Smart Interior Materials for Smart Cars

2018 WardsAuto Interiors Conference
Autonomous vehicles will require new interior surfaces to cope with heavy usage from dozens of occupants. Industry experts see a host of innovative materials that are stylish, lightweight, soft and compatible with airbags, touchscreens and sound systems.

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$3.35 Billion Infusion Catapults GM’s AV Work Forward

SoftBank Vision Fund will invest $2.25 billion in GM Cruise, along with a $1.1 billion capital infusion from the automaker itself to mark the largest investments to date in self-driving cars.

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Incremental Improvements to Leaf Helpful

Test Drive
The car falls short of the Chevy Bolt on range and infotainment, but has a lovely interior with above-average materials and does well in suburbia.

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FCA, Waymo, Announce Huge Autonomous Minivan Growth Plan

Close on the heels of GM’s announcement of a $3.35 billion investment in autonomous vehicles, FCA and Waymo say they’ll increase their self-driving fleet 100-fold starting late this year.

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FCA Makes Big Commitment to Electrification

With the automaker’s focus on premium brands comes a broad emphasis on electrification, including four full battery electrics by 2022.

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2018 Wards 10 Best Interiors

Click here for articles, galleries and videos from this year's competition.

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Driving Dynamics Paramount in New BMW Z4 Roadster

Final prototype testing of the roadster is taking place at BMW’s Miramas test track in France ahead of a planned unveiling at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance in California.

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Dana’s E-Axle Enters Production for China

The new electric-drive system, targeted at Class 3-6 commercial vehicles, is said to be the first on the market that integrates an electric motor with a rigid axle in a single package.

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Toyota: Solid-State Batteries Likely to Arrive in 2030

“We believe that our biggest weapon for meeting fuel-efficiency and CO2 regulations, not just in Europe but globally, will continue to be (standard) hybrids,” Shinzuo Abe, Toyota’s powertrain general manager, tells WardsAuto.

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Autonomous Vehicles and the In-Cabin Experience

INDUSTRY VOICES
Passengers in autonomous cars can elect to be productive, entertained or even to zone out. The environment of the cabin can be used as an office, library or living room. But to achieve those options, there must be an upgraded interface between the car and the people inside.

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