Latest automotive interviews

Is VR a game changer for the auto industry?

6 Dec 2018 | Matthew Beecham

From automotive engineering and styling to marketing and retail, Virtual Reality (VR) continues to surprise and delight. Forget glossy brochures and the pantomime of buying a new car. Game software and wearable technology is changing the way we shop. Consumers in shopping centres or sitting at home can now visualise their next yet-to-launched car in any configuration using a VR headset. To learn more, we caught up with Joseph Artgole, associate marketing director, ZeroLight, a specialist in 3D visualisations.

How machine learning can forecast parts failures

28 Nov 2018 | Dave Leggett

Formed in 2009, 'We Predict' is a company using machine learning and predictive methodology to leverage forecasts from big databases. The US-based company is targeting a number of industries for its services, including automotive. In the UK, a team of data scientists, software coders and mathematicians works on a product utilising automotive warranty data (NA) that it claims can predict automotive parts failures by make and model. Dave Leggett visited their Swansea offices to find out more.

Hyundai-Kia's design chief on CASE opportunities

16 Nov 2018 | Chris Wright

Hyundai Motor Group Design chief Peter Schreyer is rightly proud of his role in changing not only the look,  but the perception of the South Korean carmaker’s two brands. His work is far from done, however. There are plenty more challenges ahead, not least with the advent of autonomous vehicles.

How drivers with engineering expertise create a better user experience

15 Nov 2018 | Matthew Beecham

As vehicle quality and reliability has improved, OEMs are increasingly aware of the role user experience can play in the customer decision-making process. That user experience could be planned in during the vehicle development, demonstrated at the dealer or during the test drive. Providing drivers with engineering-led expertise for such scenarios is offered by UK firm ProTwo. We spoke to its founder Simon Poole about why OEMs, Tier ones and dealers are using its services to deal with changing consumer expectations.

Sydney Nash - SMMT senior policy manager on Brexit

26 Oct 2018 | Simon Warburton

As Brexit negotiations roil and foment in the corridors of Westminster in London, the Berlaymont in Brussels and as they continue to inflame passions on leave and remain sides in the UK, the SMMT's (Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders) senior policy manager, Sydney Nash outlined his thoughts on just where – or where not- Britain is headed post-March. Just-Auto caught up with him at the recent SMMT Regional Forum where Brexit was very much the theme of the day.

Paris Interview - PSA Global Purchasing EVP Michelle Wen

23 Oct 2018 | Simon Warburton

New Groupe PSA Executive Vice President, Global Purchasing & Supplier Quality, Michelle Wen has held a number of senior managing positions with blue-chip companies across various industries including the automotive business. Just-Auto caught up with her at the recent Mondial de l'Automobile in Paris.

Paris interview - French suppliers association FIEV CEO Jacques Mauge

19 Oct 2018 | Simon Warburton

French supplier association, FIEV (Fédération des Industries des Equipements pour Véhicules) had a major presence at the recent Mondial de l'Automobile in Paris and just-auto caught up with its CEO, Jacques Mauge, fresh from his meeting with French President, Emmanuel Macron to discuss industrial policy.

Automotive industry slow to embrace D&I-related changes – report

17 Oct 2018 | Matthew Beecham

A recently published report* sets out a fresh view of Diversity & Inclusion (D&I) in the automotive industry. To learn more, we spoke to Lynda Ennis, founder of specialist automotive search firm, Ennis & Co and co-author the report. Here, she explains the importance of this initiative and why starting a new conversation about D&I is long overdue.

Paris interview - CLEPA president Roberto Vavassori

9 Oct 2018 | Simon Warburton

Roberto Vavassori was elected CLEPA president, taking office in January, 2016 and is also a board member of brake supplier, Brembo and director for Business Development and Marketing. Just-Auto caught up with him at the recent Mondial de l'Automobile in Paris to gauge the reaction of the manufacturing sector to what are potentially draconian new emissions limits.?

Valeo looks to evaluate city pollution - CEO

8 Oct 2018 | Simon Warburton

Valeo says it is working with air quality monitor, Airparif to understand how pollution in cities is evolving and as it looks to provide technology to combat it.

Faurecia agile enough to cope with Brexit needs - CEO

5 Oct 2018 | Simon Warburton

Faurecia says it will adapt to what its customers want as the UK prepares to leave the European Union (EU) next year.

Harman, JD Power to reveal consumer habits in the connected car

1 Oct 2018 | Matthew Beecham

Today’s vehicles offer a myriad of features and services but understanding how and if these are being used by consumers isn’t often truly understood by OEMs. With ever-increasing connectivity, it is now possible to acquire data about the vehicle’s performance and how it is being used, but how to access this information and its relevance is in the early stages. A new project between Harman and J.D. Power claims it can change this and provide OEMs and Tier Ones with an insight that could make cars safer, more relevant or offer a better user experience. We spoke to Sandip Ranjhan, Senior Vice President, Harman Connected Services about the alliance and its expectations for the project.

‘Digital camshaft’ gives engines an efficiency boost

26 Sep 2018 | Matthew Beecham

A British company has developed a digital valvetrain drive system that, it claims, can give petrol engines a diesel-level of efficiency and fuel economy with much lower NOx emissions. The inventors believe that it is as big a leap forward as the introduction of electronically-controlled ignition and the change from carburettors to fuel injection. To learn more about this engine valve technology, we caught up with Mark Gostick, Chief Operating Officer of Camcon Automotive.

Delphi Technologies CTO talks powertrain and power electronics

16 Aug 2018 | Dave Leggett

When Delphi split earlier this year, the greater part of its operations were renamed Aptiv. However, the powertrain tech division retained the Delphi name. Dave Leggett recently caught up with Delphi Technologies CTO Mary Gustanski at the company's new London headquarters.

Williams revs up the EV market

13 Aug 2018 | Matthew Beecham

Williams Advanced Engineering is the technology and engineering services business of the Williams Group. It specialises in advanced lightweight materials, hybrid power systems and electronics, aerodynamics, vehicle dynamics, and holistic integration capabilities. We caught up with company executives to learn more about its latest projects, advances in hybrid battery systems, electric vehicles and lightweight solutions.

Adient's CTO on megatrends and cutting development time

10 Aug 2018 | Calum MacRae

At the CAR Management Briefing Seminars held in Traverse City, Michigan recently just-auto's Calum MacRae met with Dr Detlef Juerss, Vice President Engineering & Chief Technology Office, Adient to discuss the changing automotive environment, future seating requirements and how Silicon Valley is helping Adient reduce product development times.

Yanfeng on adapting to new industry challenges

9 Aug 2018 | Calum MacRae

At the CAR Management Briefing Seminars held in Traverse City, Michigan recently just-auto's Calum MacRae met with Yanfeng Automotive Interiors’ Executive Director Research, Technology & New Mobility Jeff Stout and Vice President and General Manager Nathan Bowen to discuss the changing automotive environment and Yanfeng's role in it. 

ZF VP on tomorrow’s electronic braking systems

8 Aug 2018 | Matthew Beecham

The apparently simple issue of braking continues to be a major issue for chassis system designers. Drivers are, of course, concerned that in an emergency their semi- and ultimately fully-automated vehicle should stop as quickly as possible. Continuing just-auto/QUBE’s series of interviews with tier one component suppliers, we spoke to Manfred Meyer, Senior Vice President global braking systems for ZF Active and Passive Safety Technology Division, to learn about tomorrow’s electronic braking systems.

Deloitte on the risks facing suppliers in the CASE world

7 Aug 2018 | Calum MacRae

At the CAR Management Briefing Seminars held in Traverse City, Michigan recently just-auto's Calum MacRae met with Neal Ganguli Deloitte's US automotive practice leader to discuss how suppliers can maximise their portfolios and the effect that CASE will have on overall industry volumes. 

Valeo VP on future mobility solutions

6 Aug 2018 | Matthew Beecham

Partial driver autonomy already exists in the form of automated parking systems and advanced driver assistance features. For its part, Valeo is pushing back the technical boundaries of automation to address increasingly complex urban driving situations. Continuing just-auto/QUBE’s series of interviews with tier one component suppliers, we spoke to Guillaume Devauchelle, Group Vice President Innovation & Scientific Development, Valeo about its driver assistance and mobility solutions.