Ford Partners With Waze
Ford's latest Sync 3 infotainment system is integrating Waze via AppLink so you'll be able to plug in your phone and have Waze displayed on the touchscreen, operate it via the screen or voice commands, and hear the prompts from the audio system.
The Waze app gives navigation directions for best routes using crowdsourced information from Waze users on the road.
"With the flexibility of our Sync 3 software and AppLink, customers can easily use Waze to get all the traffic and navigation help they need — on a big screen and without having to fiddle around with their phones while driving," said Don Butler, Ford executive director for Connected Vehicle and Services.
Read the article at Cars.com.
Two New Executives Join LeasePlan USA’s Leadership Team to Deliver What’s Next
LeasePlan USA announced the appointment of Greg Buckland to the position of chief information officer (CIO).
As CIO, Buckland will manage all aspects of LeasePlan USA’s information technology (IT) functions and ensure delivery of all IT services to support the business requirements of internal users and customers. In addition to overseeing technology activities in the United States, Buckland will lead additional regions, including Brazil, Canada, India and Mexico.
LeasePlan USA also recently appointed Matt Patterson to the position of senior vice president, general counsel and secretary. In this role, Patterson will be responsible for both the legal and human resources functions of the organization, as well as secretarial functions for the LeasePlan USA Board of Directors.
Read the news at LeasePlan USA.
As Shared Autonomous Vehicles Gain Popularity, Carmakers Risk 40% Decline in Profits
Automotive industry researchers at Boston Consulting Group believe that by 2035, new mobility technology will account for 40 percent of industry profits.
Automakers will have to step up their investments in key areas like autonomous vehicle technology, battery production facilities, electric-vehicle charging infrastructure and self-driving taxi fleets in order to get their fair share of future profits.
"OEMs face a double-whammy challenge of needing to make investments in these growth areas at the same time that their margins in their core business are declining," said Michelle Andersen, a BCG partner and coauthor of the study.
Read the article at Forbes.
GM Removes Chevy Bolt’s Steering Wheel & Pedals
General Motors' driverless all-electric Chevrolet Bolt doesn't have a steering wheel or pedals and has officially asked the federal Department of Transportation to exempt it from certain parts of the rules that govern automotive safety.
"In an age where cars won’t need any kind of pedals or steering wheels, those don’t quite make sense. They’re almost illogical or missing a predicate when there is an artificial intelligence, a computer driver,” says Paul Hemmersbaugh, GM’s policy director for autonomous vehicles.
To handle riders who demand a human touch, and to do things like call emergency services in case of a crash, GM will rely on its in-vehicle OnStar system.
Read the article at Wired.
Electric Vehicles Cost Less Than Half As Much To Operate
According to a study of fuel costs released Thursday by the University of Michigan, the average cost to operate an EV is $485 per year, while the average for a gasoline-powered vehicle is $1,117
This study only examined fuel costs, but the maintenance cost for electric vehicles has also been found to be lower because they have fewer moving parts, no exhaust system, less need for cooling, less abrasive braking options, and no need to change "oil, fan belts, air filters, timing belts, head gaskets, cylinder heads and spark plugs."
"Electric cars are vastly better than internal combustion devices," said James Anderson, a Harvard scientist who spoke in Chicago Thursday. He was not referring to the Michigan study, but made his own comparison. "I mean they are incredibly fun to drive, they’re quick, fast, quiet. They don’t have carbon dioxide spewing out of the back.”
Read the article at Forbes.
