HARMAN looks to ‘democratise automotive connectivity’ with new telematics unit

MWC HARMAN, the Samsung-owned connected vehicle software provider, has announced the launch of a new telematics control unit (TCU) which leverages Qualcomm connected car technology to ‘democratise the automotive connectivity landscape.’

The HARMAN Ready Connect 5G TCU, which is being showcased this week at MWC 2024, is based on the Snapdragon Auto 5G Modem-RF Gen 2 and promises strong performance across connectivity, scalability and usability. Consumers will get ‘rich...

Samsung wants to connect smart homes with vehicles

Samsung is collaborating with Hyundai to expand its SmartThings platform to support connected vehicles. The goal is to develop solutions that fully integrate the smart home and connected vehicles for future lifestyles.

The two companies signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on 3 January to work together over the next few years. The partnership will connect Samsung’s SmartThings platform with Hyundai and Kia connected vehicles to develop “Home-to-Car” and...

TomTom and Microsoft unveil generative AI for connected vehicles

TomTom has joined forces with Microsoft to bring generative AI to the automotive industry. 

This collaboration has resulted in the development of a fully-integrated AI-powered conversational assistant that enhances voice interaction with infotainment, location search, and vehicle command systems.

The AI-powered assistant – a product of TomTom's expertise combined with Microsoft's advancements in AI – allows drivers to engage in natural conversations with their...

Cruise is ‘days away’ from Origin robotaxi mass production

General Motors' Factory Zero in Detroit and Hamtramck are on the cusp of mass-producing the Cruise Origin, a driverless vehicle designed to transport up to six passengers.

Cruise is GM's self-driving subsidiary headquartered in San Francisco, which already operates in several cities across the US.

The Cruise Origin is devoid of manual steering controls or pedals and is designed to operate entirely through autonomous technology. However, that’s presented a significant...

Mozilla: Cars are ‘the worst product category’ for data collection

In an era where technology permeates every facet of our lives, even our trusty automobiles have not been spared from the invasive reach of data collection.

A recent study conducted by Mozilla, the renowned nonprofit organisation dedicated to internet privacy, has shed light on the alarming privacy concerns associated with modern cars.

Car manufacturers have long touted their vehicles as "computers on wheels," emphasising their advanced features and connectivity. However,...

San Francisco robotaxis get the green light to operate 24/7

Google's Waymo and General Motors' Cruise have both received the green light from California's regulatory body to implement 24/7 fare-based services for fully driverless rides in San Francisco.

The pivotal decision was made by the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), which voted 3 to 1 in favour of granting the expansion of driverless services for the two tech giants. The CPUC says it meticulously evaluated the companies' adherence to licensing requisites and considered...

Waymo announces Austin as its fourth major city

Waymo, the self-driving technology company under Google’s parent company Alphabet, has officially announced Austin as its fourth major ride-hail city.

Austin will be joining the ranks of Metro Phoenix, San Francisco, and Los Angeles as Waymo continues to expand and accelerate its business.

Over the past few months, Waymo's team has been conducting extensive testing in and around downtown Austin, utilising their all-electric Jaguar I-PACE vehicles.

The goal of...

Cruise robotaxis now run 24/7 in San Francisco

Cruise has announced that it’s now operating 24/7 in San Francisco, marking a significant milestone in its journey.

However, the wider public is currently only able to use the service in around one-third of the city between 10pm and 5:30am. Cruise CEO Kyle Vogt has promised that this will soon change as Cruise moves closer to launching a fully-fledged robotaxi service open to the public around the clock.

Vogt said the systems that power the robotaxi network in San...

DiDi is di-veloping its own robotaxis

Chinese ride-hailing company DiDi Global is collaborating with Chinese carmakers to develop robotaxis.

DiDi is developing the robotaxis with multiple car manufacturers, including electric vehicle makers, and is aiming to begin putting them into service by 2025.

The company plans for the new vehicles to be domestically produced, with controllable supply chains and key components that are produced nationally.

A robotaxi concept was showcased by DiDi called Neuron...

Apple has over 200 people testing self-driving cars

Apple appears to be gradually accelerating its self-driving car program and now has over 200 people testing its vehicles.

Data from the California DMV (via macReports) indicates that Apple has 201 people testing autonomous driving features on public roads. Apple currently has a fleet of 67 vehicles.

The overall size of Apple’s self-driving fleet hasn’t changed much since 2021 but its number of testers is gradually increasing. Apple added 51 testers in 2022 and an...