Sony Creates Concept EV
Sony has long been a supplier to OEMs. Will it become a competitor in the EV space?
Steve Plumb
Senior Editor, AutoBeat Daily , AutoBeat
Yamaha to Stick with Motorcycles
Motorcycle specialist Yamaha Motor Corp., which has partnered with Gordon Murray Design Ltd. on several concept cars, is no longer pursuing any automotive projects.
Sony, Yamaha Partner on Autonomous Video Pod
Sony Corp. and Yamaha Motor Co. have developed a self-driving demonstration vehicle that is fitted with large display screens throughout its interior and exterior.
Denso Leads $270 Million Investment in OLED Display Developer
Denso Corp. has invested 30 billion yen ($270 million) in JOLED Inc., a Tokyo-based developer of printed organic light-emitting diode (OLED) displays.
Audi to Bring Gran Turismo Game Car to Life
Audi AG has built a fully operational life-size version of its Vision Gran Turismo video game car for use as a support vehicle at Formula E electric vehicle races and other select venues.
Sony, KDDI Back Autonomous Vehicle Startup in Japan
Sony Corp. and Japanese telecom KDDI Corp. are backing Tier IV Inc., a Japanese startup that develops and sells operating systems for autonomous vehicles.
Honda Unveils “Baby NSX”—as Video Game Car
The small mid-engine sports car Honda Motor Co. was rumored to be developing has been revealed as the carmaker’s latest entry to Sony Corp.’s popular Playstation Gran Turismo racing simulator.
Taro Ueda and Designing for Today
When he was growing up, the car was a “dream product.” But today Taro Ueda and his team at Nissan Design America are facing people who are not as interested in sheet metal as they are in what’s on the screens of their smartphones. Ueda understands that. And he’s working to make sure Nissan design stays relevant.
Gary S. Vasilash
Editor-in-Chief, Automotive Design & Production
GM Logo Designer Alan Peckolick Dies
Alan Peckolick, the graphic designer responsible for the most recent version of General Motors Co.’s logo, died earlier this month at the age of 76.
Supplier Touts BMW Gesture Control System
Sony Corp.’s SoftKinetic unit is supplying the gesture-control technology in BMW AG’s 2017 5 Series car.
At Least 9 Brands Drop Frankfurt Auto Show
At least nine automotive brands have opted not to participate in this September’s auto show in Frankfurt, Automotive News reports.
Pininfarina Fittipaldi Supercar Unveiled
Italian design house Pininfarina SpA and the newly formed Fittipaldi Motors company took the wraps off their jointly developed Fittipaldi EF7 Vision Gran Turismo on Tuesday at the Geneva auto show.
Japanese Start-Up Readies Electric Supercar
Japan’s Green Lord Motors (GLM) Ltd. is following up last year’s Tommykaira ZZ electric sports car with an electric supercar.
Tech Watch: Dec. 2018
There’s a high likelihood you’ve either driven or taken a ride in a vehicle that was touched by GKN Driveline, a division within the global engineering firm of the same name that makes driveline technologies for 90-plus percent of the world’s car makers.
Scott Anderson
Contributing Editor
Developers Vie for Next-Gen Formula E Battery Contract
Formula E Holdings Ltd. has received proposals from nine organizations to develop and supply next-generation batteries for the 2018 season of its electric vehicle race circuit, according to Motorsport.com.
Ford to Offer Dual-Antenna Radio System
Ford Motor Co. is introducing a dual radio receiver system this autumn on certain models of the Fusion and Escape equipped with Sony HD radios.
Sony Signals Interest in Tie-up with a Carmaker
Sony Corp. Kazuo Hirai tells the Financial Times the company would "absolutely" consider a partnership with a traditional carmaker or perhaps developing its own electric car, although he says there are no immediate plans to do so.
2016 Acura ILX Premium with A-Spec
When you buy a car, you are buying just that: An object made of metal and glass, rubber and plastic.
Making the Case for Lithium-ion Batteries
Lithium-ion batteries have become the technology of choice for EVs, and falling costs and rising energy levels could keep them on top for nearly two decades.
Ford Debuts $60,000-Plus Pickup Truck
Ford Motor Co. will reintroduce its top-end Limited trim level for the F-150 fullsize pickup truck as a 2016 model this winter.
Auto’s Moon Shot
Automakers and suppliers are increasingly partnering with each other, competitors, tech companies and startups to reduce costs and ensure they have the proper expertise and resources to develop the necessary technologies needed for next-generation vehicles.
Steve Plumb
Senior Editor, AutoBeat Daily , AutoBeat
Premium Audio Matters
Do premium audio systems matter when it comes to vehicle purchase intentions?
Daring Greatly?
By now you have probably read or viewed on a screen the Cadillac “Dare Greatly” ad.
Sony Seeks Leadership in Image Sensors
Sony Corp. is mounting a push to become the auto industry's top supplier of image sensors, the Financial Times reports.
Smartwatch Meets Sonata
What do you do when you lose your car in a parking lot?
Auto Everywhere
Electronics is where there will be huge growth, even for companies that are probably better known for products that aren’t vehicle-related.
The Gamification of the Auto Industry
One of the issues that is often raised among people who work in the auto industry is that young people are not as interested in cars as they once were—or as interested in cars as those who are talking about the present disinterest were when they were young.
