Information TechnologyAutomakers tap smartphone technology in battle over city carsMarch 8, 2014 06:01 CET  Carmakers are tapping smartphone technology to spruce up low-cost minicars and try to get an edge in a market that has grown to account for almost 10 percent of new-car sales in Europe.... Read More »
JENNIFER CLARK Apple's CarPlay is smart but simple 12:01 am U.S. ET | March 6, 2014  Apple's new CarPlay system is as simple to use as you would expect from a company that has perfected the art of easy-to-use technology.... Read More »
Opel will offer 4G OnStar systemMarch 4, 2014 15:13 CET  General Motors' Opel/Vauxhall unit said it will launch a WiFi-enabled version of GM's OnStar connectivity system in major European markets by 2015.... Read More »
Apple rolls out CarPlay technology in Ferrari, Mercedes and Volvo vehicles 9:21 am U.S. ET | March 3, 2014  Apple says an automotive version of its mobile operating system, dubbed CarPlay, will debut in Ferrari, Mercedes-Benz and Volvo vehicles this week and will enable users to access functions of their iPhones on the vehicles' infotainment screens. Other automakers slated to integrate CarPlay include Honda, BMW, Ford, General Motors, Nissan and Toyota.... Read More »
Visteon makes deal to use Autonet Mobile 'connected car' software 9:35 am U.S. ET | Feb. 24, 2014  Visteon has announced an agreement with Autonet Mobile that will allow Visteon to integrate Autonet's telematics software into its next-generation infotainment systems.... Read More »
Automakers vs. tech firms in a battle to use airwaves in talking cars 7:04 am U.S. ET | Feb. 19, 2014  Auto and technology companies are battling over a slice of coveted radio waves, with carmakers arguing the potential for lifesaving crash-avoidance systems should take precedence over more Wi-Fi for Web data and video.... Read More »
GABE NELSON Can laws stop distracted driving if we won't? 12:01 am U.S. ET | Feb. 17, 2014  Sen. Jay Rockefeller has reason to be frustrated. The chairman of the Senate Commerce Committee, is supposed to be making sure that federal laws keep the roads safe. Yet Americans keep getting killed because they won't stop looking down from the road to check text messages and play with the high-tech gizmos built into cars.... Read More »
New smart maps boost mpg 12:01 am U.S. ET | Feb. 17, 2014  A company called Here, the auto industry's biggest supplier of navigation maps, is preparing to roll out the next generation of route guidance: so-called smart maps that can help drivers save fuel and avoid accidents.... Read More »
Head-up displays for the masses 12:01 am U.S. ET | Feb. 17, 2014  Head-up displays, once confined to sports cars and luxury vehicles, are starting to penetrate the mass market. This year, 38 vehicle models available in the United States have standard or optional head-up displays, according to Edmunds.com, up from 13 models five years ago.... Read More »
No center stack screen? No problem 12:01 am U.S. ET | Feb. 17, 2014  Designers have been trying to devise a center console screen that could display infotainment apps without distracting the motorist. Audi's solution: Ditch the screen altogether.... Read More »
AUTOMOTIVE NEWS EUROPE E-MAGAZINE Google poised to have strong presence in connected carFeb. 14, 2014 06:15 CET  There will be more Google in your next car. That was the clear message automakers gave at the recent International CES, the world's largest consumer electronic fair in Las Vegas.... Read More »
KEITH CRAIN Crash avoidance is a noble idea 12:01 am U.S. ET | Feb. 10, 2014  The government is suggesting that perhaps the first step in creating a safer automotive environment would be to install transmitting devices in all vehicles sold in the United States, the first step toward enable vehicles to communicate with one another to avoid accidents. What may be a noble suggestion is probably an impractical solution to automotive collisions.... Read More »
WHICH PITCH? The sales game has changed, and dealers are split on the right mix of tech, speed, personal touch 12:01 am U.S. ET | Feb. 10, 2014  Most people in the industry believe that dealership salespeople need to be better trained. But as technology transforms car selling, there’s little agreement on what that training should focus on.... Read More »
LETTER TO THE EDITOR Don't backtrack on technology 12:01 am U.S. ET | Feb. 10, 2014 Regarding "Car controls are just too complex," Letters to the Editor, Feb. 3: I couldn't disagree more. I am 72 years old and will not purchase a vehicle that does not have the latest technology.... Read More »
BMW's MPA line: Zoom, on the cheap 12:01 am U.S. ET | Feb. 8, 2014  BMW is bringing a new performance line to the United States that gives vehicles more horsepower and a sportier feel. But the cars won't get the total revamp BMW gives its range-topping M high-performance models with the throaty engines and high price tags.... Read More »
More auto brands upgrade Web site technology for all devices 2:47 pm U.S. ET | Feb. 7, 2014 More than 20 percent of auto manufacturers have launched Web sites that implement responsive design technology -- technology that allows shoppers to view the same Web site content across tablets, smartphones and desktop computers.... Read More »
Rockefeller warns automakers, suppliers to cut risk of in-car mobile technology 5:19 pm U.S. ET | Feb. 6, 2014  An influential senator, Jay Rockefeller of West Virginia, warned automakers and technology executives on Thursday that he'll propose regulating in-car use of mobile phones to Internet-connected entertainment and information systems unless they do more to reduce driver distractions.... Read More »
U.S. regulators pave way for vehicle-to-vehicle communications, safety technology 8:29 am U.S. ET | Feb. 3, 2014  After years of research into vehicle-to-vehicle communications technology, federal regulators declared that the time has come for cars to talk to each other to improve safety. Federal regulators will soon begin working on regulations requiring new light-duty vehicles sold in the United States to be equipped with wireless chips so they can communicate over the airwaves, Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx said today during a press conference today.... Read More »
LETTER TO THE EDITOR Car controls are just too complex 12:01 am U.S. ET | Feb. 3, 2014 Having been in the auto repair business for more than 50 years and having recently retired as an automotive radio talk show host, I have heard many people express exasperation over the changes in electronics and cabin controls.... Read More »
KEITH CRAIN Technology takes a lot of training 12:01 am U.S. ET | Jan. 27, 2014  Today's automobile is packed with technology, more than most customers understand. As cars and trucks become more complicated, manufacturers and dealers are going to have to provide more training for customers.... Read More »
Audi sees iPad app as major sales tool 7:01 pm U.S. ET | Jan. 24, 2014  Audi wants young car buyers to feel more comfortable at its dealerships. Executives think there's an app for that.... Read More »
Ford teams with universities on automated driving research 1:03 pm U.S. ET | Jan. 22, 2014 Ford said today it is launching a new research project into automated driving technology with two top universities in the United States.... Read More »
Suppliers tune in to antenna boom 12:01 am U.S. ET | Jan. 20, 2014  Antennas traditionally are unglamorous, low-cost and low-tech parts. But the rush to go wireless has made them a critical, if unsung, necessity for today's high-tech cars. The shift highlights a big growth sector for suppliers. But it also poses challenges for designers trying to pack the often-unwieldy antennas into a vehicle.... Read More »
Will Google Glass distract a driver? 12:01 am U.S. ET | Jan. 20, 2014  Is Google Glass a clever way to transmit collision warnings to the motorist? Or is it just another potential distraction -- best employed before or after a trip? The auto industry is about to find out.... Read More »
NEWS ANALYSIS Gesture controls: Give me a break and a knob 12:01 am U.S. ET | Jan. 20, 2014  Henry Bzeih, the chief technology strategist for Kia Motors America Inc., patiently guided me through the various controls at the International CES, the consumer electronics show here. They all worked well enough, but I began to wonder about all this technology when we tried out the gesture controls -- using hand motions to, say, turn the stereo volume up.... Read More »
|
Most Read
