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Opinion: Radical rethink of automotive R&D investment required in 2020

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Continued disruption, restructuring and re-shaping of the automotive industry will be required to make increasing levels of R&D affordable whilst simultaneously representing a major growth opportunity in the year ahead, according to engineering consultancy Horiba Mira.

The proliferation of electrification and connected and autonomous vehicle (CAV) technologies will continue to be amongst the top automotive trends in 2020 which will continue to push up the already soaring costs of research and development.

Indeed, latest figures show European auto manufacturers spent a record £33.3 billion on R&D – 35 per cent more than the £24.6 billion spent in 2014/15. [Read more…] about Opinion: Radical rethink of automotive R&D investment required in 2020

Toyota partners with China’s BYD to develop electric cars

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Japanese automotive giant Toyota is partnering with China’s BYD to develop electric cars.

At the same time as Toyota debuts its electric Lexus in China, BYD and Toyota signed an agreement to establish a joint company to research and development for battery electric vehicles (BEVs).

The new R&D company, which will work on designing and developing BEVs (including platform) and its related parts, is anticipated to be established in China in 2020, with BYD and Toyota to evenly share 50 percent of the total capital needed. [Read more…] about Toyota partners with China’s BYD to develop electric cars

Denso focuses on connected technology at new Seattle innovation lab

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Denso Corporation, the world’s second largest mobility supplier, has celebrated the grand opening of its Seattle Innovation Lab, which will strengthen the company’s development of connected technologies and advance its Mobility-as-a-Service (MaaS) platform.

The lab supports Denso’s recent expansion into software-based solutions to complement its hardware expertise, bolsters its North American R&D strategy and helps bring to life its long-term plan aimed at creating new value for future mobility.

It also furthers Denso’s exploration of new business domains, like MaaS, to propel its technology development and contribute to better, safer and more sustainable transportation solutions.

[Read more…] about Denso focuses on connected technology at new Seattle innovation lab

PSA starts production at Kenitra plant in Morocco

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Groupe PSA has started production at the Kenitra plant in Morocco. The project was launched with the signing of an agreement between Groupe PSA and the Kingdom of Morocco on 19 June 2015.

Four years on, the factory is up and running and includes the roll-out of a complete ecosystem for Groupe PSA in Morocco, with a steering centre based in Casablanca for the Middle East and Africa region and an operational R&D centre.

Groupe PSA has a network of 62 local suppliers, with 27 new supplier sites set up to meet the needs of the Kenitra plant.

[Read more…] about PSA starts production at Kenitra plant in Morocco

Hyundai reorganises R&D centre structure to streamline vehicle development

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Hyundai Motor Group has begun a series of sweeping changes to its R&D organisations and development processes, enabling greater responsiveness to the changing future mobility technology landscape.

Promoting a keener focus on customer needs, the new approach will also streamline the decision-making and development processes to achieve efficiencies and cost optimisation.

Through reorganisation under Architecture-Driven System-Based Organisation (SBO), technology units at the Group’s R&D Division in Korea will align their operational processes to transform the Group.

[Read more…] about Hyundai reorganises R&D centre structure to streamline vehicle development

Honda and CiNet begin joint neuroscientific research in Japan

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Honda R&D Co., Ltd., a research and development subsidiary of Honda, has begun a collaboration with the Center for Information and Neural Networks (CiNet), Japan, in neuroscientific research of humans in the areas of mobility and robotics.

CiNet is a flagship research institute that focuses on the brain and artificial intelligence within the National Institute of Information and Communications Technology (NICT).

Honda has recently established the Innovative Research Excellence within Honda R&D, a new centre of excellence which will be responsible for the pursuit of revolutionary advancement and the creation of values for mobility and people’s daily lives.

[Read more…] about Honda and CiNet begin joint neuroscientific research in Japan

Samsung Electronics to invest $115 billion in logic chip businesses by 2030

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Samsung Electronics, a world leader in advanced semiconductor technology, will invest KRW 133 trillion (US$115 billion) by 2030 to strengthen its competitiveness in System LSI and Foundry businesses.

The investment plan is expected to help the company to reach its goal of becoming the world leader in not only memory semiconductors but also logic chips by 2030.

The company also plans to create 15,000 jobs in R&D and production to bolster its technological prowess.

[Read more…] about Samsung Electronics to invest $115 billion in logic chip businesses by 2030

Denso to open new Tokyo facility for automated driving technology

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Denso Corporation is to establish a new facility at Haneda Airport in Tokyo to develop and test automated driving technologies.

The facility, which is expected to be complete by June 2020, will feature a building and proving ground for mobility systems R&D.

This announcement follows Denso’s establishment of its Global R&D Tokyo facility in April 2018, an automated driving R&D office near Shinagawa Station in Minato City, Tokyo, to promote collaboration and open innovation with its development partners, which include automakers, universities, research institutes and startups.

[Read more…] about Denso to open new Tokyo facility for automated driving technology

Denso opens automotive research and development lab at Michigan university

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Global auto supplier Denso has opened a new research and development lab at the University of Michigan, in the US. 

Denso, which used to be part of Toyota, says the new research facility will “accelerate development of new auto safety technologies and create new research opportunities for engineering students”.

The company says the Denso R&D Lab gives Denso an opportunity to more closely collaborate with the university and North American automotive manufacturers on key safety technologies like machine learning, advanced driver assistance systems, and automated drive.

As part of the lab, 12 university students have been selected to participate in research projects, which will begin this month and run throughout 2017.  [Read more…] about Denso opens automotive research and development lab at Michigan university

Suzuki and Toyota to collaborate on advanced driver systems and autonomous vehicle technologies

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Environment, safety, and information technology fields to also feature prominently in the new business partnership

Suzuki and Toyota have agreed to collaborate on advanced driver systems and autonomous vehicle technologies, although the details were not discussed. 

The companies say they have started exploring ideas that are directed towards a business partnership.

In a statement, Toyota and Suzuki say they recognise the environment surrounding the automotive industry has been changing “drastically and rapidly in an unprecedented fashion”.  [Read more…] about Suzuki and Toyota to collaborate on advanced driver systems and autonomous vehicle technologies