The Supervisory Board of Peugeot S.A. and the Board of Directors of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles have each unanimously agreed to work towards a full combination of their respective businesses by way of a 50/50 merger. Both boards have given the mandate to their respective teams to finalize the discussions to reach a binding Memorandum of Understanding in the coming weeks.

The plan to combine the Groupe PSA and FCA businesses follows intensive discussions between the senior management of the two companies. Both share the conviction that there is compelling logic for a bold and decisive move that would create an industry leader with the scale, capabilities and resources to capture successfully the opportunities and manage effectively the challenges of the new era in mobility.

The proposed combination would create the 4th largest global OEM in terms of unit sales (8.7 million vehicles), with combined revenues of nearly €170 billion1 and a recurring operating profit of over €11 billion2 on a simple aggregated basis of 2018 results excluding Magneti Marelli and Faurecia. The significant value accretion resulting from the transaction is estimated to be approximately €3.7 billion in annual run-rate synergies derived principally from more efficient allocation of resources for large-scale investments in-vehicle platforms, powertrain and technology and from the enhanced purchasing capability inherent in the combined group’s new scale. These synergy estimates are not based on any plant closures.

It is projected that 80% of the synergies would be achieved after 4 years. The total one-time cost of achieving the synergies is estimated at €2.8 billion.

The shareholders of each company would own 50% of the equity of the newly combined group and would, therefore, share equally in the benefits arising from the combination. The transaction would be effected by way of a merger under a Dutch parent company and the governance structure of the new company would be balanced between the contributing shareholders, with the majority of the directors being independent. The Board would be composed of 11 members. Five Board members would be nominated by FCA (including John Elkann as Chairman) and five would be nominated by Groupe PSA (including the Senior Independent Director and the Vice-Chairman). The Chief Executive Officer would be Carlos Tavares for an initial term of five years and he would also be a member of the Board.

To avoid hazards in urban areas, next-generation ADAS implementations require high-precision object recognition capable of detecting so-called vulnerable road users (VRUs) such as pedestrians and cyclists. At the same time, for mass-market mid-tier to entry-level vehicles, these systems must consume very low power. The new solution from Renesas and StradVision achieves both and is designed to accelerate the widespread adoption of ADAS.

StradVision’s deep learning–based object recognition software delivers high performance in recognizing vehicles, pedestrians, and lane marking. This high-precision recognition software has been optimized for Renesas R-Car automotive system-on-chip (SoC) products R-Car V3H and R-Car V3M, which have an established track record in mass-produced vehicles. These R-Car devices incorporate a dedicated engine for deep learning processing called CNN-IP (Convolution Neural Network Intellectual Property), enabling them to run StradVision’s SVNet automotive deep learning network at high speed with minimal power consumption. The object recognition solution resulting from this collaboration realizes deep learning–based object recognition while maintaining low power consumption, making its use suitable in mass-produced vehicles, encouraging ADAS adoption.

Key features of the deep learning-based object recognition solution:

(1) Solution supports early evaluation to mass production

StradVision’s SVNet deep learning software is a powerful AI perception solution for the mass production of ADAS systems. It is highly regarded for its recognition precision in low-light environments and its ability to deal with occlusion when objects are partially hidden by other objects. The basic software package for the R-Car V3H performs simultaneous vehicles, person and lane recognition, processing the image data at a rate of 25 frames per second, enabling swift evaluation and POC development. Using these capabilities as a basis, if developers wish to customize the software with the addition of signs, markings and other objects as recognition targets, StradVision provides support for deep learning-based object recognition covering all the steps from training through the embedding of software for mass-produced vehicles.

(2) R-Car V3H and R-Car V3M SoCs increase reliability for smart camera systems while reducing cost

In addition to the CNN-IP dedicated deep learning module, the Renesas R-Car V3H and R-Car V3M feature the IMP-X5 image recognition engine. Combining deep learning-based complex object recognition and highly verifiable image recognition processing with man-made rules allows designers to build a robust system. In addition, the on-chip image signal processor (ISP) is designed to convert sensor signals for image rendering and recognition processing. This makes it possible to configure a system using inexpensive cameras without built-in ISPs, reducing the overall bill-of-materials (BOM) cost.

Availability:

Renesas R-Car SoCs featuring the new joint deep learning solution, including software and development support from StradVision, is scheduled to be available to developers by early 2020.

Aptiv and Hyundai Motor Group announced that they will be forming an autonomous driving joint venture. This partnership brings together one of the industry’s most innovative vehicle technology providers and one of the world’s largest vehicle manufacturers.

The joint venture will advance the design, development and commercialization of SAE Level 4 and 5 autonomous technologies, furthering the partners’ leadership position in the global autonomous driving ecosystem. The joint venture will begin testing fully driverless systems in 2020 and have a production-ready autonomous driving platform available for robotaxi providers, fleet operators, and automotive manufacturers in 2022.

As part of the agreement, Hyundai Motor Group and Aptiv will each have a 50 percent ownership stake in the joint venture, valued at a total of USD 4 billion. Aptiv will contribute its autonomous driving technology, intellectual property, and approximately 700 employees focused on the development of scalable autonomous driving solutions. Hyundai Motor Group affiliates — Hyundai Motor, Kia Motors and Hyundai Mobis — will collectively contribute USD 1.6 billion in cash at closing and USD 0.4 billion in vehicle engineering services, R&D resources, and access to intellectual property.

The partnership reinforces the companies’ shared vision of making mobility more safe, green, connected, and accessible by advancing the development and commercialization of the highest-performing and safest autonomous vehicles.

The new joint venture will be led by Karl Iagnemma, President, Aptiv Autonomous Mobility and headquartered in Boston, with technology centers across the United States and Asia, including Korea. Hyundai Motor Group and Aptiv will each appoint an equal number of directors to govern the joint venture.

The joint venture’s Korea operations will serve as a key technology center as well as a base for vehicle modification and a testbed for autonomous driving mobility service platforms. Hyundai Motor Group’s strong presence in the local automotive market and the country’s world-class 5G infrastructure are anticipated to spur the partnership’s development efforts.

Aptiv and Hyundai Motor Group: Creating a Safe and Trusted Driverless World
Aptiv is a global technology company with a portfolio of advanced mobility solutions that includes perception systems, software algorithms, compute platforms, and data and power distribution.

Aptiv’s autonomous driving engineers have been leading the development of software for high-performing self-driving cars since the historic 2007 DARPA Challenge. The company conducted the first coast-to-coast automated drive in the United States in 2015, and was the first to commercially deploy autonomous vehicles globally.

Aptiv operates more than 100 autonomous vehicles on multiple continents, across a range of driving conditions and environments, including the largest commercial deployment of autonomous vehicles in Las Vegas with a ride-hailing network. To date, the company has provided more than 70,000 paid autonomous rides, servicing more than 2,700 destinations, while maintaining a near perfect average passenger rating of 4.95-out-of-five stars.

With vehicles becoming more intelligent and possessing higher computing capabilities, advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS) incorporated in smart vehicles featuring autonomous driving need to comprehend and assess their immediate surroundings in an intelligent manner, and this has resulted in the rapid rise in complexity of automotive system operating software. Towards this end, Intron Technology and Wind River will collaborate on in-depth research into key ADAS technologies and platform solutions.

The parties will combine their respective strengths, experience and resources and develop state-of-the-art embedded functional safety software system operations platforms and Adaptive AUTomotive Open System ARchitecture (AUTOSAR). They will also cooperate in such areas as developing environment, functional safety certifications, intellectual property rights and deliverables.

In recent years, Intron Technology has been working closely with automakers to provide “mass production ready” solutions to meet the actual needs of automakers and their components suppliers, allowing them to shorten the product development cycle and improve their cost effectiveness in the highly competitive automotive market.

Wind River is a long-standing market leader for both embedded real-time operating system (RTOS) and commercial Linux. For nearly four decades as a technology pioneer for mission critical industries such as automotive, aerospace and defense, industrial, medical and telecommunications, Wind River delivers software designed for the highest levels of safety, security, and reliability.

OSR Enterprises AG and Jaguar Land Rover are collaborating to enhance Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS), Automated Driving and securely connected technologies for the era of new mobility. The collaboration is revealed at the IAA show, where the OSR EVOLVER is integrated in the Jaguar I-PACE.

A part of the collaboration with the British luxury brand Jaguar Land Rover is visible in the integration of the 4th generation EVOLVER in Jaguar’s I-PACE. The following functions provide just a glimpse into the wider scope of advanced capabilities that the collaboration will unfold:

• Remote driving and vehicle control over 4G & 5G networks as a built-in functionality integrated into the vehicle
• Open and learning advanced surrounding detection, recognition and prediction as the basis for enhanced safety and automated driving capabilities
• In-cabin driver and passenger monitoring – extracting human characteristics to enhance safety, comfort, wellbeing and personalization
• Cyber-secured car network and connectivity – integrated secure validation of communication, including OTA updates

The I-PACE, awarded 2019 World Car of the Year, enhanced with the EVOLVER’s pioneering features, will be displayed at OSR’s booth in the New Mobility World in Hall 5.

Advanced surrounding detection, situational adaptive recognition, logical prediction of events and intelligent in-cabin monitoring are essential for improved safety and automated driving capabilities. Plus, an integrated secure validation of communication must safeguard the integrity of the vehicle’s and passenger’s data.

Only the EVOLVER’s consolidated architecture, AI capabilities and the hardware and software combination that has been holistically developed for this purpose can provide maximum cyber security and minimum “attack diameter” for hackers.

A new partnership with Georgia Tech and Curiosity Lab at Peachtree Corners could help Delta identify ways autonomous vehicles can benefit customers and employees.

Delta will contribute seed funding for the research project, and researchers from all three partners will have access to Curiosity Lab’s 1.5-mile autonomous vehicle test track and smart city living laboratory in Peachtree Corners, Ga., an Atlanta suburb.

The collaboration between the companies has expanded to include:

BlackBerry Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning technologies for Automotive. Leveraging BlackBerry QNX and BlackBerry Cylance, the companies are working on transforming vehicle safety across a range of capabilities, including predictive software maintenance and cybersecurity threat protection.

BlackBerry QNX for Jaguar Land Rover’s next-generation vehicle architecture. Integrating BlackBerry software establishes the overall safety of Jaguar Land Rover’s next-generation vehicle architecture, for the best-in-class product its customers expect.

BlackBerry Cybersecurity Consulting. Consisting of BlackBerry consultants and security testing technology, BlackBerry Cybersecurity Consulting services identify security vulnerabilities in connected and autonomous vehicles, across the full software library used in a vehicle.

As part of the collaboration, HELLA Aglaia will use AutoStream – TomTom’s innovative map delivery system – to access the latest TomTom HD Map on demand and will use the HD Map in the vehicle for accurate localization. In addition, HELLA Aglaia will share processed camera data to TomTom’s cloud-based mapping system for autonomous driving, updating the TomTom HD Map in real time. This will be achieved by generating crowdsourced map updates called Roadagrams which are used to ensure the HD Map reflects the reality of the road. TomTom AutoStream then delivers the updated map data back to the vehicle. The technology will be demonstrated to automakers and Tier 1s by the end of the year.

Pony.ai is the leading autonomous driving technology company in China, with a mission to revolutionize the future of transportation by building the safest and most reliable solution for autonomous mobility. Since late 2018, Pony.ai has been testing its robotaxi pilot service, PonyPilot, starting with Guangzhou, making it the first company to launch a robotaxi operation and offer autonomous rides to the general public in China. In June 2019, the company also obtained a robotaxi operation permit in California, demonstrating its ambition and commitment to mobility services at a global scale.

Toyota is the global automotive leader with over 10 million in annual vehicle sales worldwide and a vision of bringing the joy and freedom of movement to all. With an aim to become a mobility company firmly rooted in China, Toyota will accelerate its business in China via collaboration with selected Chinese companies while continuing to contribute to the development of Chinese society.

Autonomous driving technology is the key to creating a better transportation system and delivering value to the lives of many. Through such collaborations, Toyota and Pony.ai are accelerating the arrival of a safer, more efficient, and more enjoyable mobility future for all.