[240409] #Bosch #Hyundai #Sony

1. GAC Aion, Didi Set Up Self-Driving Electric Car Venture

• GAC Aion and Didi Chuxing formed a 50-50 joint venture to produce autonomous electric vehicles (EVs).
• The joint venture will utilize GAC Aion’s third-generation AEP 3.0 platform and Didi’s Level-4 self-driving technology.
• The registered capital of the joint venture is CNY420 million (USD58 million).
  The collaboration between Didi and GAC Aion started with a partnership announced in May 2021, leading to the formation of the AIDI Program.
• The AIDI Program marks the first large-scale JV in China between a carmaker and an autonomous driving firm to mass produce EVs.
• The first model from the AIDI Program will incorporate Voyager’s L4 autonomous driving system for travel services.
• Chen Xuewen, an AI expert and former Didi executive, joined GAC Research and Development Center in July 2021 to work on AI-related projects such as autonomous driving and intelligent cockpits.
• Voyager received USD149 million investment from a fund established by GAC Group to enhance R&D and commercialization of its technologies.

2. Bosch Buys UK Self-Driving Firm Five AI

• Bosch, a multinational tech firm, has acquired Five AI, a British automated driving company.
• Five AI chose Bosch over other bidders due to a shared vision of automated driving and safe systems.
• The acquisition agreement was signed earlier in the month, with financial details undisclosed and pending approval from antitrust authorities.
• Markus Heyn, Bosch’s mobility solutions business sector chair, sees automated driving as enhancing road safety and aims for Five to bolster their software development efforts in this area.
• Five, headquartered in Cambridge, England, with additional offices across the U.K., will integrate into Bosch’s Cross-Domain Computing Solutions division.
• Five transitioned from robotaxis to B2B, prompting the decision to sell, according to CEO Stan Boland.
• Boland highlights Bosch’s expertise and data resources as crucial for bringing safe self-driving systems to market.
• This acquisition follows Bosch’s recent purchase of a minority stake in Indian B2B startup Zeliot Connected Services.
• Self-driving vehicles represent a promising future for the auto industry, with companies like Tesla, GM, and Volvo actively pursuing their development despite regulatory and technological hurdles.

3. Uber Eats now uses Waymo’s self-driving cars to offer driverless deliveries

• Waymo and Uber Eats have collaborated to launch a driverless meal delivery service in select neighborhoods in Phoenix, including Chandler, Mesa, and Tempe.
• Customers ordering from about five participating restaurants through the Uber Eats app may receive a notification that their order could be delivered by an autonomous vehicle.
• Users will have the option to opt out, but those willing to try the new feature can unlock the vehicle’s trunk using their phones to retrieve their meal upon its arrival.
• The autonomous vehicle delivery option will not incur extra charges for customers and may even be cheaper than traditional delivery, as there’s no tipping involved.
• Waymo, Google’s sister company, has been operating autonomous passenger shuttles since 2017 in Phoenix and has expanded to other cities like San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Austin. This partnership with Uber marks Waymo’s entry into the meal delivery sector.
• Uber has been offering driverless deliveries through partnerships with other autonomous vehicle companies in various cities, including Mountain View, West Hollywood, Santa Monica, Miami, Fairfax, Phoenix, and Tokyo.
• While both companies aim to expand the service to additional cities, there’s no specific timeline for availability in the San Francisco Bay Area.

4. Hyundai Motor-Toyota partnership looms after chiefs‘ meetup

• Euisun Chung, executive chairman of Hyundai Motor Group, and Akio Toyoda, chairman of Toyota Motor Corp., recently met in Japan, sparking speculation about potential collaboration in future technologies like autonomous driving and hydrogen vehicles.
• Industry sources suggest that Hyundai and Toyota may join forces to expand the hydrogen vehicle market, as both companies are considered leaders in this sector.
• Despite significant investments in hydrogen vehicles, global sales saw a decline in 2023, raising concerns for the industry’s growth.
• The presence of state-supported Chinese automakers in the hydrogen mobility market adds competition, potentially motivating Hyundai and Toyota to strengthen their collaboration.
• Autonomous driving technology was likely a key topic during the meeting, as it poses technological challenges for traditional automakers despite their substantial investments.
• The discussion might have centered on identifying directions and addressing challenges in the autonomous driving field for both Hyundai and Toyota.

5. Inertial Labs and Sony’s Airpeak Forge Partnership to Integrate Advanced LiDAR Technology

• Inertial Labs has partnered with Sony to integrate LiDAR technology into Sony’s Airpeak drone, aiming to improve its applications in surveying, mapping, and cinematic videography.
• The collaboration involves incorporating advanced LiDAR systems developed by Inertial Labs into Sony’s flagship drone platform, enhancing its capabilities in producing detailed aerial maps and 3D models with high precision.
• Kento Sayama, Deputy Vice President of Imaging Solutions at Sony Electronics, highlights the alignment between Sony’s vision for Airpeak and Inertial Labs’ expertise in LiDAR and sensor technology.
• The partnership is expected to set new industry standards in drone technology and provide professionals in construction, agriculture, and filmmaking with advanced tools for their work.
• Jamie Marraccini, CEO of Inertial Labs, expresses enthusiasm for the collaboration, seeing it as an opportunity to expand the possibilities of drone applications.
• The integration of Inertial Labs’ LiDAR technology into Sony’s Airpeak drone is anticipated to offer professionals across various industries a more efficient workflow and enhanced data accuracy.