I read with interest an article a month or so ago that described how BMW and Mercedes-Benz were going to test subscription services in several countries. My interest comes from my background in the technology industry that has used subscription based licensing for nearly 20 years. Basically a subscription service means two things: For the consumer, they pay one figure … [Read more...]
An Update on Nokia Maps, Now Called Here
A few years ago, a consortium of German auto makers acquired the Nokia Maps business to help embed the system into their cars and to manage their relationships with Apple and Google. Nokia had bought a company called Navteq back in 2007. Navteq was a mapping company that used first hand knowledge of terrain rather than official Government sourced maps unlike many of their … [Read more...]
Intel and Mobileye
Around about a year ago Intel announced that it was buying Mobileye, an Israeli company specialising in technology for autonomous vehicles. At the time they were competing for a very lucrative market, and like many emerging markets, this one is starting to see the number of market players shrink through mergers and (mostly) acquisitions. I’ve written about many of the … [Read more...]
Max Friz
The name Max Friz is probably not a well known one, however, he was a pioneer in the aeronautic, automotive and motorcycle industries! Born in southern Germany in 1883, he became an apprentice at a steam engine company before enrolling at a trade school in Stuttgart to study engineering. That extra knowledge secured him a job in the design offices of Daimler Motors where he … [Read more...]
BMW VISION 100 and Alive Geometry
A while back I saw another one of BMW's "out there" concepts. Whilst the concept that became the electric i8 made it to production, we haven't really seen any of the new technology from the GINA or the VISION NEXT 100 concept. Mainly because they are so far from reality. Their idea for "Alive Geometry" seems a little disconnected - and for a manufacturer that prides itself … [Read more...]