios such as gesture recognition and dynamic traffic light changes. Moreover, each robotaxi will be powered by four of Xpeng’s proprietary Turing AI chips, providing a combined computing power of up to 3,000 TOPS — currently the highest known standard for autonomous vehicles. As part of its broader AI strategy, Xpeng confirmed that Volkswagen will be the first strategic customer for its VLA 2.0 platform. The German automaker has also selected Xpeng’s Turing AI chip for future vehicle integration, marking the first deployment of the chip outside the company’s own vehicles. “To accelerate the global application of physical AI, Xpeng VLA 2.0 will be open-sourced to global business partners,” He said. Xpeng also announced a new driver-assistance mode called “Robo”, to be launched in parallel with the robotaxi service. The system shares the same hardware and safety redundancy as the robotaxi platform and will be available for privately owned Level 4-capable vehicles. The company said that Amap will become its first global ecosystem partner for robotaxi services. Xpeng plans to begin trial operations of its robotaxi fleet in 2026. The company said the combination of self-developed chips, large AI models, and a scalable software-defined vehicle architecture will allow for cost-efficient production and rapid deployment of autonomous driving services worldwide. xpeng.com This content has been automatically generated from the original source. Please note that the original source may have been modified since the content was generated.

China eases export ban on Nexperia chips

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The Chinese government has approved the first exemptions in the dispute over the export ban on chips produced by manufacturer Nexperia. Semiconductors from Nexperia can once again be exported to Europe for civilian purposes – including for the automotive industry. China’s Ministry of Commerce announced on Sunday that it was relaxing the export restrictions that have been in place since early October. In a brief statement, the ministry said – without further explanation – that exemptions from the regulation had been granted for civilian purposes. The announcement is likely to bring some relief to Europe’s automotive industry. The dispute surrounding the manufacturer, which is based in the Netherlands but owned by a Chinese parent company, has increasingly put the sector under pressure. Nexperia mainly produces simple standard chips used in a wide range of electronic devices. These are not specialised chips for specific applications such as processors for autonomous driving or infotainment systems, but small components primarily built into modules by suppliers – yet they remain critical to the overall system. After all, a car cannot be delivered without functioning window controls or seat adjustment systems, to name just two examples. Even before the announcement from Beijing, reports had emerged of the first deliveries of urgently needed chips. VW’s China chief Ralf Brandstätter told Handelsblatt on Friday that initial exports had already taken place. Supplier Aumovio also received an export licence, as company CEO Philipp von Hirschheydt confirmed to Reuters. Nexperia manufactures its chips within the EU, including in Germany. However, the products are shipped to China for final processing and packaging before the finished goods are exported back to Europe. This set-up allowed the Chinese government to interrupt supply with its export restrictions – and, as during the chip crisis of the Covid-19 pandemic, alternative products from other manufacturers cannot be used at short notice, since they must first be validated and/or adapted. As previously reported, the Dutch state took control of Nexperia and dismissed Chinese CEO Zhang Xuezheng by court order. The government justified the move on the grounds of concerns about a potential transfer of technology to Nexperia’s Chinese parent company, Wingtech. In response, Beijing imposed export restrictions on parts of Nexperia’s production – measures that put many of Nexperia’s European customers under pressure. Industry associations such as the VDA and several companies had issued early warnings about production losses and potential plant closures. Some disruptions did occur in Europe, although the feared large-scale collapse did not materialise. The Nexperia affair is far from over. China’s Ministry of Commerce linked the easing of restrictions to a demand that the EU should urge the Netherlands to reverse its actions against the manufacturer. Tighter rules could return if Beijing deems the pressure on the Dutch government is insufficient. This article was first published by Sebastian Schaal for electrive’s German edition. This content has been automatically generated from the original source. Please note that the original source may have been modified since the content was generated.

AI-defined vehicles are coming: what automakers must do now to stay ahead

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While electrification and connectivity grab auto tech headlines, some believe AI is the real game-changer. In this guest opinion piece, exclusive to Just Auto, Dipti Vachani, SVP and GM, Automotive Line of Business, Arm (a UK-based semiconductors company), outlines the transformative implications of the rise of the ‘AI-defined vehicle’. While electrification and connectivity have shaped recent automotive advancements, artificial intelligence (AI) is the real game-changer. This is not just another car feature; it’s the catalyst for the next wave of automotive transformation called the AI-defined vehicle era. Where software-defined vehicles (SDVs) centralize control and deploy updates from the cloud to the car, AI-defined vehicles go even further, embedding intelligence directly into real-time decision-making loops across every domain and application. These systems don’t just run software, but actively learn from their environments, personalizing the driving and passenger experience. Whether it’s an intuitive driving system that adjusts to the environment to support safety, an interactive in-vehicle assistant that can help organize your day, or intelligent vehicle system controls that optimize energy and efficiency based on load and road conditions, drivers have come to expect safer, smarter, AI-defined experiences. Working closely with global automakers and Tier 1s over the past few years, it’s quickly become clear that the transition to AI-defined vehicles is not theoretical. It’s happening now. In fact, 75% of global automakers plan to integrate generative AI into vehicles by the end of 2025, according to research from PYMNTS. The question among industry leaders is no longer if AI will drive the next generation of vehicles, but how quickly it can be scaled in a safe and secure manner. For OEMs, this presents not just a shift in vehicle capabilities, but in development philosophy, with AI-defined vehicles demanding a new kind of compute foundation and collaborative model. Those who don’t move quickly risk falling behind in safety, experience, and brand relevance. Here are three strategic focuses that OEMs must prioritize to lead in the era of AI-defined vehicles. Hardware matters: Compute at the edge For new AI-defined vehicle capabilities to work seamlessly, automakers need compute that is immediate, reliable and secure. This is why more AI is being pushed to the edge – in the vehicle – as opposed to the cloud that requires constant connectivity. Whether detecting a pedestrian or responding to voice commands, AI-defined vehicles need to respond in real-time without compromising battery life. This requires a heterogenous compute approach that blends compute engines to manage the diversity of AI tasks in the car, so the right processor handles the right workload. For example, CPUs are best at real-time safety critical decision and logic, GPUs for parallel workloads like computer vision, and AI accelerators for deep learning tasks. Alongside heterogenous compute, AI-defined vehicles need scalable architecture across the hardware that allows OEMs to reuse software stacks and development pipelines across trim levels and model variants. This reduces development time and ensures AI applications and features are accessible across a broad range of vehicles, from entry-level to premium high-end luxury. Finally, as vehicles become more intelligent, hardware needs to remain secure and fail-safe. Safety-critical features that are enhanced by AI, such as braking, steering, and navigation, must comply with rigorous standards like ISO 26262 and ISO/SAE 21434 to ensure resilience and trust. Alongside these built-in safety and cybersecurity standards, hardware platforms must include safety islands, redundancy, secure boot, and memory isolation to protect against both malfunction and malicious attacks. The software stack: Faster, more accurate decision-making Hardware is only one part of the puzzle. To deliver truly intelligent AI-defined vehicles, OEMs need cohesive software stacks that support AI development from cloud to car. Traditional modular AI development – with separate models for detection, segmentation, classification, and control – is moving towards end-to-end software stacks that integrate everything from model training to deployment. These models are trained on massive datasets of real-world driving behavior and can directly map sensor inputs to control outputs. The result: faster, more accurate, and more adaptable decision-making, alongside reduced engineering effort. Virtual prototyping: accelerated development cycles Traditionally, vehicle design and development were tied to the physical availability of silicon. That model no longer works in an AI-first world. The availability of silicon-free prototyping transforms the design process for the automotive ecosystem, as they don’t need to wait for the physical silicon to be in production. This significantly accelerates the development and deployment of silicon and software in AI-defined vehicles for a far quicker time-to-market. Enabling this early development is critical to keeping pace with the exponential growth in AI capabilities and evolving models. A new era of automotive innovation The opportunities that lie ahead for OEMs are significant. OEMs that embrace AI-defined design and development today will be the ones setting the standard for innovation, safety, and user experience tomorrow. The AI-defined vehicle isn’t a vision of the future, it’s already in motion. For automotive OEMs, now is the time to act. By Dipti Vachani, SVP and GM, Automotive Line of Business, Arm Dipti Vachani Senior Vice President and General Manager, Automotive Line of Business Dipti leads the organization responsible for delivering Arm-based solutions that drive new opportunities in automotive. Previously, Dipti served as Vice President and General Manager of the Product Management and Customer Enablement division in the IoT Group at Intel. At Texas Instruments, Dipti held several leadership positions and led the creation of the company’s Sitara brand of Arm MPUs. Dipti is on the Women’s Leadership Council for the Global Semiconductor Association. She holds a BS in Computer Engineering from Texas A&M, an Executive MBA degree from the University of Texas, and is a graduate of the Executive Education programs at Stanford, Harvard, and Cambridge business schools.

Bosch Bulgaria won 7 awards from Career Show Awards 2025

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Sofia – Bosch Engineering Center Sofia (Bosch ECS) was awarded a gold prize in the “Best Employer – IT” category in the prestigious Career Show Awards 2025 contest for the fourth consecutive year. This recognition strengthens the company’s position as a leading employer in the IT sector in Bulgaria and emphasizes its sustainable policy in human development and creating an innovative working environment. Along with the gold award, Bosch ECS won two more silver awards – in the “Best Employer” and “Training and Development Strategy” categories. They reflect the company’s consistent work to build a long-term human resources strategy aimed at supporting associates, developing their skills and creating conditions for sustainable professional growth. For the first time, Bosch Digital also participated in the contest and was also among the awarded employers. The company won gold in the “Rebranding Strategy” category, which is a recognition of the successful transformation and building a strong employer brand. In addition, Bosch Digital was awarded bronze awards in the categories “Best Employer – IT”, “Best Employer” and “Inspiring Working Atmosphere”. Thus, both companies are among the TOP 3 of the best employers in Bulgaria. Career Show Awards is one of the most prestigious employer brand and HR contests in Bulgaria. In this year’s edition, a jury of established experts evaluated the applications of leading companies from various industries and distinguished the best practices in people management and building a sustainable employer brand. With a total of 7 awards for Bosch Engineering Center Sofia and Bosch Digital in various categories of the Career Show Awards 2025, the Bosch Group in Bulgaria has strengthened its positions as one of the strongest brands and took place among the most successful companies in this year’s edition of the contest. The two organizations are an example of high achievements in the industry, and this recognition emphasizes Bosch Bulgaria’s commitment to its associates, to the innovation and sustainable development of the employer brand. Irena Raycheva-UdrevaCorporate Communications This content has been automatically generated from the original source. Please note that the original source may have been modified since the content was generated.

Why the Software-Defined Vehicle Needs an AI-Defined Strategy

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By Sachin Lawande, President & CEO of Visteon For years, the shift to software-defined vehicles has dominated conversations across the automotive industry — and with good reason. The move from mechanical systems to digital architectures has fundamentally changed how we design, build, and upgrade automotive technology. But software is just the foundation. What happens next depends on intelligence. From Computing Power to Intelligence The history of personal computing has followed a clear arc: from local, stand-alone machines, to cloud computing that delivered scale and access to vast amounts of information, to mobile computing that put this power in our pockets. Each step increased access but not necessarily insight. Connecting the dots hidden in oceans of data remained out of reach. Artificial intelligence promises to close that gap. It makes devices almost sentient — able to perceive, learn, and respond in a human-like way. I like to think of AI as a “super butler”: a brain that sits above the information, anticipating needs and making complex tasks simple and intuitive. Software Alone Doesn’t Make a Vehicle Smart In automotive, we have traditionally thought in terms of features and functions. IVI systems deliver information, entertainment, and connectivity while keeping drivers safe. ADAS features add awareness of the road and environment, improving active safety. Body systems enhance comfort and convenience, from climate to access to automated controls. The first technology-led transformation was making all these features software-driven. Tesla pioneered over-the-air updates, showing how cars could evolve after they left the factory, and Chinese OEMs scaled the approach quickly. That shift was transformative. But now the challenge is different: making this vast amount of in-vehicle software easier and more intuitive to use. And this is where generative AI becomes complementary to SDV. It gives vehicles the ability to understand context, anticipate driver needs, personalize the cabin environment, and improve over time. The cockpit becomes dynamic. The vehicle becomes aware. That’s a leap — and it’s not something you can patch in after the fact. The real potential of AI is unlocked when it’s treated as part of the platform, not an accessory. Designing Vehicles for Intelligence Rethinking in-cabin systems starts with treating them not just as a collection of features, but as intelligent, adaptable platforms. AI can: Learn driver and passenger preferences over time, personalizing experiences in ways that static rule-based systems cannot. Deliver context-aware UX, where the interface adjusts based on behavior, preferences, or real-world conditions. Improve driver productivity, anticipating daily routines and integrating tools seamlessly. Enhance vehicle health and diagnostics through predictive insights. At Visteon, we’re treating intelligence as a core part of the cockpit architecture, built to support a range of evolving use cases over time. And we’re tackling one of the hardest challenges: running Gen-AI models efficiently inside the vehicle and connecting them to the full IVI system so that tasks are carried out intuitively and responsibly. This requires balancing on-device processing for responsiveness, edge learning for personalization, and fleet-level insights for continuous improvement. We see AI as the next big technology wave in automotive — just as Android reshaped how cockpit systems were built a decade ago. Then, as now, we’re focused not on choosing sides but on making the underlying technology practical, efficient, and scalable for OEMs. Why It Matters Soon, the intelligence behind the cockpit will matter as much as the motor under the hood. As electrification and connectivity become standard, the in-cabin experience becomes the ultimate differentiation — where brands will win trust, loyalty, and margin. We also need to be realistic: AI introduces new challenges. Around trust. Privacy. Regulation. Part of our responsibility as leaders is ensuring that these systems are not only smart, but responsible, with explainable models, clear safeguards, and a design philosophy that keeps humans at the center. Where We Go from Here As the lines blur between machine learning and human behavior, one thing is clear: the vehicles of the future won’t just run on software. They’ll think with it. And at Visteon, we’re building for it.

What The Vehicle Cockpit Will Look Like By 2030?

Industry News

By Sivakumar Yeddanapudi, Global Vice President – Digital Cockpit and Connected Services When we talk about the vehicles of the 2030s, the conversation often starts with electrification and autonomy. But there’s another transformation happening in parallel, just as significant: the reinvention of the cockpit. By 2030, the cockpit will no longer be a cluster of disconnected screens and functions. It will be the intelligent nerve center of the vehicle — seamlessly blending hardware, software, connectivity, and AI to create experiences as personalized, adaptive, and intuitive as the smartphones we carry today. Three forces are shaping this future: 1. Edge-native intelligence. Vehicles will increasingly run AI copilots and predictive systems directly in the car, not just in the cloud. From proactive diagnostics to natural, multimodal interactions, intelligence will be baked into the cockpit itself, making every drive smarter and safer. 2. Vertical integration of hardware and software. The cockpit will be powered by domain controllers — the “motherboards” of the vehicle — replacing scattered ECUs. This will enable automakers to deliver tightly integrated experiences across displays, audio, voice, and connectivity. It also means cockpit solutions will be productized and repeatable, not built from scratch each time. 3. The cockpit as an ecosystem. Connectivity will no longer be a differentiator; it will be assumed. Features like Satellite communication, 5G, software-defined services, Wi-Fi 7, phone-as-key, and multi-stream audio with minimum 12 speakers will form the baseline. The real value comes from ecosystem integration — cars that connect effortlessly to digital lives, workplaces, homes, and cities. Experience as the Differentiator Tomorrow’s vehicles won’t just be measured by horsepower or range. They’ll be judged by the experience of being inside them. That means: Safety and security as embedded features, not afterthoughts Adaptive, personalized UX that anticipates driver and passenger needs Rapid iteration cycles, where cockpit software evolves as quickly as consumer apps Cross-domain integration, from infotainment to ADAS, so the cockpit feels unified, not fragmented The Global Shifts We Must Anticipate The cockpit revolution won’t unfold evenly across the world. In China, OEMs are already redefining what “premium” means — embedding high-end comfort, convenience, and intelligence even in mid-segment cars. Global tech giants are reshaping the semiconductor and AI landscape all over the world In emerging markets, digital-first consumers are leapfrogging expectations, demanding vehicles that connect as seamlessly as their phones. For companies like Visteon, the challenge — and opportunity — is to read these shifts early and translate them into products that scale across geographies and customer segments. Visteon’s Role in Leading the Transformation Our industry is at a crossroads. We’re completing our transformation from a project supplier into a product- and technology-first innovator. That means: Investing in repeatable platforms and IPs Partnering strategically where it accelerates outcomes Cultivating startup energy across teams, because speed is as critical as vision The cockpit of 2030 will not be defined by a single company or technology. It will be the result of collaboration, integration, and relentless innovation. At Visteon, we’re committed to building that future – where every cockpit is intelligent, connected, and designed to enhance not just the way vehicles move, but the way people live.

Opportunity in motion: The role of automotive in driving social mobility

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Why the car is still an essential player in driving social mobility. In this exclusive guest article for Just Auto, Inchcape – a leading global automotive distributor – CEO Duncan Tait reflects on the results of a new survey of APAC and Latin American consumer attitudes to motorisation and the part played by the car in driving social mobility. For many of us, it’s a long time since we passed our driving test. But cast your mind back to that moment when the L-plates came off and you felt the freedom of mobility! In emerging markets, where distances are longer and public transport is less accessible, you can imagine that this feeling is more pronounced. As I visit markets like Chile, the Philippines and the Caribbean, I see firsthand the vital role that vehicles play in enhancing quality of life and powering local economic development. Car ownership is far more than a utility – it is a vehicle for wellbeing, social advancement and personal identity. It remains embedded in how individuals define a good quality of life and navigate the demands of modern society. Our new Drivers of Change survey asked 6,000 consumers across 13 countries in Asia Pacific (APAC) and Latin America to share their views about car ownership and the sentiment of consumers towards the new energy vehicle transition. Our findings confirm our view that access to personal mobility or transport remains fundamental to economic development and social inclusion. For many people in these countries, having a car means they’re able to travel to their job, attend healthcare appointments and pursue education. Unlocking opportunities through car ownership In Asia Pacific, 63% of respondents cite ‘freedom of movement’ as a major benefit of car ownership. In Latin America, the evidence is even more prominent with 91% of respondents valuing the ability to travel according to their own schedule. Taking into consideration the distances people often must cover and the public transport are developing in many of the countries we surveyed, it is easy to understand why a personal vehicle plays such an essential role in social mobility. In addition to freedom of movement, consumers in APAC point to easier commuting (49%) and enhanced lifestyle and wellbeing for themselves and their families (39%) as major benefits of owning a car. Additional advantages include access to job opportunities, and improved access to education. Latin American respondents believe that a vehicle enables a better lifestyle for themselves and their families (86%), facilitates commuting to and from work (86%), and improves access to employment (81%). Car ownership increases the opportunity for a better life These insights support our view that vehicles enhance personal development, economic participation and social inclusion. For certain groups, such as the elderly or people with disabilities, having access to a personal car can mean the difference between isolation, access to healthcare and active engagement with the community and wider society. At a time when personal car ownership is increasingly important, the industry needs to come together to solve the challenge of decreasing greenhouse gas emissions by working to support the transition to EVs – there is no one-size-fits-all approach and the transition must be equitable and enduring. In listening to and understanding what drives consumers in individual countries, we can further understand how best to provide mobility solutions that support personal development, economic participation, and social inclusion. Duncan Tait – Inchcape CEO Duncan brings significant international experience and a wealth of digital and data experience, a key enabler of the Accelerate+ strategy. He played a pivotal role in the Group’s digital strategy with the development and deployment of the Digital Experience Platform (DXP) and the Digital Analytics Platform (DAP), which are key differentiators for Inchcape. Duncan was previously on the board of Fujitsu, a global technology services company with 35,000 people. Duncan has also held senior roles at Unisys, Hewlett Packard, and Compaq in a technology focused career of over 30 years. Duncan is currently a non-executive director at Agilisys. This content has been automatically generated from the original source. Please note that the original source may have been modified since the content was generated.

How software is shaping the future of mobility

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In this guest opinion piece, Jens Hinrichsen, from NXP Semiconductors, describes the rise of the Software-Defined Vehicle (SDV) and its transformative implications for the auto industry. The automotive industry is undergoing one of the most significant transformations in over a century – driven not by hardware, but by software. Vehicles will be digitized and increasingly defined by the compute architecture and software that powers their functionality and intelligence. The rise of the Software-Defined Vehicle (SDV) is changing how cars are designed, built, and experienced, but to realize those benefits, automakers, T1s, software, and semiconductor vendors must evolve. The digitization of the car Before we look at how the industry needs to adapt, it’s worth taking a step back and considering what we mean by SDVs. These aren’t just vehicles that are developed, built, and sold, but vehicles which evolve and improve after they’ve left the production line based on a dynamic digital platform. This transformation is about redefining the vehicle’s core architecture and how it is experienced. In a software-defined vehicle, features and functions are increasingly abstracted from hardware and run in software. To achieve this, some sort of central compute architecture is required – a platform that enables continuous updates, upgrades, and even personalization of the car. This means vehicles require a powerful and scalable electronics architecture based on semiconductors (hardware), efficient and scalable software drivers and middleware to integrate all the electronics, and on top of it intelligent and feature-rich application software to define the functionality of the car. Such an SDV platform manages everything from ADAS (Advanced Driver Assistance Systems) to IVI (In-Vehicle Infotainment). Most importantly, it includes the core vehicle functions to operate and to propel the car, which becomes even more important for electric vehicles where intelligent energy flow and battery management significantly impacts the lifetime and range of the vehicle. This new approach to vehicle compute architecture makes it possible to activate new features after the car is sold, adapt vehicle behavior in real time, and evolve interfaces as technology and user preferences shift – such adaptations are prohibitively complex in traditional vehicles. SDVs therefore enable a completely new value proposition: the car gets smarter and better with age. With the rise of AI, the SDV platform only becomes more critical, with AI-powered ADAS, preventive fault detection or range optimizations, for example, transforming how we use our vehicles. Together, these shifts mark a clear departure from the traditional vehicle lifecycle defined by depreciation and eventual obsolescence. But this evolution brings complexity. Building a car that improves over time – and is ready to integrate the next-generation of AI – requires a fundamental rethinking of design, supply chains, and safety. Processes and priorities that have been in place for decades now need to evolve. Rethinking traditional architectures Traditionally, vehicle functions were tightly coupled to specific electronic control units (ECUs), each often developed by different suppliers. This hardware-centric approach meant that adding or modifying features required changes to the underlying ECU hardware and their specific software modules – making updates complex, time-consuming, and costly. Engineering teams had to navigate a patchwork of tools, processes, and dependencies, resulting in limited flexibility once the vehicle left the factory. In short, the system was rigid, expensive to maintain, and difficult to scale. The SDV concept is creating a platform that can be updated, upgraded, or personalized over time, and also enables carmakers to revolutionize how they develop and produce new vehicles. This concept allows the highest level of hardware and software re-use, which enables carmakers to develop new vehicle platforms a lot faster. Such platforms are inherently scalable. The fundamental architecture can be used across entry-level models right up to high-end models, and it can be scaled across various OEM brands. This drives speed of innovation, faster time to market, and optimizes total cost of ownership. Automakers have started making key decisions about how to evolve their compute architectures to tackle engineering challenges. Some are consolidating multiple domains into centralized compute platforms to streamline processes and reduce complexity, while others are adopting zonal architectures that distribute compute closer to the edge – near sensors and actuators – to improve latency, modularity, and scalability. Regardless of approach, meeting these demands requires more powerful semiconductors, scalable compute, greater energy efficiency, high-bandwidth communication, functional safety, the highest standards of security, and new system-level innovations. From supply chains to ecosystems This transition is also redrawing the lines of the automotive supply chain. The historical model – where automakers, Tier 1s, and semiconductor suppliers operated in a linear hierarchy – is giving way to an ecosystem of strategic collaboration. This shift is driven by the growing realization that vehicle digitization depends not only on the compute, networking, and power management technologies of a vehicle but the software that runs on it. As digital features expand, so does the complexity of integrating hardware and software efficiently across the vehicle – and no one company can do this alone. Delivering that innovation at scale calls for a new model of collaboration – one where automakers, suppliers, and technology partners work in parallel from the start. The development model behind SDVs is no longer a linear supply chain; it’s a tightly integrated ecosystem. As vehicle architectures evolve to support software-defined capabilities, NXP is increasingly engaged earlier in the design process – contributing not just silicon, but system-level expertise and software solutions that helps define compute architectures. From vehicle compute and zone controllers to networking and power management, we support OEMs and Tier 1s in building safe, scalable platforms that enable long-term software innovation. Both emerging manufacturers and legacy players should play to their strengths Today’s shifts in the industry are impacting automakers in very different ways. New entrants, without the burden of legacy systems, can design vehicles from the ground up with software at the center. Their streamlined product lines and software-native cultures often align more naturally with SDV architecture (as well as today’s consumer preferences). However, they may face non-trivial challenges when it comes to…