🎇Autowist Report 82

IN TODAY’S REPORT

• VW Software Issues: "It never was a tech problem, it was a culture problem"

• Car ownership is so low in India!

• In-Vehicle Voice Assistants

  • Key Players around Voice Assistants

  • Lucid replaces Alexa with in-house developed Assistant

  • ChatGPT Coming to Volkswagen Voice AI Through Cerence Partnership

• Northvolt to cut jobs and sell off unit to survive EV chill

• Carmakers adjust electrification plans as EV demand slows

• What is the Mercedes-Benz Air Balance System?

• Market Snapshot

• From Twitter

• Patent: Ford: System and Method for Charging Electric Vehicles

VW Software Issues: "It never was a tech problem, it was a culture problem" (Link)

If I were to break it down, here's how I would explain it:

Moving expertise into a common SW organization: All the brands in the VW group have been doing at least some amount of SW in-house. And by in house what I mean is to actually develop it and test it internally instead of relying on a supplier to do it. By moving all this expertise into another organization, what actually happened is a lot of that expertise got lost. There were no concerted efforts to bring in the learnings because the approach was more looking ahead to build a common solution for multiple brands.

The main argument being we can save a lot of cost by developing things once and deploying it across product lines and brands. As written below, was that really a valid argument? €12bn and still counting.

Management culture needed for SW: The SW engineering aspect of organizations are getting more and more drowned due to all the bureaucracy that creeps into large organizations. Having executives that have gone through large SW projects will probably have learned a thing or two on how to run these endeavors.

This I think is in the heart of the problem. Repeatedly VW has tried to do both high level approaches: try to do it on its own(CARIAD) OR ask someone else to do it(XPENG, RIVIAN).

What is the point of a new feature?

This is a question that I have personally battled with. What are we actually trying to achieve with a new feature or design decision. The answer from a technical view is quite obvious almost always. There is some quality attribute that is just waiting to be optimized. But what is more tricky is why do it in the first place, what value does this add to the customer.

Recently I came across this article that is titled "Tesla ‘Actual Smart Summon’ Real-World Test: ‘80% Magical, 20% Awkward’ ". This is true for most of the new "whacky" features that OEMs roll out these days. A lot of it works, in most of use-cases. But then there are these edge cases where it can just go crazy.

For example one of the bugs in the article:

Achieving 100% track-record in the real world with SW functions is a near myth. But a combination of SW reliance and HW boundary conditions is the sweet spot. For example, the first version of the smart summon feature was a much more simplified version where the owner could move the car forward or backward by simply pressing some arrows on the smartphone app. This will work 100% of the time given the scope is reduced by what the system is allowed to do.

Another outcome that we come to occasionally is "this feature shouldn't be optimized because it shouldn't even be there in the first place." Because when we dwell on the customer value question long enough it becomes clear as to what actually contributes to that and what does not. One of the biggest traps of an engineer is to be soo tunnel visioned by your sprint, scrum, deadlines, goals is that we end up optimizing a bad solution instead of replacing it or removing it by solving the root cause.

Blackberry x HaleyTek AB Partnership (Link)

BlackBerry Limited has partnered with HaleyTek AB, a subsidiary of Volvo Cars, to launch HaleyTek’s Generic Automotive Platform (GAP), a software solution aimed at advancing Android Automotive development for next-generation infotainment systems. BlackBerry QNX will enhance GAP with the QNX Hypervisor for Safety and the QNX Sound platform, providing OEMs with advanced audio technology, cost-saving opportunities, and over-the-air updates.

BlackBerry's QNX platform, widely adopted in various industries including automotive, is driving growth in its IoT business, with a reported 18% revenue increase year-over-year.

Car ownership is so low in India!

A few reasons why it might be

1. AutoRickshaws are the most financially viable option for travelling short distances even if it is on a daily basis. Taxi's are not that expensive as compared to other countries like US, so most people especially in and around cities are able to get by with Uber, Ola etc.

2. The traffic congestion in major cities make the consumer hesitant to get yet another vehicle and sit in traffic. This leads to my next point.

3. 2 Wheeler penetration is much higher in India compared to other vehicles. Most people I know first got a bike and later graduated onto buying a vehicle.

4. The costs of buying and owning a car are still quite high for the majority of Indians. This also adds to the point that they would rather prefer to spent on a 2-wheeler instead.

In-Vehicle Voice Assistants

Key Players around Voice Assistants

Lucid replaces Alexa with in-house developed Assistant (Link)

This is an interesting turn of events. Lucid was one of the earliest EV brands to have Alexa built-in. And now they are offering an in-house solution. It must be noted that in most cases, as it is with other OEMs, in-house developed could also be a solution that is delivered by a supplier but then fine tuned for each OEM and specific use-cases.

The task of building your own voice assistant from scratch, to me seems quite wasteful given how mature the tech has gotten and commoditized these days.

ChatGPT Coming to Volkswagen Voice AI Through Cerence Partnership (Link)

• Volkswagen is integrating ChatGPT into its vehicles' IDA voice assistant, using Cerence's Chat Pro and AI technology. ChatGPT enhances IDA's ability to respond to casual language, handling tasks like entertainment, navigation, and climate control, or answering general questions.

• ChatGPT will not have access to vehicle data, and all exchanges will be instantly deleted to ensure data protection.

• Other automakers, such as Mercedes-Benz, are also embedding ChatGPT into their systems, using Cerence's expertise for similar integrations.

Northvolt to cut jobs and sell off unit to survive EV chill (Link)

Summary

Northvolt, Europe's leading battery manufacturer, is refocusing its operations to address financial struggles and production delays at its first gigafactory in Sweden. The Swedish company, which has raised $15 billion, plans to cut a significant number of jobs and seek buyers or partners for its energy storage and materials businesses. These moves are part of a cost-cutting strategy, driven by a slowdown in European carmakers' transition to electric vehicles (EVs).

The company will delay plans for additional gigafactories in Sweden, Germany, and Canada, which were part of a joint venture with Volvo Cars. BMW cancelled a $2 billion contract with Northvolt in favor of Korea’s Samsung SDI.

Carmakers adjust electrification plans as EV demand slows (Link)

Summary:

• Toyota: Reduced EV production target for 2026 from 1.5 million to 1 million; clarified production figures as benchmarks, not targets.

• Volvo: Scrapped all-electric goal for 2030; will continue offering some hybrid models.

• Volkswagen: Maintained 2030 EV targets but indicated flexibility in battery factory plans depending on demand.

• Ford: Reduced EV capital spending focus to 30% from 40%, canceled planned electric SUV, and delayed EV pickup.

• Porsche: Scaled back EV ambitions, aiming for 80% all-electric by 2030 depending on demand.

• Renault: Shifted from full-electric goal for 2030 to a dual strategy of EVs and combustion engines.

• General Motors: Cut EV production forecast for 2024 and did not reaffirm 1 million EVs by 2025.

• Mercedes-Benz: Extended 50% EV sales goal to 2030 and slowed battery cell capacity plans.

• Bentley Motors: Expected hybrids to remain in the lineup beyond the 2030 all-EV goal.

• Aston Martin: Delayed the launch of its first EV due to low demand.

From AutoTraderInsight: Slowing EV demand

What is the Mercedes-Benz Air Balance System? (Link)

The Mercedes-Benz Air Balance System is a luxury feature that enhances the cabin environment by improving air quality and adding a pleasant fragrance. Combining three key components—fragrance atomization, air ionization, and advanced air filtration—the system offers a personalized and comfortable atmosphere for drivers and passengers.

Key Features of the Air Balance System

• Fragrance Atomization: Allows drivers to choose and adjust from various scents stored in a discreet compartment. The fragrance disperses subtly in intervals and doesn’t linger after the car is parked.

• Air Ionization: Purifies cabin air by releasing negatively charged ions, which capture pollutants like dust and allergens. This helps eliminate odors and improves air quality.

• Advanced Air Filtration: The system’s fine-particle filters capture contaminants such as dust and pollen, ensuring a cleaner, healthier cabin environment.

Availability and Cost

The Air Balance System is available on select Mercedes-Benz models, including the GLE, GLS, G-Class, and S-Class, among others. While highly praised for its benefits, maintenance and fragrance refills can be costly, with refills priced at $140 per bottle.

SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CHARGING ELECTRIC VEHICLES

Abstract: A system for charging electric vehicles includes a robot, an electric charger, a vehicle localization structure, and a control system. The vehicle localization structure defines a charge zone located at a fixed position. The control system is configured to determine that a corresponding electric vehicle of the electric vehicles is in the charge zone, determine a position of a charge port of the corresponding electric vehicle based on the fixed position of the vehicle localization structure and vehicle parameters of the corresponding electric vehicle, and instruct the robot to move a charger of the electric charger from the electric charger to the charge port of the corresponding electric vehicle such that the charger is electrically coupled to the corresponding electric vehicle.