MAGAZINE Automotive World - August-2020
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Automotive World
MAGAZINE Issue 9 | September 2020
New CEO to set
faster pace for
Ford’s transformation
Voyage's CEO offers his view of a COVID-ready vehicle | China positions for robotaxi lead with 2022 Asia Games |
Nio harnesses AI to create a step change in personal assistants | Apollo Tyres shares the secrets to its COVID survival |
Easelink redefines EV charging for a world of shared and autonomous mobility
IN THIS ISSUE 04 16
28
New CEO to set faster pace
for Ford’s transformation
22 32
New CEO to set faster pace for Nio: ‘AI will become one of our
04 Ford’s transformation most intimate friends and 22
companions’
What’s the post-COVID
12 commercial vehicle outlook? Voyage’s ‘COVID-ready’ vehicle
to salvage shared mobility 28
2022 Asian Games could
16 confirm China’s autonomous Who will succeed in the
32
leadership crowded LiDAR space?
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2 Automotive World Magazine September 2020
Published in September 2020
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Mild hybrids—a multi-billion euro growth opportunity
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46 How has COVID reshaped the US industry outlook?
VAT number: GB 815 220 173
How to make cities ready for autonomous vehicles,
52 and AVs ready for cities
CEO & Managing Director:
Gareth Davies
56 Interview: Paul Campion, Chief Executive, TRL Editor:
Megan Lampinen
60 Apollo Tyres: COVID-19 response case study
Contributors:
Autonomy and shared mobility prompt charging Freddie Holmes
64 innovation Jack Hunsley
Xavier Boucherat
ADAS nomenclature standards pave way for
68 autonomous driving Production:
Anmol Mothy
Freight technology will help US trucking through the
72 capacity crunch and beyond © Automotive World Ltd 2020
September 2020 Automotive World Magazine 3
New CEO
to set faster
pace for Ford’s
transformation
While Hackett was faced with arrival of
COVID-19 and the immediate
production impact, Farley is left to
address the new normal it has created,
writes Megan Lampinen
T
here’s change afoot at relationship, the transition should
Ford with the promise of go smoothly, but Farley faces
a new Chief Executive. significantly more friction in other
After three years in the upcoming challenges.
top post Jim Hackett has decided
to retire and hand over the reins
to current Chief Operating Officer Continuity
Jim Farley, effective 1 October. The
two Jims have been working Back in 2017 Hackett was
closely together over the past few specifically tasked with
years as Hackett had him in mind modernising the company. Like
for a potential successor almost Alan Mulally, a Boeing executive
from the start. Given their close before leading Ford, Hackett came
4 Automotive World Magazine September 2020
September 2020 Automotive World Magazine 5
Hackett has revamped the
model line-up, cutting out
weaker performers and
launching groundbreaking
new models
from outside the automotive sector, having
spent 30 years at furniture company
Steelcase. At Ford, he quickly set about
applying the principles of design thinking—an
approach to product development that
centres on user experience and which became
“
a key part of his strategy. Hackett also
revamped the model line-up, cutting out
weaker performers and launching ground-
breaking models like the Mustang Mach-E, the
new F-150 and the upcoming Bronco. Under His stint leading the New
his leadership Ford established pivotal global Businesses, Technology &
partnerships with the likes of BMW,
Volkswagen and Rivian. But after three years— Strategy team has given
the same length of time served by his him a good
predecessor Mark Fields— it’s now time to step
down, and the board knew just where to look. understanding of just
how profoundly new
Farley is an automotive industry veteran and
spent 20 years at Toyota before he joined Ford technology is shaping the
in 2007, hired by Mulally to serve as Global auto sector
Head of Marketing and Sales. He later led
Lincoln, Ford South America, Ford of Europe
and all Ford Global Markets. Last year he was
put in charge of Ford’s New Businesses,
Technology & Strategy team, tackling strategic
decision making around artificial intelligence,
automation, connectivity and new forms of
propulsion. Earlier this year he was named
6 Automotive World Magazine September 2020
Chief Operating Officer, a position widely regarded as a precursor to a CEO appointment. “We really didn’t look outside for a candidate, though we talked about it,” Bill Ford, Ford’s Executive Chairman, told media. “Whenever we threw some names around, Jim’s rose to the top. Sometimes going outside is great, and Alan Mulally and Jim Hackett are proof of that. But there are also benefits to continuity, especially if you are on the right path. The projects Jim and Jim were working on together were exactly what was needed to propel us into the future.” Other management changes will be up to Farley down the line, but as he helped form the current management team, big surprises seem unlikely. Farley himself is regarded as a “car guy”, frequently spending weekends The new Bronco is one of several significant product launches intended to refresh Ford’s image September 2020 Automotive World Magazine 7
Mobility today entails much more than
just car manufacturing
racing vintage cars. His stint leading the New
Businesses, Technology & Strategy team has
given him a good understanding of just how
profoundly new technology is shaping the
auto sector. “Jim is perhaps the singular
executive that understands the integration of
technology and auto,” observed Bill Ford.
Farley’s long automotive industry experience
and solid marketing background should also
prove real assets. “Since Ford is about to enter
a new execution phase, the company likely
decided it was time for a more experienced
auto executive who knows the ins and outs of
the industry to lead the charge, as opposed to
an outsider trying to create change,” observed
Jessica Caldwell, Executive Director of Insights
at Edmunds. “Farley’s specialty is marketing,
which will play a critical role as Ford gears up
for significant product launches that are
intended to revive and refresh Ford’s image.”
“ Jim is perhaps the
singular executive
Lots of work ahead
Ford has come a long way under Hackett,
shifting assertively into new mobility and
technology areas. The automaker has also
done much to address the underlying fitness
that understands the of the base business, reducing bureaucracy
integration of and restructuring operations in
underperforming markets. But it’s far from
technology and auto done. “We have lots of work ahead of us to
really complete our mission,” asserted Bill
Ford.
It now falls to Farley to execute Hackett’s
US$11bn restructuring plan and oversee
pivotal product launches. Some of these
8 Automotive World Magazine September 2020
Ford and Agility Robotics are exploring how robot, Digit, can help get packages to the door efficiently with the help of self-driving vehicles launches, notably the 2020 Ford Explorer, went dreadfully wrong and proved a real setback. “Farley is now set to replace Jim Hackett, whose efforts to turn around the company have been hindered by the botched Explorer SUV launch as well as by COVID-19,” said Ana Nicholls, Managing Editor for the Industry Briefing at the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU). “While Hackett did manage to rein in Ford’s losses, Farley will find that he has a tough job turning that into a profit.” For the fourth quarter last year, well before the pandemic arrived, Ford reported losses of about US$1.7bn. Stock price will also September 2020 Automotive World Magazine 9
Mustang Mach E
remain a thorn in Farley’s side, as it has Farley. “It’s Amazon, Baidu, Tesla, Apple,
for all the company’s Chief Executives Toyota and others. They are well-
over the past decade. During the media financed and voracious companies.”
call Farley dodged questions about
whether or not he would prioritise the But everyone, no matter how well
stock issue, stating only that he was financed or voracious, is feeling the
“optimistic as growth initiatives like impact from the novel coronavirus.
electric commercial vehicles come into While Hackett was faced with arrival of
focus.” Shareholders may demand COVID-19 and the immediate production
greater clarity if things do not change impact, Farley is left to address the new
quickly, particularly when some of the normal it has created. “Markets, though
newer start-ups, some of which have yet rebounding slowly, are in meltdown
to build a vehicle, have seen nearly worldwide, with only China
astronomical valuations. offering some relief,” Nicholls pointed
out. “Next year will bring a bigger
rebound, but still not enough to make up
The new normal for the lost ground. Much more
restructuring will be needed if Ford is to
Farley may not be willing to talk about soldier through.”
the stock prices of these companies, but
he clearly has them in his sights—along Farley’s wealth of experience at Ford will
with some of the technology giants with help in tackling this and other
aspirations to becoming mobility players. challenges, and should also go down well
“We know our competition today,” said with colleagues and workers. That said,
10 Automotive World Magazine September 2020Ford is investing heavily in autonomous
driving technology
Nicholls suggests that “he will also need The investment community has been
to draw on his knowledge of the outside similarly bullish in their outlook on this
world, particularly in interactions with new appointment, with Credit Suisse
tech companies and with Volkswagen, Analyst Dan Levy writing that “Farley
which has tech-sharing alliance with brings a greater sense of urgency and
Ford. The company’s gains from its action.” In the same vein, RBC Capital
investment in self-driving business Argo Markets analyst Joseph Spak suggested
AI shows the potential of that alliance, that the move signals “Ford is ready to
but Ford will need to make sure it is not take on a more aggressive, faster moving
the troubled junior partner.” path forward.”
Vishwas Shankar, Research Director at As for Farley, he has emphasised the
Frost & Sullivan, believes Farley will keep continuity of his leadership plans more
up the momentum that Ford has recently than anything else: “I don’t see any
built up. “Farley will be looking at Ford’s daylight between Jim [Hackett] and
internal strengths, its cash cows and myself. The areas in which I believe we
crown jewels, and revisiting partnerships have huge growth opportunity are the
and investments in key areas within same we have been working on together.
CASE mobility,” he told Automotive Yes, I’m my own man but we have a
World. “Like his predecessors, he will tremendous team at Ford. I’m optimistic
continue to let go of non-productive about executing our base business and
assets and focus operations in those these new areas to compete against new
areas where Ford can be best-in-class, and existing competitors. I will share
always with an eye on profitability.” specifics with the team at the right time.”
September 2020 Automotive World Magazine 11What’s the post-
COVID commercial
vehicle outlook?
Roland Berger's Wilfried Aulbur shares his expectations for
the CV sector in the wake of the novel coronavirus
12 Automotive World Magazine September 2020T
he global commercial seen automakers re-evaluating
vehicle (CV) sector is investment portfolios—what
facing some serious activities make sense versus what
headwinds. The novel can you do without? There has also
coronavirus (COVID-19) and the been a re-evaluation of the core
subsequent economic downturn are business—are there product
impacting automaker strategies, segments that you shouldn’t be
touching on everything from covering anymore? Look at the
production planning and supply medium-duty space in Europe as an
chain management to powertrain example. That’s a relatively small
offerings and autonomous driving volume one. Do you really need to
investments. Wilfried Aulbur, Senior be present in this market? If you still
Partner at Roland Berger, has been want to be present in the market, do
following developments closely. you really need to develop major
components for this segment or can
How big a hit has the CV you buy them instead?
segment taken from COVID-19?
Has there been any significant
The volatility of this pandemic has dialling back on electrification
been quite pronounced. Although investment?
the CV industry knows how to
handle volatility, this has been a From a CV player perspective, we
significant shock. We have seen a have not seen a major retraction of
dramatic reduction in North investment. The vehicle
America coming from a high. The manufacturers that have exposure
same thing is happening in Europe. to Europe know that the emissions
China recorded a very sharp regulations will come and, as a
contraction but currently sees lots consequence, they need
of optimism. Our initial projection electrification. They also need
for China was that the market would hydrogen as a medium- to long-
be flat, but it seems to be growing term solution. We have seen players
this year due to the kind of activities understanding that they will need
that the government is putting in to work together to create the scale
place in trying to prop up the and bring down cost to a level that
overall economy. is feasible for the overall ecosystem.
The joint venture between Daimler
What does this mean for and Volvo is a good example of this.
automakers?
Do you see newcomers like
This environment leads to a Nikola posing a serious threat to
situation where all the major players the more established players on
are, first and foremost, challenged to this front?
conserve cash. We have seen this
reaction across the board in terms of One has to wait and see. As a B2B
everybody cutting non-essential business that’s very much around
expenses, making sure they don’t understanding the business model
spend marketing money that doesn’t of the end customer, the hurdles for
really bring a return. Everybody is operating in this environment and
going in for cost and headcount being successful here are high.
reduction measures. We have also That’s because you need the
September 2020 Automotive World Magazine 13In June, Scania warned that it was
conducting a broad review of the
number of consultants and employees
on its books, with an eye to reducing
global headcount
infrastructure. With a fuel cell or
an electric truck, you need to
think about the uptime, the
convenience in terms of getting
repairs done and the training of
a network. There are some real
challenges to make these things
work and I think that’s one of the
reasons potentially why Nikola
tied up with Iveco. This
partnership gives it access to the
kind of ecosystem and
experience that it needs to really
roll out its technology. talent. They are trying to use this a consequence, the negative
crisis to their advantage. impact will also be there as far as
Autonomous driving has been the overall economic
another major investment Will the pandemic prove a performance. In that sense,
area for many CV companies. short-term or long-term that’s a real cause for concern.
Has this been sidelined in the challenge? Having said that, the first green
wake of COVID-19? shoots are visible. If we look at
In some sense, the COVID the kilometres driven by trucks
Here we have seen two situation is a short-term in the US or Europe, they are
approaches. Some players have challenge. Even if we don’t get very much close to being back to
decided to push back this under control quickly, I normal numbers.
autonomous investments for the would think that by 2021 we
time being, while others see this would have some solution in Which players are going to
as an opportunity. They may be terms of medication, which then emerge from this in the
thinking that in this environment would lead to normalisation of strongest position?
it will be more difficult for start- the overall economy, albeit on a
ups to secure funding. That lower level. By that time, if it In transport there are some
means they may be able to either really takes that long, the sectors that are actually doing
gain a head start—or increase it— negative impact on employment quite well already. If you carry
when it comes to acquiring will be quite significant. And, as groceries to supermarkets, you’re
14 Automotive World Magazine September 2020Many delivery applications have
recorded a boost in activity
following the pandemic
probably not doing badly. If you that the worst is behind us and first order of business is clearly
are exposed to some of the e- they can start buying again ensuring cashflow, being able
commerce players or are taking rather than ageing their fleet. to defend market share as
goods to shopping centres, you’re much as possible, and not
not doing badly. It is a varied Given the current constraints jeopardising essential
picture across the different end of the industry and lowered investments in the future.
applications, but overall, traffic outlooks, what do you think
has come back to normal levels would characterise a And when it comes to what
or close to normal levels. successful 2020 for the CV constitutes essential
industry? investment, is that going to
Will that translate into service vary some degree by
and parts revenue for OEMs? If you are able to manage your company?
cash flows reasonably well in
Definitely, so that’s positive for this year and you manage to Yes, exactly. It will vary on the
the network and the OEMs. safeguard essential overall position of the company,
Down the line, it will also lead to investments, I think then you’ve and how invested it is in certain
order incomes that are closer to done a good job. We have an technologies already. It also
what a normal year would look unprecedented challenge with depends on the strategic call
like. In the US, the fleet both the supply side and the that a company takes on a
customers have the confidence demand side disruption. The particular technology.
September 2020 Automotive World Magazine 152022 Asian Games
could confirm
China’s autonomous
leadership
Large events like this have become popular stages on
which to showcase self-driving capabilities, and the
pressure is on to get it right. By Megan Lampinen
T
he next Asian Games could (AVs) are set to play a key role, and if
prove make or break for Hangzhou gets it right, China’s global
China’s autonomous reputation as an AV pioneer could be
mobility ambitions. Like the solidified.
Olympics, this sporting event—held
every four years—attracts floods of The country has been jockeying for a
visitors, temporarily boosting the leadership position in self-driving
number of people in the host city. For technology, and numerous
2022, the challenge of transporting development projects are currently
those crowds falls to the city of underway. By 2025, the government
Hangzhou, Zhejiang. Speaking at a aims to have large-scale production of
recent logistics planning conference, self-driving cars, though admittedly
Hangzhou 2022 Deputy Secretary operating in limited geographies.
General and Deputy Mayor of the McKinsey believes China could
Municipal Government, Chen potentially become the world’s largest
Weiqiang, warned that transportation market for AVs and predicts that AVs
and logistics for the Games would be could account for more than 40% of
“complex.” Autonomous vehicles its new vehicle sales by 2040. What
16 Automotive World Magazine September 2020Cao Cao’s fleet is powered by
DeepRoute technology
better opportunity to showcase the electric robotaxis during the event.
latest capabilities and future promise Both visitors and participants will be
than the upcoming Games. able to hail a ride using the Cao Cao
app for travel within the city. “With
Large events like this have become more than 40 venues being used
popular stages on which to during the Games, the ability to
demonstrate AV capabilities. Aptiv seamlessly hail a robotaxi will save
and Lyft have been running self- attendees time on walking and allow
driving taxi fleets at CES in Las Vegas. them to visit as many places as
Yandex was supposed to run a fleet at possible during their time there,”
the North American International pointed out Nianqiu Liu, Vice
Auto Show this year, though the show President of DeepRoute.
was cancelled in the wake of COVID-
19. Toyota planned to have a fleet It is DeepRoute that provides the
shuttling visitors around the 2020 automated functionality to the fleet.
Tokyo Olympics, though this too was Its comprehensive Sense II system
hit by COVID and is now postponed includes sensing capabilities, high-
until 2021. definition (HD) mapping, perception,
planning and control, simulation and
cloud technology. According to the
No emissions, no driver company, DeepRoute-Vision and its
synchronisation controller for sensor
Providing the Asian Games go ahead data, DeepRoute-Syntric, can
as planned, Geely-backed ride-hailing accurately detect surrounding objects
company Cao Cao Mobility will be in real-time to deliver a safe and
operating a fleet of autonomous, smooth driving experience.
September 2020 Automotive World Magazine 17Geely established Cao Cao as a strategic
move into ride-hailing, and it is now
present in more than 50 cities
DeepRoute-Syntric is an advanced World. “As the system could be
data synchronisation controller that deployed quickly and cost-efficiently,
can synchronise information from it proved a real help in achieving Cao
different types of sensors, enabling Cao’s robotaxi service objectives.”
the perception algorithm to process
sensor data aligned in the same However, considerable work was still
standard. The data creates HD maps, needed to bring everything together,
which allow the self-driving vehicle to and teams from DeepRoute, Cao Cao
understand what’s on the road and and Geely worked closely on not only
how to execute its trajectory. the integration of the self-driving
system but also the backend
“Since our computing platform within operations for dispatch and the user-
the self-driving solution is small and based app experience. DeepRoute is
our sensing solution is an all-in-one also working with Cao Cao to create
product, Cao Cao found that it was testing and operation guidelines as
easy to integrate,” Liu told Automotive well as standards for the robotaxis.
18 Automotive World Magazine September 2020The AutoX and Amap partnership marked
the first time that robotaxis were available on
a major ride-hailing platform in China
From pilots to mass designed to be cost-efficiently
production manufactured at scale so it will be
accessible to self-driving companies of
While autonomous driving pilots like all sizes,” he added. “To keep costs to
this one have become increasingly a minimum for our customers, we
frequent, that doesn’t necessarily created our own inference engine so
mean the technology is ready for that the system doesn’t require a large
commercialisation. For DeepRoute, computing platform.”
though, it’s not far off. “In terms of
safety and cost, our technology is very DeepRoute also stands out from the
close to being ready for mass competition in terms of the accuracy
production,” Liu asserted. of its perception technology. Liu
proudly points to test results from the
The cost aspect could prove the real KIITI Vision Benchmark Suite, a
ace up its sleeve. At mass production, project between the Karlsruhe
he projects system costs at around Institute of Technology and Toyota
US$20,000. “The system was Technological Institute at Chicago:
September 2020 Automotive World Magazine 19DeepRoute's advanced perception
technology can detect objects around a
vehicle up to 140 meters away
“Our advanced perception technology testing in various cities as well as using
has ranked highly on the KITTI and test courses and simulation.
Semantic KITTI tests, showcasing how
it can identify different types of
objects with a high level of accuracy.” A good fit for
The perception model and algorithm automation
can detect objects around a vehicle up
to 140 meters, even in low-visibility While cities around the world are
weather conditions. interested in harnessing the potential
benefits of autonomous driving,
The next step in system development China could be a particularly good
is to gain exposure in a wider variety fit. A KPMG study from July 2020
of environments. As Liu elaborated: found China to be one of the top five
“While we have already made strong performing countries in terms of
progress enabling vehicles to operate securing AV-related industry
safely, with few driver engagements in partnerships. At the same time,
a variety of scenarios, our solution still numerous local companies are
needs to be deployed in more cities to transitioning to become suppliers of
collect more data to train the system.” pivotal AV technologies including
DeepRoute is conducting real-world chipsets, LiDAR, AI algorithms and
20 Automotive World Magazine September 2020vehicle communications technologies. The a base for its autonomous mobility
country’s extensive 5G network could also development, and opened a new research
facilitate developments. hub there in April 2019.
“China is leading the world, both on But it’s not all about robotaxis; trucks are
technology and pace of adoption and another focus area for autonomous
implementation, especially with its early developments, and earlier this year
introduction of 5G networking,” said Philip DeepRoute partnered with Dongfeng
Ng, Partner, Head of Technology, KPMG Commercial Vehicle Co to equip container
China. “Along with work to develop trucks with its self-driving solutions to
cooperative vehicle infrastructure system, automate operations in the Xiamen Ocean
this will build strong foundations for the Gate Container Terminal, owned by Cosco
introduction of AVs. The Chinese public also Shipping. “This industrial application
appear receptive to using such vehicles, demanded a customised solution for its
particularly younger generations.” unique requirements,” explained Liu. “Our
DeepRoute’s Liu also noted the importance of perception model quickly learned how to
positive consumer attitudes around this identify relevant objects such as shipping
technology. “Studies have shown that people containers and cranes—things that aren’t
in China are very open to self-driving generally seen during typical self-driving
technologies,” he noted. tests—and navigate safely around them. This
“ People are culturally accepting of
ride-sharing and they celebrate
the idea of AVs
Robotaxis in particular are a hot application streamlined their terminal loading and
area for autonomous technology, not unloading process.”
surprising given the low vehicle ownership
ratio, so Cao Cao and DeepRoute have plenty With projects like these, China could well be
of company in this space. “People are one of the first markets in the world to see AVs
culturally accepting of ride-sharing and they go mainstream. Liu is certainly bullish in his
celebrate the idea of AVs,” said Jewel Li, Chief outlook: “We believe autonomous mobility will
Operating Officer at Chinese autonomous roll out across China in the next five years as
tech developer AutoX. The company has there are already robotaxi services in several
been working with China’s largest mobility Chinese cities. Our partnership with Cao Cao
operator, Amap, on a robotaxi trial in pushes us one step closer to a future where
Shanghai. Aptiv has also honed in on China as autonomous transportation will be the norm.”
September 2020 Automotive World Magazine 21Nio: ‘AI will become
one of our most
intimate friends and
companions’
In-vehicle AI assistants could offer automakers daily access
to a previously inaccessible market. By Jack Hunsley
22 Automotive World Magazine September 20205
2 years on, Stanley Kubrick’s
2001: A Space Odyssey stands as
one of cinema’s greatest, if
slightly more bizarre, pieces of
work. It also features one of cinema’s key
memorable moments when the
supercomputer HAL 9000 begs astronaut
Dave Bowman to spare it. As Bowman
chooses to ignore HAL’s pleas for mercy
and begins an arduous shutdown
procedure HAL delivers one of pop
culture’s most famous confessions: “I’m
afraid, Dave… my mind is going. I can feel
it.” Though 2001 split opinions at the
time, the famous late film critic Roger
Ebert sang its praises, with one factor, in
particular, resonating with him: how
“
Kubrick had managed to make what was
supposed to be the perfect computer
instead the most human of all the
characters.
In the future of
mobility, the key Though an extreme example, some
similarities can be drawn from HAL to
differentiator in today’s automotive industry. No
automotive developer is attempting to
choosing to buy a car create a wholly sentient, and inevitably
malevolent, artificial intelligence (AI), but
from one brand over the consensus is that AI can be used by
the industry to nurture a brand identity
another will no through creating a tangible virtual
persona. For instance, BMW’s intelligent
longer be determined personal assistant’s attention can be
solely by driving summoned by simply saying “Hey, BMW.”
Customers that instead want to use their
range, performance, preferred home-based assistant in-vehicle
can do so by calling for Alexa’s, Siri’s or
equipment and Cortana’s help. It’s also a route on which
Chinese start-up Nio is pinning its
features. It will be the connected strategy.
emotional value of
Nomi
the product and the
brand At Nio, unsurprisingly AI’s core value is
found in enabling autonomy, given its
long-term aim to build electric,
autonomous vehicles (AVs). However, if
and when these electric AVs make it to
market, Nio is confident it can also create
September 2020 Automotive World Magazine 23“ Early on, people may
say Nomi is just a
little robot on top of
the instrument panel.
However, Nomi is
designed to be far
more just an ‘add-on’
to the standard
infotainment system.
It is the brain and
centre of car’s AI
an in-vehicle environment where user and the vehicle,” said Ted Li,
driver and machine can converse and Associate Vice President, Product
interact with one another seamlessly. Management Department & Senior
To reach this future, Nio’s first Expert, Experience Manager at Nio.
stepping stone can be seen through “Nomi can give the user a much more
the development of its own bespoke engaging ownership experience, not
in-vehicle virtual personal assistant, just through operating functions, but
‘Nomi’. also by offering a digital
companionship which is not
First unveiled alongside the launch of achievable through conventional
the ES8 SUV in 2017, the automaker methods.”
originally marketed Nomi as “the
world’s first in-car AI system,” capable When Nio says ‘companionship’ it
of interacting with passengers using quite literally means that. At the most
its ‘emotion engine’. “The most basic level, Nio allows owners to
obvious business area for AI is rename their Nomis to whatever
autonomous driving, where Nio Pilot name they’d like. For US$700 users
is already trying to become one of the can also upgrade to the ‘Nomi Mate’,
market leaders. However, the other which contrary to the base model
less obvious yet fundamental area is features two digital eyes which turn
lifetime companionship, which to greet passengers as they enter the
defines the relationship between the vehicle and can display a variety of
24 Automotive World Magazine September 2020facial emotions. Regardless of
which model buyers opt for, Nio
places great significance on
fostering this human-machine
relationship. “Early on, people
may say Nomi is just a little
robot on top of the instrument
panel. However, Nomi is
designed to be far more just an
‘add-on’ to the standard
infotainment system. It is the
brain and centre of car’s AI,” said
Li. “Each motion, open and
closure, adjustment and
command are all neural
connected to Nomi’s emotion
engine and conversation system.”
Relationship
Today, however, Nio just
scratches the surface of Nomi’s
“
in-vehicle possibilities. Going
forward the automaker is eager
to expand on Nomi’s current
functionalities and bring more
Nomi can give the user a AI-enabled value to the customer
experience. “In our next steps,
much more engaging we will give Nomi further AI
capabilities, including autonomy
ownership experience, and cabin perception. The entry-
level Nomi will also be able to
not just through operate a wide range of interior
functions including media
operating functions, but players, opening windows and
also by offering a digital sunroofs as well as handling
navigation,” said Li. Though a
companionship which is common development route
throughout the sector, Li is eager
not achievable through to stress how important these
seemingly minor features will be
conventional methods in fostering a brand identity in a
connected, autonomous world.
“In the future of mobility, the
key differentiator in choosing to
buy a car from one brand over
another will no longer be
determined solely by driving
September 2020 Automotive World Magazine 25range, performance, equipment and Privacy
features. It will be the emotional
value of the product and the brand,” If assistants such as Nomi do end up
he said. Nio, in particular, sees as the main point of interaction, it
current adoption rates on products could pose some practical problems.
featuring Alexa and Siri functionality One example is the cultural consumer
as a key indicator in how consumer differences when attempting to
interests are changing in this develop such AI-enabled functionality
connected space. “AI will become one for several markets. Western
of the most intimate friends and consumers traditionally prefer their
companions to our next generation, virtual assistants to remain strictly
as well as ourselves,” he added. “In machine-like, whereas Asian
the very distant future, when full customers tend to prefer a more
autonomy is available and when the personified digital experience.
steering wheel is no longer necessary,
Nomi will become the primary “Asian culture tends to be more
interface for user interaction. That is receptive to animated and virtual
the end goal.” characters compared to the rest of the
26 Automotive World Magazine September 2020world,” said Li. “However, most people handled in an encrypted way and will
will gradually grow fond of Nomi once be erased from the cloud once all
they start to experience it and get used voice and learning sessions are
to it.” Though Nio is confident that all completed,” added Li. “Given that we
markets will eventually warm to Nomi, are also planning our global entry
anyone developing similar tools will strategy, our connected vehicle and
need to think carefully about how best data services will be strictly following
to develop that human-machine- GDPR and related privacy protocols.”
interface (HMI) operability to cater for Nomi also runs proprietarily on Nio’s
bespoke market demands. bespoke operating system which only
“ AI will become one of the most
intimate friends and companions
to our next generation,as well as
ourselves
Another consideration is data privacy, operates software digitally certified by
especially if the industry shifts to Nio itself.
largely shared vehicles. Though a
virtual human-like assistant would be Time will tell whether consumers will
a hugely valuable tool in this truly warm to in-vehicle virtual
theoretical market, in which vehicles assistants, as well as whether these
are potentially more akin to assistants can display and invoke
whitegoods, reassuring consumers emotion in a HAL-like manner. But what
that their information remains private is clear is that through the use of AI
and secure will be critical in there lies a previously largely
unlocking this value. inaccessible opportunity for automakers
to interact with customers in-vehicle on
In the case of Nomi, Li reassures that a daily basis. Today, these players must
all voice conversations and data place significant development focus on
processing passes through a local making sure such assistants can offer
embedded engine. From here, Nio users an enjoyable, and frustration-free
then deploys a cyber security gateway experience. With that foundation built
which handles all data and market interests weighed,
communication between the car and automakers can then decide just how
the cloud, with all data also being human they would like their future
masked and anonymised. “All data is vehicles to appear.
September 2020 Automotive World Magazine 27Voyage’s ‘COVID-
ready’ vehicle to
salvage shared
mobility
Voyage’s third-generation robotaxi could become the model
for creating COVID-ready shared vehicles. By Jack Hunsley
T
he COVID-19 pandemic has D.C. is still down 56.9% compared to
hit mobility hard. On one the 25.7% decrease currently seen
hand, automakers and across Moovit’s native Israel, for
suppliers have been forced example.
to take stock and reprioritise
development to keep afloat. On the These drops are perfectly
other hand, on-road traffic initially understandable. Many nations have
ground to a halt. Though lockdowns warned citizens to only use public
have started to lift and commuters are transit if there is no alternative and if
beginning to return to their daily their journey is absolutely essential.
routines, transit levels are still However, another explanation could
depressed. be heightened concerns over the
Figures from Intel’s transit aggregator contagion and how easily it might
Moovit paint this picture well. Taken spread within a confined area such as
from daily data of public transit usage a bus or a taxi. For an automotive
across 108 cities worldwide, not one industry building towards a shared,
single city on Moovit’s books has seen mobility world, failure to address this
transit usage return to pre-COVID anxiety could be catastrophic. But it is
levels. Some are faring far worse than an anxiety which several players are
others: transit usage in Washington, eager to overcome.
28 Automotive World Magazine September 2020COVID-ready has announced its third generation
robotaxi, the G3. Based on Chrylser’s
One such player is robotaxi operator Pacifica Hybrid minivan, the G3 offers
Voyage. To date, it has made its name Vovage around a 50% cost saving over
largely by shunning the more popular its current G2 model. Spec-wise, it
dense inner-city development comes equipped with Voyage’s
programmes to instead trial its ‘Commander’ technology, which
technology in retirement communities includes its “state-of-the-art
in Florida and California. Though on perception, prediction, and
paper it might not sound a wholly behavioural modules,” and well as its
exciting testing ground, it is important collision mitigation system ‘Shield’
to bear in mind that The Villages and remote operations solution
facility in Florida is home to more ‘Telessist’. Most intriguing in this
than 120,000 people, technically COVID-hit market, however, is it’s
making it one of the fastest-growing “ambulance-grade” automatic
metropolitan areas in the entire disinfection system.
country. For Voyage, it’s a location
which sits perfectly in the ‘Goldilocks’ “It is ‘COVID-ready’, and I do not use
complexity sweet spot: not too big, that term loosely,” Voyage’s Co-
not too small, but just right. Its work Founder and Chief Executive, Oliver
so far also has attracted the attention Cameron, told Automotive World. “As
of FCA which partnered with the we’ve seen with Uber’s and Lyft’s
operator in May 2020. results, the shared mobility industry
is in the process of being decimated
Though it has seen some initial early because not only do you have a
success the time has come for the contract workforce which is perhaps a
company to target scale, and little inconsistent in the safety
to do that it standards across the
fleet but there is
September 2020 Automotive World Magazine 29The Voyage G3 uses ultraviolet to deactivate
pathogen DNA, halting reproduction cycles
of viruses, fungi and bacteria
also just the fact that you have a to enable a more hygienic shared
human driver which is an inherent world. One benefit is that, contrary
transmission risk. We saw this as a to its predecessor, the G3 is a
technology challenge.” driverless car and so removes the
chance of direct driver-to-rider
Though the G3’s initial design transmission. To attempt to eliminate
philosophy was not targeted solely at transmission risks entirely, however,
countering COVID, the global Voyage opted for a more ambitious
pandemic has encouraged Voyage to solution through the use of
think how its vehicles could be used ultraviolet-C (UV-C) light.
30 Automotive World Magazine September 2020“To tackle this issues we looked On paper, it is an attractive transmitted in shared vehicles
towards ambulances as they offering for any shared vehicle with this solution. Hopefully,
have already solved this operator, but for Voyage, in we’ll see more of these vehicles
problem by installing UV-C particular, the solution is from ourselves and other
lights,” said Cameron. “When extremely important. Given its companies which can start to
these are triggered, with no one current core demographic of prevent several other viruses
in the car as that would be very senior citizens, many of whom such as the seasonal flu.”
dangerous, the lights can perhaps have underlying health
eradicate infectious viruses that conditions or weaker immune
might be lurking on surfaces or systems, finding a practical and The future
in the air.” This process, which effective sanitation mechanism
takes around three to four could quite literally be the Looking forward, Voyage remains
minutes, is operated using three difference between life and wholly confident in its
lights which can halt the death. development roadmap. Currently,
pathogen reproductive cycle Voyage’s first G3, referred to as
through inactivating DNA. “It is particularly important for the ‘Alpha G3’, is already
Effective on a range of us to tackle COVID as it is very operating in San Jose, California.
pathogens including viruses, dangerous for seniors,” said The first driverless ‘Beta G3’ will
fungi and bacteria, the solution Cameron. “While COVID is the be on the road in a few months
allegedly eradicates 99.9% of focus currently, there is going to according to Cameron. Though a
pathogens including the be a significant reduction of the few more G2 vehicles are still
seasonal flu and COVID-19. most infectious viruses being expected to be added to the fleet,
Voyage anticipates that these
vehicles will be fairly quickly
cycled out for the new model.
Production for the G3 is currently
“
scheduled for early 2021 for
deployment in both its California
and Florida operations.
Effective on a range of It will be interesting to follow
the impact that Voyage’s new
pathogens including scalable model could have on
this currently struggling sector.
viruses, fungi and Though the G3 could offer a
total 50% cost reduction overall,
bacteria, the solution more specifically it has been
able to achieve a 65% cost
allegedly eradicates reduction on its sensor costs
and a 25% reduction on its
99.9% of pathogens computing costs. These savings
combined with a theoretical
including the seasonal COVID-ready vehicle offers a
compelling example for the
flu and COVID-19 ride-hail players already
operating in major towns and
cities which are eager to ease
rider concerns.
September 2020 Automotive World Magazine 31Who will succeed
in the crowded
LiDAR space?
Affordable, scalable LiDAR remains an elusive
piece of the self-driving puzzle. This is not for lack
of effort, with numerous companies competing in
the space. By Xavier Boucherat
I
f the LiDAR segment looks LiDAR’s purported benefits, and the
crowded, it is hardly surprising: race to bring down unit cost has
the majority of automakers and intensified in recent years,
self-driving technology particularly with the emergence of
developers agree that LiDAR will be solid state technology as opposed to
pivotal for realising safe autonomous mechanical scanning. This year at
vehicles. That company which can CES, the same Velodyne claimed to
provide scalable, affordable units have completed work on an
stands to profit enormously. automotive LiDAR which, produced at
volume, could go below US$100. The
The US$75,000 price tag on early figure is an estimate, but one worth
roof-mounted Velodyne models taking seriously, having come from a
proved as big a talking point as market leader.
32 Automotive World Magazine September 2020Velodyne isn’t the only company to marks the evolution of Luminar from
have established a name for itself “tech development company working
primarily on the basis of LiDAR with R&D programmes to the first
development. Luminar has gone from company enabling autonomy in
strength to strength in recent years, automotive series production,” Chief
recently partnering with Volvo on its Executive Austin Russell said in a
SPA2 modular vehicle architecture. statement.
This will bring its LiDAR units to series
production by 2022, enabling high- Then there are startups such as
level autonomy functions such as Blickfeld and AEye. The former, based
Highway Pilot. The recent addition of in Munich, has tasked itself with a goal
five new executives, all with shared across the space: the
considerable automotive experience, production of high performance,
September 2020 Automotive World Magazine 33Automotive LiDAR players
Evolution of the industry
Source: LiDAR for Automotive and Industrial Applications report, Yole Developpement
Source: Yole Developpement
The LiDAR space is increasingly crowded
mass producible solid state LiDAR. Its to automakers today. But the 2019
recent Series A financing round shuttering of Oryx Vision, an Israel-
attracted investment from based LiDAR start-up, has demonstrated
Continental, Bayern Kapital and the difficulty of making a business out of
Osram Ventures, among others. LiDAR. With the self-driving car widely
Meanwhile, Dublin, California-based agreed to be more years out than
AEye has dedicated its efforts to the previously predicted, and with the
creation of intelligent perception drying up of investment interest in the
technology, namely iDAR (Intelligent wake of the novel coronavirus disease
Detection and Ranging). Smart (COVID-19), what will it take to survive in
perception software will be key for the LiDAR space?
helping LiDARs to operate in real
time, as scanners will need to
distinguish between those objects Grab your partner
which are important, and those that
are not. “LiDAR companies that will survive
are those that are currently
As such, the space is attracting both partnering with automakers and Tier
hardware and software talent with 1s,” says Alexis Debray, Technology
different aims and ideas of how to run a and Market Analyst at Yole
company. Luminar’s Russell, for Developpement, a technology
example, wants to run a perception-as- consultant with expertise in sensing.
a-service business, with subscription Luminar’s recent partnering with
models that make its software available Volvo is a key example, and the
34 Automotive World Magazine September 2020Time-to-market:
LiDAR for ADAS vehicles - Integration roadmap
Source: LiDAR for Automotive and Industrial Applications report, Yole Developpement
Source: Yole Developpement
Series production of some LiDAR will begin soon
company is also collaborating with Toyota and group was ongoing, and that together they are
Audi. Meanwhile, Softbank-backed, Israel-based making “good progress,” but could not provide
Innoviz, a solid-state LiDAR developer, has further details.
partnered with BMW for its future models, with the
Level 3 enabled iNext EV potentially arriving on In December 2019, Silicon Valley-based Quanergy
roads as early as 2021. A spokesperson for BMW announced a partnership with with Geely that aims
confirmed to Automotive World that work with the to develop and commercialise solutions for the
broad development of both
smart city and autonomous
“
vehicle systems: one will
not work without the other,
said Chief Executive Louay
The development of both LiDAR and Eldada in a statement.
automated driving has proven to be “The development of both
much more complex than anticipated LiDAR and automated
by OEMs… LiDAR companies that have driving has proven to be
much more complex than
not been able to raise enough money anticipated by OEMs,” said
or generate enough cash will not Debray, “and will therefore
still require a lot of time
survive for long and R&D. LiDAR companies
that have not been able to
raise enough money or
September 2020 Automotive World Magazine 35generate enough cash will not survive
for long.” Computing and processing
are also important aspects of
automotive LiDAR, he added, and the
system must be able to deliver useful
data to the car. This potentially creates
space for software and data specialists,
but without solid partnerships, the
cash-burn between now and the era of
commercialised autonomy will surely
be too much for many to handle.
Focus on cost
The main challenge for LiDAR, says
Pierrick Boulay, also Market and
Technology Analyst at Yole
Developpement, remains clear: it must
evolve from its high price, low volume
model to a low price, high volume
one. “This must be done while
maintaining revenue streams, or at
least while starting to generate
revenue,” he says. “Velodyne, which
invented the real-time 3D LiDAR 15
years ago, has started this transition.
Moreover, the automotive market is
especially difficult since it requires
several years of qualification and cost
pressure. The involvement of Tier 1s is
key to bringing LiDAR to cars.”
As things stand, he adds, LiDAR costs
remain some ten times more expensive
than cameras, and costs could rise
further. This is despite the emergence
of solid state LiDAR, which compared
with its mechanical counterpart
technology has helped realise some
cost reductions whilst eliminating
moving parts. “The first embedded
LiDAR used by Audi used a mechanical
scanning approach with an edge
emitting laser at 905nm and avalanche
photodiode arrays, but the cost was
more than US$600,” he says. “The next
LiDARs used by BMW and Volvo are
expected to be even more expensive.”
36 Automotive World Magazine September 2020Cruise acquired Strobe to help reduce
the cost of LiDAR technology
That said, Boulay believes that short- handle these tasks with a high degree
range LiDARs with no mechanical of success, and have a distinct
scanning could be cost effective and advantage in these situations.
increase safety in harsh weather Meanwhile, radar can complement
conditions within the next two to both technologies in adverse weather,
three years. This will come at the as cameras can be impaired by snow
cost of performance and complexity and fog, and LiDAR range can be
when compared with long-range affected. Therefore, successful LiDAR
LiDAR, but for the purposes of companies might aim to produce
advanced driver assistance systems solutions that lend themselves to
(ADAS), it could provide LiDAR holistic integration.
companies with a much needed
source of revenue, and a way to With such varied approaches in
develop deeper relationships with business plans and some variations in
automakers. technology, it is unclear who in the
LiDAR segment will survive. Further
Early LiDAR-enabled ADAS consolidation is likely, possibly
applications could give a clearer among the self-driving developers
picture of which sensors work best in not developing their systems in
different situations. LeddarTech, a house: Argo, Cruise and Aurora have
Quebec-based sensor developer, already snapped up Princeton
argues It should not be assumed that Lightwave, Strobe and Blackmore
LiDAR can handle every sensing respectively. Those remaining
challenge: “LiDAR cannot detect companies that can establish big
colours or interpret text,” wrote Preeti partnerships will benefit from some
Prasher, ASIC Test Engineer, financial security and R&D funding at
LeddarTech, in a blog post. a time when budgets are being
“Consequently, it is extremely difficult, slashed. But with further innovation
or even impossible, for LiDAR to clearly yet to be realised within the
identify traffic lights or road signs.” space, one bright idea could yet put
Conversely, camera-based systems can an unknown player on top.
September 2020 Automotive World Magazine 37Mild hybrids— a multi-billion euro growth opportunity alongside e-mobility? Experts from McKinsey & Company explore the technological and market opportunities within the rapidly changing powertrain landscape 38 Automotive World Magazine September 2020
T
he powertrain landscape is vehicles (MHEVs) represent a
changing fundamentally technological leap in the other part
across global automotive of the automotive market—that is,
markets and vehicles solely based on a
electrification—the transition from combustion engine. What
combustion engine-powered technological and market
powertrains to electric powertrains— opportunities can be expected from
is at the heart of this development. this technology in the rapidly
Optimistic forecasts expect between changing powertrain landscape?
30% and 50% electric powertrains by
2030 in most regions. This includes From today’s viewpoint, combustion
battery-powered electric vehicles engine-based powertrains will
(BEVs), plug-in hybrid electric remain dominant at least for the
vehicles (PHEVs), fuel-cell electric coming decade—yet with significant
vehicles (FCEVs), and hybrid electric differences across key markets as the
vehicles (HEVs). Mild hybrid electric speed of electrification varies. In
September 2020 Automotive World Magazine 39Exhibit 1: MHEV propulsion system architectures
MHEV propulsion
MHEV propulsion system
system architectures
architectures
TM Transmission M Electric machine Eng. Internal combustion engine Differential and axis
Potential MHEV architectures Most common MHEV architectures
P0 Belt Engine
P0 P2
Engine M Engine Clutch
P1/P2 M/G
P3 TM TM
P4 TM
The MHEV architecture (P0 – Px) is Electric machine linked to ICE through Electric machine connected directly with the
characterized by the position of the accessory belt crankshaft
electric machine in the powertrain ICE is supported by transmission of force onto ICE is supported by transmission of force
the belt directly onto the crankshaft
Source: IHS McKinsey & Company
Europe and China, the share of ‘Mild hybrids’ typically refers to
electric powertrains* could increase vehicles with at least one electric 48-
to about 45 to 50% by 2030. In the volt (48V) motor that assists a classic
US, electrification could take place at internal combustion engine (ICE) and
an initially lower pace, with later a 48V battery that is charged by an
acceleration to a share of about 35% electric generator recovering excess
electric powertrains by 2030. The mechanical energy. Mild hybrid
COVID-19 pandemic is accelerating technology can be combined with
electrification in Europe and China both gasoline and diesel engines;
due to additional government however, diesel mild hybrids only
incentives, unchanged stringent play a role in Europe.
regulation, and an increased appetite
for sustainable mobility. In contrast,
COVID-19 is slowing down MHEV architectures
electrification in the US due to
relaxed regulation, low oil prices There are different powertrain system
having a significant impact on architectures for mild hybrids, as
gasoline prices, and several delayed shown in Exhibit 1, but two
or halted EV model launches by US- architectures are most relevant. In
based OEMs. the P0 architecture—by far the most
common architecture—the 48V motor
Mild hybrid technology brings higher is linked to the combustion engine
efficiency and lower running costs to with an accessory belt. In the P2
combustion engines and could architecture, the 48V motor is
therefore provide promising connected to the crankshaft. As
opportunities for OEMs, suppliers, Exhibit 2 shows, current projects
and customers until electric reflect a much lower production
powertrains become ubiquitous. volume of the P2 architecture in the
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