Magna CTO on autonomous drive platform technologies, new materials and processes

20 Sep 2017 | Matthew Beecham

Continuing just-auto/QUBE’s series of interviews with tier one component suppliers, we caught up with Swamy Kotagiri, Chief Technology Officer of Magna International at the IAA to learn more about its deep system knowledge across the car.

Adient VP on interior solutions for future vehicle concepts

19 Sep 2017 | Matthew Beecham

New forms of mobility such as autonomous driving, car sharing and electromobility were hot topics at this year’s IAA show in Frankfurt. Adient, the world’s largest supplier of car seating, used the event to showcase its solutions for tomorrow’s interiors. To find out more, we spoke to Richard Chung, Vice President, Innovation and Design, Advanced Product Development, Adient.

Samsung sets up $300m fund to develop autonomous cars, pushing $89m to TTTech

18 Sep 2017 | Matthew Beecham

This year’s IAA saw Samsung and Harman launch an autonomous/ADAS strategic business unit and announce a $300m Samsung Automotive Innovation Fund to accelerate their presence in the autonomous sector. According to the business leaders, investments will be made in all areas related to ‘enabling solutions for next-generation mobility’. To learn more, we spoke to Harman’s CEO Dinesh Paliwal.

Tata Steel sees a sustainable future

15 Sep 2017 | Calum MacRae

Tata Steel recently published a whitepaper entitled "Charging towards a sustainable future?" which sets out the company's views on Europe's future powertrain mix and the role that steel can continue to play in the industry. just-auto's Calum MacRae met with the report's author, Chris Wooffindin, the company's automotive marketing manager, and his colleague Dr Nick Coleman, Principal Researcher in to sustainability at Tata Steel, to discuss the report's contents at the 2017 Frankfurt IAA.

Tenneco comfortable with auto's electrification drive

15 Sep 2017 | Calum MacRae

At the 2017 Frankfurt IAA we spoke to Ben Patel, Vice President and Chief Technology Officer, Tenneco.

FRANKFURT - PSA's Tavares sees need to raise Opel efficiency

12 Sep 2017 | Chris Wright

In an interview with just-auto at the Frankfurt Motor Show, PSA chief Carlos Tavares warns of productivity gaps across the Opel manufacturing network that will require work to bring plants into line with PSA efficiency levels. He also says the company is planning several post-Brexit scenarios in the absence of any guidance from the UK government and European Commission.

Q&A with Kamyar Moinzadeh, President and CEO, Airbiquity

7 Sep 2017 | Cat Dow

Airbiquity is the market-leading provider of connected services for automotive. It’s Choreo platform supports just under eight million cars in over 60 countries across the world and it has recently signed new vehicle subscriptions for Ford, Nissan, FCA, Infiniti and Alpine. Cat Dow caught up with CEO and President Kamyar Moinzadeh to talk about over-the-air updates and future connectivity.

User experience in the connected car – Q&A with Harman

8 Aug 2017 | Matthew Beecham

With continuously improving connectivity in the car as we move towards autonomous vehicles, experts are predicting fast and vast improvements in the user experience (discuss). Continuing just-auto/QUBE's series of interviews with suppliers, we caught up with Harman’s head of advanced engineering and user experience, Rashmi Rao to learn about the possibilities and how car occupants will benefit.

DSD on the transmission engineering landscape - Q&A

20 Jul 2017 | Matthew Beecham

Continuing just-auto/QUBE’s series of interviews with suppliers, we spoke to Alex Tylee-Birdsall, co-founder and director of Drive System Design, about how the transmissions market is undergoing a period of change.

Denso - digitalisation is transforming the European aftermarket

14 Jul 2017 | Matthew Beecham

Continuing just-auto/QUBE’s series of interviews with tier one component manufacturers, we spoke to Ruslan Leontiev, product manager starters & alternators and wiper blades, and Alexey Bartashevich, senior manager aftermarket products, both Denso Aftermarket & Industrial Solutions.

Magna VP on Industry 4.0, VR and RocketSpace

13 Jul 2017 | Matthew Beecham

Continuing just-auto/QUBE’s series of interviews with tier one component suppliers, we spoke to Ian Simmons, Vice President, Business Development, Corporate R&D, Magna International about Industry 4.0, virtual reality (VR) technologies and its venturing strategy.

Changing times for wipers – Q&A with Trico

12 Jul 2017 | Matthew Beecham

In theory, the wiper blade is a service replacement item. But in reality, motorists often wait until the product is disintegrating before replacing it. Research indicates that 60 percent of drivers who do not install their own wiper blades cite the confusing assortment of adaptors that accompany replacement blades as the reason. Trico Products has been doing its bit to raise awareness of the dangers of worn-out blades and make the mechanics of replacing them simpler. Continuing just-auto/QUBE’s series of interviews with tier one component manufacturers, we spoke to Sam Robinson, Product and Brand Manager for Trico Products to learn how the wiper blade market is shaping up and why step-by-step replacement blade fitting videos are rejuvenating the DIY market.

'World first' claimed on ethical guidelines for automated driving

27 Jun 2017 | Dave Leggett

What and how will tomorrow’s self-driving cars be allowed to decide for themselves? Tasked by the German government, an ethics commission has drawn up guidelines to regulate these questions. Prof. Christoph Lütge, business ethicist at the Technical University of Munich (TUM) and member of the commission, explains in which situations technology should not differentiate between children and adults, and why no one should be forced to give up control of their car.

Lightweight monotube dampers – Q&A with BWI Group

19 Jun 2017 | Matthew Beecham

As OEMs pursue lighter vehicles to help comply with CO2 emissions legislation, ever more pressure is being placed on Tier 1 suppliers to provide lighter components. Continuing just-auto/QUBE’s series of interviews, we spoke to Marcin Knapczyk, engineering manager at global braking and chassis systems specialist, BWI Group, about how far lightweighting has come and where it is set to go.

INTERVIEW - Mazda's UK MD

14 Jun 2017 | Chris Wright

In an age and an industry where executives scramble to climb ever higher up the corporate ladder, it is refreshing to find someone who has found a rung on which they are more than happy to stay.

Driving passion - the psychology of driving a car

12 Jun 2017 | Matthew Beecham

Continuing just-auto/QUBE’s series of interviews, we spoke to Thomas Ebenfeld, psychologist and managing partner of Concept M, about what makes car consumers tick. Headquartered in Cologne, Germany with offices worldwide, Concept M consists of a group of psychological market researchers with a focus on the automotive industry.

AvtoVAZ CEO Nicolas Maure looks to build on recent up-tick

7 Jun 2017 | Simon Warburton

Russian giant, AvtoVAZ  recently unveiled sales figures which appear to bear out the slightly more optimistic tone struck by the AEB after four years of unrelenting market falls. The market is undoubtedly beset by challenges almost unknown anywhere else as a combination of international economic sanctions and a reliance on commodities have a correlation on consumer behaviour, but a stabilising ruble and exchange rate may see business pick up.

The art of painting carbon fibre – Q&A with Project 12

24 May 2017 | Matthew Beecham

As the application of carbon fibre in car manufacture increases, demand for custom and novel finishes has also soared. UK-based Project 12 develops and supplies finishes and coatings for carbon fibre and composites. just-auto/QUBE spoke to managing director Dave King to learn what automakers are seeking and the direction carbon fibre finishes are taking.

GKN on prospects for torque vectoring

22 May 2017 | Matthew Beecham

Torque vectoring is an often heard term, rarely seen computer-controlled system used on cars to deliver just the right amount of power to each wheel in order to improve road grip, stability, handling and performance. GKN Driveline’s solution, known as Twinster, is available on a number of cars, including mainstream executive models like the Opel/Vauxhall Insignia. As advanced torque vectoring systems are likely to appear on an even wider range of vehicles, just-auto/QUBE spoke to Ray Kuczera, Senior Vice President of Engineering, GKN Driveline.

Thermal challenges for commercial vehicle exhaust systems – Q&A with Zircotec

15 May 2017 | Matthew Beecham

Commercial vehicle exhaust systems are facing multiple challenges. Ever tighter engine emission requirements demand ever more efficient DPF and catalyst performance and this, in turn, requires ever more effective heat management. These systems have necessarily increased in size putting more pressure on overall packaging, with hot exhaust system components encroaching on systems that could potentially be damaged by heat. There is also a desire to keep heat in the exhaust to maintain turbocharger efficiency and response. Continuing just-auto/QUBE's series of interviews, we spoke to heat management specialist Zircotec’s Group Sales Director, Graeme Barette, about some novel approaches that could address both issues.