amazingly, his seat swivels clockwise, away from the window. The seat clicks into place, now facing a full 90 degrees away from the windshield, and the driver closes his eyes.

Source: www.metro-magazine.com

Fiction for now, but maybe soon drivers will be paid to sleep and drive! Yet a 10% distraction otherwise results in 700% increased risk of crashing per Virginia Tech. There needs to be a solution, or several. JAHoffmann.com 

We prefer these OEM-technologies over Android Auto or Apple CarPlay as they provide (at least some) interfaces to the car’s data which we can use to create exciting, fun or useful apps!

Source: www.gpsbusinessnews.com

I think “fun and useful” applications for a car buyer including styling and performance on the road that tech providers have little to do with when investing over $20K+ USD buying a car.

solid state LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) sensor for self-driving cars for less than $1,000 per car.

Source: www.gpsbusinessnews.com

Clearly a deal breaker for premium cars, expect a 5-10X multiplier in the end user cost of a Lidar based safety system. What will YOU pay for safety delivered by technology?

With over 700 developer signups during our short beta period, it promises to invert the software procurement model used by automakers today

Source: finance.yahoo.com

I think OpenCar has something here, attractive non-OEM specific ecosystem by aligning to standards.

After a seatbelt was installed incorrectly in one single Model S, the automaker is bringing them all back for a check.

Source: www.popularmechanics.com

There are a few recalls that cannot be delivered OTA, and Tesla is determined to take the lead here as well.

Hand Picked Speakers:

Here is a selection of the top level speakers that will speak next January

Source: 1.tu-auto.com

I think I was not “hand picked” due to my limited sponsorship budget with TU-Auto, admittedly a pay-to-play conference organiser. 

Audi engineer Markus Hoffmann. But he’s not doing anything except holding a kill switch

Source: www.popularmechanics.com

Autonomous (robotic) drivers on race tracks are the equal to steroids in professional sports overall. Unfair advantage similar to the chess competitions which ultimately landed the winner as the smartest programmer. Is this where car racing is heading?

aiming to bring its first fully-autonomous car to market by 2030

Source: safecarnews.com

Interesting to see the Koreans are just as excited about autonomous and willing to invest.

NextEV, a new rival to U.S. electric car maker Tesla Motors Inc.

Source: www.reuters.com

It’s often an advantage to me “Next” as long as you can learn from who is “First” and “First” is sitting on their hands. I don’t see Elon Musk sitting on his hands.

weather will vary greatly throughout the year, and this could give Ford an advantage over companies such as Google and Apple that are testing in the Bay Area

Source: www.technewsworld.com

A fake city with real weather. This might work, hope the other carmakers follow Ford’s leadership.