As Hyundai Motor America has surged to the top or near the top of ratings and sales rankings, the company has also been preparing a unique launch strategy for its Equus luxury sedan while simultaneously laying the groundwork for a January 2011 launch of a telematics system comparable to General Motor’s OnStar - a launch that is likely to take place in conjuction with the 2011 Consumer Electronics Show. Hyundai’s goal is nothing less than to become the most loved, most trusted and highest satisfaction mass market automotive brand. That is the word from U.S. president John Krafcik, whose background includes tenures with Ford Motor Company and Toyota Motor Sales. Krafcik says digilence, frugality and harmony are the internal principals that have guided Hyundai Motors to a remarkably competitive stance in the market. He proceeded to share the roster of recent company achievements this week at the monthly Washington Automotive Press Association luncheon: -> Projected 4.4% share of 2010 global unit vehicle sales -> 7^th largest brand in the U.S. – expects to surpass Dodge for 6^th place by the end of 2010 -> 4^th largest OEM globally 2010 -> 4th in J.D. Power’s IQS (Initial Quality Survey) in 2009 behind Lexus, Porsche and Cadillac -> 4^th in Consumer Reports reliability report card for 2010, up from #9 in 2009 -> Genesis: 2009 Car of the Year -> Automotive Lease Guide residual values: Sonata tops Honda Accord, Tucson tops Toyota Rav4, Veracruz tops Toyota Highlander, Genesis tops Lexus GS350 -> #1 in EPA’s average fuel economy rating: 30.9 – 2008, 30.1 – 2009 (projected), 31.9 – 2010 (forecast) -> Overall transaction prices up 11% relative to 2008 – now 97% of Toyota transaction prices -> Sonata most shopped on Edmunds.com for past straight eight weeks -> Hyundai included in the shopping lists of 28% of light vehicle purchase intenders – company survey -> Sales up 51% year-to-date vs. 2009 Key elements to Hyundai’s strategy include rapid deployment of marketing programs such as Cash for Clunkers (deployed July 2 – ahead of the July 24^th completion of the policy announcement) and the assurance program for customers that might lose their job after their vehicle purchase. Perhaps most important was the company’s 10-year/100,000 mile warranty, which internal surveys showed to be the primary reason customers chose Hyundai. Hyundai also implemented free roadside assistance for five years, which surveys showed was the third highest reason for brand selection. A strategic decision that reduced cost and weight on the company’s highest profile vehicle, the Sonata, helped the company achieve category leading fuel efficiency. Hyundai chose to offer the Sonata with only four cylinders, including direct injected and turbo versions. By offering only 4-cylinder engines on the Sonata, the company saved 50-100 lbs. in weight from not needing the hardware on board to support optional 6-cylinder engines. Hyundai was thereby able to achieve both category-leading 274 horsepower and 37 mpg fuel efficiency. The next step for Hyundai is the launch of the Equus. The company is limiting distribution to a select group of exclusive Hyundai dealers (ie. that sell only Hyundai-brand vehicles) capable of supporting a program characterized by test drive requests fulfilled at the customer’s home or office, pick-up of vehicles for service calls with the drop off of a loaner at their home or office and the inclusion of an Apple iPad pre-loaded with the vehicle’s owner’s manual and a service scheduling application. In fact, after a recent meeting with its dealer council, Krafcik says Hyundai is considering the possibility of offering Equus-like customer service across its fleet. He noted that the Equus is expected to arrive in September with extraordinary luxury appointments (ie. heated rear seats and refrigerator) yet priced between the mid-50’s and mid-60’s. Other calendar year 2011 introductions detailed by Krafcik include new versions of the Elantra, Accent and Santa Fe and a hybrid "sporty coupe" to compete with Honda's CRZ. Of course, the icing on the cake for Hyundai will be the launch of its telematics service in January of 2011. Krafcik offered no details except to suggest that the company will opt for an embedded solution a la OnStar. Hyundai is no-doubt envious of the kind of customer loyalty a well-executed telematics strategy can deliver. Hyundai clearly thinks telematics will only get them closer to fostering the love and trust they are seeking. The timing of the telematics launch suggests Hyundai will seek to make a Ford Sync/Microsoft-like splash at the Consumer Electronics Show in January. The 2011 CES is shaping up as a significant automotive technology launch pad as rumors of Apple- and Google-branded cars are swirling in the industry seven months in advance of the event. Additional Insight: http://tinyurl.com/249ajt7 - Tier 1 Vendor Regional Design Center Database – Kevin Mak – Automotive Electronics Service http://tinyurl.com/27jt7bt - EV/HEV Technologies Supply & Fitment Database - Kevin Mak – Automotive Electronics Service

Cypress Semiconductor’s announcement of the availability of automotive qualified TrueTouch capacitive touchscreens and LIN capable CapSense touch-sensing controllers promises a sea change in automotive console designs. While designers and engineers around the world continue to debate the relative merits of touch screens vs. voice, steering wheel and other interfaces, the advance of touch screen technology is rapidly settling the issue in favor of touch.Strategy Analytics analysis of the automotive and mobile device markets shows a steady shift in favor of touchscreens in multiple geographies. The reason for the movement is obvious given Strategy Analytics consumer research showing clear user acceptance and preference for touch screen technology. The industry is responding, however slowly. Another rationale for touch screen implementation is the greater flexibility for accessing applications and allowing a wider range of features and functions within those applications. The importance of the Cypress announcement needs to be considered in view of recent console designs and demonstrations as well as longer term industry trends. The BMW i-Drive, Audi MMI and other controller-type interfaces take advantage of the natural positioning of the right arm and hand on the center console. These configurations are designed to allow the primary LCD display be located as high in the dashboard as possible – far from the driver and NOT touch enabled. Of course, these interfaces allow for a broad simplification of the dashboard HMI configuration – with many fewer buttons and switches. The trouble is that controller-style interfaces still require too much checking of the screen to make selections or to move through multi-level menus. While the positioning of the screen is intended to reduce the change in focal length for the driver, it is not mitigating the inherent distraction. Tesla Motors, for one, is moving the touch screen closer to the driver and increasing its size to 14 inches and using a portrait configuration. Johnson Controls and Delphi have taken similar approaches in demonstration systems. But Delphi went one step further at the recent SAE event by positioning the display more or less in the console beneath where the driver’s arm will rest. By positioning a touch screen display in the console, the system removes the need for the controller interface completely. Some car makers are even combining a touchpad device – as in the case of Audi’s recent introduction able to recognize drawn characters – with a second display in the dash thereby providing some redundancy and/or a means of previewing inputs before they are selected. Delphi takes the concept a step further still by having a completely different HMI for when the vehicle is at rest vs. when it is in motion. In other words, different functions are available in the two different modes. (Smartphone applications, for example, are accessible when the vehicle is at rest.) As more consumers become increasingly familiar and comfortable with touch screens – rapidly proliferating in the mobile device segment thanks to the iPhone and Android-based devices – auto makers are finding greater acceptance for these interfaces in cars. Console-mounted touch screens will also enable easier access to a wider range of vehicle functions as well as location aware applications. With a touch-enabled display in the console, the driver will no longer have to reach out for the center stack. All applications and content will be right at the finger tips – again, with a second display mounted in the dash as a reference prior to making selections. Cypress may be the first, but will not likely be the last to bring capacitive touch technology to the automotive market. The advantages of wider design options, reduced distraction, enhanced functionality and potential cost savings mean that – well, resistance is futile. Cypress says the TrueTouch controllers are the industry’s first automotive-qualified capacitive touchscreen solution. The CY8C2x345 CapSense controllers pair analog resources with automotive industry standard LIN communication support, making the devices the ideal system controllers to interface with analog and capacitive touch-sensor inputs, and to control backlight LEDs and haptic actuators while communicating over the LIN bus. Cypress also announced that Grace Semiconductor in Shanghai, China has been qualified to fabricate automotive-grade CY8C2x345 CapSense controllers that adhere to the AEC-Q100 standard, ISO/TS 16949 quality management standard and Cypress’s Zero Defect manufacturing system. Cypress says its solutions are available in single-touch, multi-touch gesture and multi-touch all-point offerings and provide the ability to track multiple fingers simultaneously. The TrueTouch solutions are able to control screen sizes up to nine inches. They are designed for use in control panels, GPS and infotainment displays. Cypress says CapSense proximity sensing offers a detection range up to 25 cm, saving power by activating an interface only when needed. The devices are ideal for interior automotive applications such as audio, navigation, AC control and lighting control, as well as exterior applications such as trunk release and passive keyless-entry buttons, according to the company. The newly qualified CY8CTMG120 multi-touch gesture and CY8CTMA120 multi-touch all-point controllers are available for sampling in 56-pin QFN packages. The newly qualified CapSense products include the LIN-capable CY8C2x345 devices, available for sampling in A grade (-40C to 85C) in 28-pin SSOP packages with the 48-pin SSOP packages planned in Q3 2010. All products are expected to be in full production in Q3 2010. http://bit.ly/c1Qhxz - Benchmarking the Premium In-Vehicle Experience - Chris Schreiner – Automotive Consumer Insights http://bit.ly/cRLVkz - Automotive HMI: Voice Technology and Touch Screens Have Significant Lead - John Canali – Automotive Multimedia and Communications Service http://bit.ly/a9aEgu - Chinese OEMs: Rapid Advance In Quality Bodes Well For Automotive Electronics - Kevin Mak - Automotive Electronics Service http://bit.ly/ceBUCY - Vehicle Entertainment and Navigation User Evaluation: 2010 Lexus LS460 - Chris Schreiner - Automotive Consumer Insights

Harman announced a return to profitability for its fiscal second quarter in an earnings call earlier this week. In that call, the company detailed its marketing plan which could be taken as a blueprint for the entire industry – particularly the company’s inroads into larger volume mid-segment vehicle categories.

Harman is pursuing emerging market opportunities in China, Brazil and India with local development and manufacturing presence – including a $1B revenue target for China by 2015. The emerging market initiative is reflected also in a targeted shift of engineering/R&D balance from 99% high capital and cost (HCC) markets to 60% HCC, and manufacturing/assembly from 81% HCC to 50% HCC by 2012.

The company expects to maintain its luxury segment leadership while leveraging its previously announced “scalable system” strategy, which has already contributed to a Toyota European design win for MY2011. The scalable system is part of an initiative targeting what Harman sees as a $5B high-growth, mid-segment market opportunity reflecting the company’s desire to capture a broader portfolio of business.

In that regard, Harman wants to pioneer energy-saving GreenEdge technologies for hybrid and electric cars in partnership with Intel and Texas Instruments developing solutions to reduce power consumption by 75% including high efficiency speakers, one of the few objectives the company has yet to realize in the marketplace. Similarly, the company is working with Lotus Engineering on Active Noise Management solutions for hybrid, electric and conventional vehicles to address impending legislation regarding pedestrian safety. Noise management will also apply to in-cabin noise cancellation and reduced weight and CO2 emissions. And Harman is also targeting advanced driver assist systems, an entirely new segment for the company.

In its earnings call the company mentioned winning $2B of additional business, expanding its contract portfolio to $10B, a figure the company claims is the largest in the industry. Included in its current and recently executed order book are:

->     Infinity branded audio systems for next-generation Chrysler SRT series high-performance vehicles;

->     Launch of Mark Levinson premium surround sound for MY10 Lexus GX 460;

->     Launch of JBL premium sound for MY11 Toyota Sienna in U.S.;

->     Launch of Harman Kardon Logic 7 HD system with Range Rover for MY10 mid-model year introduction;

->     Launch of Ferrari 458 Italia equipped with Harman audio and infotainment;

->     Exclusive Haman Kardon sound lounges at BMW brand centers in Munich and Berlin;

->     Press launch of Harman/Lotus Engineering HALOsonic sound synthesis technologies;

->     Selected by BMW for next gen, high-end “Professional infotainment system for all new platforms including BMW, Mini and Rolls Royce;

->     Selected by Daimler for next gen Comand infotainment system for new Mercedes S-Class and C-Class models;

->     Selected by Toyota to provide Harman next gen scalable infotainment for vehicles sold in Europe beginning MY11;

->     Selected by Toyota to provide premium JBL branded audio for 4Runner and Land Cruiser in the U.S., Europe and Middle East and the MY11 Siena in U.S.

All of this contributes to what Harman estimates as 45% global branded automotive audio market share, with Bose at a distant 25%. Harman’s branded audio solutions are used in more than 200 car platforms from 12 OEMs shipping more than 2M audio systems annually. Sources indicate that this 500,000 units/quarter pace is actually approaching 1M units/quarter – a pace that will no doubt be stimulated by the recent Toyota wins and future higher volume segment wins.

The pace of launches has eased somewhat for Harman, which may help explain the return to profitability as profits cusually come later in the program cycle. The company hit a peak of six program launches in FY08, followed by five in FY09. The programs for those years included Mercedes, PSA, Porsche, Audi, BMW, SSangYong, Chrysler and Hyundai. Going forward, Harman says it will have four launches in FY10 (including Audi, Mercedes and BMW (2)), three in FY11 (Toyota, Mercedes and Chrysler) and one in FY12 (BMW), before ramping up again in FY13 with four: Harley-Davidson, Mercedes and BMW (2).

The company further notes the evolution of its infotainment architecture:

1997: SH1/16MB – Tuner/CD/Navi – Turn-by-Turn

2002: SH3/32MB – MMI2000 – VxWorks – Tuner/CD/DVD – Phone/SDS – MOST25 – 2D/2.5D Map

2008: SH4/512MB/1024 – MoCCA Framework – QNX CAR Platform – Tuner/CD/DVD – Phone/SDS – MOST50 – 3D Map – Internet Connectivity

2012: Intel Atomm/1GB – MoCCA & DSI 2.0 – QNX CAR – Tuner/CD/DVD/Blu-Ray – Phone/SMS/Email – MOST150 – NDS Navi – Enhanced 3D Map – Internet.

Worth noting in the architectural evolution is the growing role of both QNX (CAR Platform) and Intel (Atomm) as well as the onset of Internet connectivity - pioneered by BMW - Blu-Ray, MOST and enhanced navigation features, many of which will revolve around 3D and augmented reality implementations.

Overall, Harman appears to have emerged victorious from its cost cutting regimen with fewer European facilities but with a profitable organization in place pursuing business building initiatives throughout Europe, Asia and the U.S. The most significant business transformation of all, though, will be the Toyota wins. Not even Toyota's recent marketing stumbles can tarnish this achievement and how its will transform Harman's operations and growth profile.

Genivi Challenges Automotive OS Duopoly, Disrupts Business Models

 

The Genivi Alliance had a coming out party at the Consumer Electronics Show this week. Aside from the formal launch of the alliance at CeBIT in the winter of 2009, the organization has chosen smaller stages from which to tell its story and attract additional partners. At the CES show, however, Visteon raised the Genivi flag high in introducing new automotive infotainment solutions.

 

Genivi is currently positioned in the industry as an alternative to Microsoft and QNX as an automotive operating system for a range of cockpit applications. The business models of these three organizations differ significantly, though, and the objectives of the Genivi Alliance are not strictly related to taking the place of either of Microsoft’s automotive OS offerings or QNX. The stated objectives appear more closely aligned with reducing development costs for OEMs and, more recently, may include shifting ownership of intellectual property to the OEMs as well.

 

QNX and Microsoft are not the only operating systems available to automotive suppliers. There still remain multiple Linux distributions – including the recently emergent Android being positioned for automotive applications by Continental - as well as versions of M-Itron. But when it comes to the development of the most advanced automotive cockpit systems on the road today, QNX and Microsoft are dominant.

 

When it comes to business models, the two companies differ significantly. Microsoft has a reputation for being expensive, but mitigates the expense with marketing dollars. QNX takes a more traditional approach to software licensing and is a much quieter player in the market, from a marketing or marketing dollars standpoint. Microsoft has found success in both the high-end infotainment segment and the low end (Ford Sync, Fiat Blue&Me).

 

QNX has seen much of its deployments in the luxury segment in connection with parent Harman International, but has also had its share of success in Bluetooth solutions, instrument clusters and GM’s OnStar system. QNX’s most recent success has centered on its work with Lexus and parent Toyota which appears to have opened the door to additional business in Japan. QNX claims in excess of 12M cars deployed with its software.

 

The Genivi strategy, rooted in the shared-code model of Linux, is designed to speed product development by identifying and distributing those layers of operating system code that are identical across platforms. Of course, all operating systems have an element of shared code, but the Genivi approach creates a “star chamber-like” panel of alliance members that vet new additions to the underlying shared code, presumably leaving ample room for alliance members to differentiate their solutions in higher levels of the software stack such as HMI are other application-specific areas.

 

Genivi had its CES debut in the Visteon booth. While one physical platform was shown based on an Intel ATOMM processor, executives said it could be swapped out for solutions from competing silicon suppliers such as Renesas or Freescale, depending on the customer requirement. This is one element of the Genivi platform, like other industry platforms it is intended to allow virtual plug-n-play swapping of processors and other system elements.

 

Visteon executives noted that the initial release, Genivi 1.0, occurred December 17 and the organization is now in the midst of a 21-business day review by its membership. Genivi announced that it surpassed the 50-member mark before CES including such significant partners as Renesas and Nissan. The Genivi 1.0 review is to be completed Jan. 21. During the period of the review the Board of Genivi may receive, via its executive director, any potential member claims of IP which were not contributed by the member under the terms of the IPR policy that they feel are infringed upon with the candidate release. The review period is also indeed to perform a careful review of the documentation of inbound and outbound licensing of the components included in the release. In no notifications occur, the board is expected to vote in a meeting Jan. 27 to release Genivi 1.0. Otherwise, the Board may delay until IP notifications are research and resolved or until license documentation is complete.

 

Because Genivi is so new, rumors continue to swirl around critical business model issues such as IP ownership by OEMs implementing Genivi solutions and around the extent to which it may creep into upper levels of the software stack such as HMI and the application level. For now, the industry will have to wait for its chance to see the first implementation.

 

Genivi will coexist in the market with both QNX and Microsoft including in some of the same systems. This is true for Android as well, which will not replace QNX or Microsoft in the short run. In the end, while additional versions of Linux will continue to emerge and find a place in the automotive market, the duopoly of Microsoft and QNX is likely to persist for some time. Genivi stands to have its greatest influence over time as additional layers of code are added. Participants in the alliance will be watching most closely to see that their value add contribution is preserved.

Mercedes-Benz launches its Mbrace 3G-based telematics system today as standard equipment on all models except the GLK, the E-Coupe, the SLK and C-Class cars. It is an option on those models. The first six months of service are free and $280 a year after that. Keeping the concierge service costs $20 a month. The new system sets a new standard for smartphone integration, upgradability, voice recognition, dealer-customer integration, car-phone-PC integration, and customer support via three call centers one each for roadside assistance, concierge and emergency calls. Mercedes has been quoted as saying that it plans to add an application store and is also looking at enabling access to concierge and other services via the customer's phone, independent of the car. The bottom-line is the system is intended to be future-proof. The announcement marks the beginning of a transition by Mercedes away from current TeleAid telematics service provider ATX toward Hughes Telematics. The Hughes Telematics vision of service provision ultimately includes satellite and Wi-Fi connectivity, but the Mercedes system launches with 3G cellular connectivity. (Hughes' plan also calls for Website management of vehicle status and diagnostics. It is not clear how much of this capability, if any, will be available at launch.) The significant aspects of this industry changing announcement includes: -> VoiceBox natural language understanding voice engine. - Mercedes is the second OEM, after Lexus, to implement this technology which allows users to make naturally spoken requests for information and assistance either for controlling the car or for location information. The voice recognizer can speed access to information regarding weather or location data, for example, by eliminating the need to connect with an operator, but the operator is still available if the voice recognition fails. -> Three call centers for processing different types of calls. - Most telematics systems use a single call center for processing all types of calls. The Hughes system behind Mbrace has separate call centers for ACN or emergency calls, roadside assistance, and concierge services. -> Upgrade and updatability - Applications can be added wirelessly or at the dealer. -> Connectivity to customer phone - Vehicle doors can be locked or unlocked remotely via smartphone. The vehicle can be located in a crowded partking lot via smartphone app. If the vehicle is stolen, the user can be notified via text message. Additional smartphone functions will be available and an "app store" is in the works. Bluetooth connectivity is also provided for. -> Access to off-board information - Routes and POIs can be sent from Google to the car. (The Hughes vision ultimately calls for Website management of vehicle status and content ranging from audio and video files to service status and remote diagnostics. Mercedes will either be enabling these capabilities at launch or shortly thereafter.) -> Dealer connect - The system will connect the nearest Mercedes dealer if there is a problem. -> Automotic collision notification - Activated in the event of an airbag deployment or by a press of the SOS button, a Mercedes operator will get on the line, notify 911 and stay on the line until help arrives using vehicle coordinates. -> Real-time weather and traffic reports - Also provides real-time assistance in the event of a disaster. An operator will help locate shelter or alert family members. -> Concierge service - Access to a representative who will help make dinner reservations, order flowers, buy tickets to the opera, or book a flight. -> Access to services via phone - Mercedes may eventually allow access to services via phone independently of the car. Link to Wired News story: http://www.wired.com/autopia/2009/11/mercedes-mbrace-telematics/ Related Strategy Analytics reports: Telematics as a Downloadable App Arrives - http://www.strategyanalytics.com/default.aspx?mod=ReportAbstractViewer&a0=4973 App Stores Coming to the Automotive Market - http://www.strategyanalytics.com/default.aspx?mod=ReportAbstractViewer&a0=4802 27M Users of eCall and Infotainment Services by 2015 - http://www.strategyanalytics.com/default.aspx?mod=ReportAbstractViewer&a0=4428 Economic Climate Demands Sharper Connected Vehicle Business Models - http://www.strategyanalytics.com/default.aspx?mod=ReportAbstractViewer&a0=4425