Ford Motor Company and Toyota Motor Company are forming SmartDeviceLink Consortium, a nonprofit organization working to manage an open source software platform with the goal of giving consumers more choice in how they connect and control their smartphone apps on the road.

Mazda Motor Corporation, PSA Group, Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd. (FHI) and Suzuki Motor Corporation are the first automaker members of the consortium. Elektrobit, Luxoft, and Xevo join as the first supplier members. Harman, Panasonic, Pioneer and QNX have signed Letters of Intent to join.
 
SmartDeviceLink provides consumers easy access to smartphone apps using voice commands and in-vehicle displays. Adopting the open source platform gives automakers and suppliers a uniform standard with which to integrate apps. Developers benefit because they can focus on creating the best experience for customers by integrating one linking solution for use by all participating automakers.

Adient , a global automotive seating supplier, has unveiled its AI17 automated driving seating system to show how automated driving will impact the driver and passenger experience in a contemporary premium vehicle at the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in Detroit.

The interior of automated driving vehicles will play an important role as drivers and passengers spend more time on non-driving activities. Once vehicles have the capability to be computer-driven, occupants will demand far more flexibility from a vehicle’s seating and interior space than ever before.

"Our AI17 demonstrator shows how we are embracing the opportunities for innovation afforded by automated-driving vehicle technology,” said Bruce McDonald, chairman and chief executive officer of Adient. “The concept features innovations that increase interior flexibility, while also providing occupants with higher levels of safety, comfort and convenience.”

Adient, created when Johnson Controls’ automotive seating business was spun off as an independent company in 2016 and is sharing several concepts and production ready products at this year’s NAIAS.

Yanfeng Automotive Interiors, the world’s largest supplier of automotive interiors, unveiled its vehicle interior concept, called the Experience in Motion demonstrator 2017 (XiM17), at the 2017 North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in Detroit. With a focus on Experience in Motion, the concept features more than 25 innovations, offering new consumer experiences for future autonomous vehicles.

“We focused the concept design to meet the future needs and expectations of consumers when it comes to the interior of the vehicle, as well as to enhance the overall autonomous driving experience,” said Han Hendriks, chief technology officer, Yanfeng Automotive Interiors. “Representing our theme, Experience in Motion, the XiM17 offers leading innovations that provide flexibility in the vehicle, allowing for optimal capabilities and comfort for various situations.”

The XiM17 helps answer the question, “What will people do in their vehicle, if they no longer have to drive?”

DALE EARNHARDT, JR. DRIVER OF THE NO. 88 CHEVROLET SS AND RICK HENDRICK, OWNER OF HENDRICK MOTORSPORTS, spoke with members of the media via teleconference to discuss Dale’s return to the seat of the No. 88 Chevrolet SS for on-track competition in 2017.

Full Transcript:

WELCOME BACK.  YOU TESTED DARLINGTON ON WEDNESDAY, WHICH WAS THE FINAL STEP BEFORE BEING MEDICALLY CLEARED FOR COMPETITION.  HOW DID IT FEEL TO BE BACK BEHIND THE WHEEL OF A RACECAR AND HOW DID THE TEST GO OVERALL FROM YOUR PERSPECTIVE?

DALE EARNHARDT, JR.:“Well, the test, I thought, couldn’t have gone any better.  Darlington was a great host and NASCAR was really great to work with to put it together.  I really appreciate them creating opportunities and rules for drivers in this type of situation to be able to get in a car.  It really helps build your confidence to know that everything is working like it’s supposed to work, no matter what your injury it before you go get back into a full race weekend.  It’s nice to be able to kind of get some personal reassurance and confidence.  I was really happy to have the opportunity.  We got to the racetrack, the weather was great and we just ran laps.  We put tires on, run 15 laps at a time; take about a 20 minute break, Dr. (Jerry) Petty was there.  We did a personal evaluation before we got in the car to set a baseline and Dr. Petty was evaluating me after each run to see if everything was good.  A lot of the things that he was checking, visual and balance and so forth, actually strengthened throughout the process.  You sort of get acclimated and up to speed with what it takes to kind of drive a racecar and those systems strengthen through that process.  Rather than see them sort of flat-line and stay the same, which was what I was hoping for, they actually got stronger.  That was great.  I felt like throughout the day I got more and more comfortable in the car and it felt like an old shoe by the end of the day.  I was happy with the speed we had. That wasn’t really the ultimate goal, but we had great speed. The car drove really good and we just continued to put tires on it and go out and run 30 laps at a time.  And come in, get out, think about it, talk about it, get checked out and by the end of the day we felt really confident that health wise I was 100 percent and ready to get back in the car.”