Robot couriers scoop up early-stage cash

Joanna Glasner Contributor More posts by this contributor Getting personal: Funding rises for software-driven tastemakers The alumni of these universities raised the most VC in the past year Much of the last couple of decades of innovation has centered around finding ways to get what we want without leaving the sofa. So far, online ordering… Continue reading Robot couriers scoop up early-stage cash

Lyft Acquires Bike-Share Company and Inks Deal With N.Y.C. – Fortune

Having sealed a deal to expand New York City’s Citi Bike, Lyft announced Thursday that it is now the largest bike-share service in the United States. Although the ride-hailing company agreed in July to buy Motivate, an operator that reportedly dominates 80% of bike rentals in America, the deal didn’t become official until Thursday morning… Continue reading Lyft Acquires Bike-Share Company and Inks Deal With N.Y.C. – Fortune

Europe’s ride-hailing companies aren’t scared of Uber

Uber is speeding toward a historic IPO next year that could value it as high as $120 billion, but that doesn’t scare its rivals that operate across Europe. Speaking on stage at TechCrunch Disrupt Berlin, Markus Villig — the CEO of $1 billion-valued Taxify — and Via CEO Daniel Ramot, whose company has expanded from Israel into… Continue reading Europe’s ride-hailing companies aren’t scared of Uber

Top Automotive Industry News for Week of October 29 – November 4, 2018

Here is the most important news associated with the automotive industry
identified by the AEA for the week October 29, 2018 -November 4, 2018.

We hope it helps you stay up to speed on the key developments in our
industry:

-Automotive Manufacturing News-

Every Mid-Size Luxury Crossover and SUV Ranked from Worst to Best

(Car and Driver)

Faraday Future's Rough Road: Funds Sought As Cofounders Depart, Workers
Furloughed

(Forbes)

Ford could provide a 40% return in the year ahead as restructuring
takes hold, Goldman says

(CNBC)

GM memo: We must cut costs, can't wait to see what happens in industry

(Detroit Free Press)

GM Throws Weight Behind Nationwide Electric-Car Quota

(Cars.com)

GM to offer buyout to some workers in cost-cutting move: DJ

(CNBC)

Jaguar Land Rover undergoes $3.2 billion turnaround plan as sales slump

(autoblog)

Tesla electric vehicles will park themselves in 2019, Elon Musk says

(USA Today)

Tesla’s third-largest shareholder says it’s willing to pump more money
into the company

(CNBC)

The brutal and extreme tests Ram, Ford, Chevy run on trucks

(Detroit Free Press)

US regulators subpoenaed Tesla Model 3 production forecasts, data

(USA Today)

Volvo and Baidu join forces to mass produce self-driving electric cars
in China

(CNBC)

-Automotive Evolution News-

Cadillac cancels its car subscription program after just two years

(autoblog)

Ford, Volkswagen explore driverless venture to challenge Tesla, Waymo

(MarketWatch)

GM is making e-bikes as it expands beyond cars

(autoblog)

Hyundai, Kia Motors to develop new solar charging tech for vehicles

(Reuters)

Uber details why its driverless SUV killed a pedestrian and how it's
working to fix safety problems

(LA Times)

Uber says it's ready to start testing self-driving cars again

(Mashable)

VW and Intel's Mobileye Will Launch Autonomous Ride-Hailing Service In
Israel Next Year

(Forbes)

Waymo Gets California's Okay For Human-Free Driving Tests As Robo-Car
Skepticism Rises

(Forbes)

-Automotive Retail News-

5 hottest-selling U.S. vehicles in October: Tesla, Toyota, Subaru make
the list

(USA Today)

FCA, Honda and VW Lead October Auto Sales

(The Detroit Bureau)

GM Financial: More Loans, Fewer Leases in Q3

(Auto Dealer Monthly)

Luxury car owners trade up for American pickups as Ford, GM and Dodge
trucks dominate market

(CNBC)

New Vehicle Prices Continue to Rise in Fourth Quarter

(The Detroit Bureau)

Rising interest rates and prices hurt October auto sales, with SUVs
still faring better than cars

(USA Today)

Rising interest rates pinch U.S. auto sales, consumer confidence

(Reuters)

Vehicle sales reached 11-month high in October

(MarketWatch)

-Automotive Wholesale News-

Car Depreciation Reaches 10-Month High

(Vehicle Remarketing)

Lane watch: Wintry chill hits wholesale prices

(Auto Remarketing)

-Automotive Ownership News-

A Comfortable Place to Spend 38,000 Hours Behind the Wheel

(The New York Times)

-Automotive Enthusiast News-

140-car collection headed to Mecum’s Las Vegas auction

(ClassicCars)

Here are the most Googled car brands of 2018

(autoblog)

-Automotive Servicing News-

AAA offers free Lyft rides to and from repair shops

(autoblog)

New car safety technology saves lives — but can double the cost of
repairs

(NBC)

Stalling prompts recall of 2019 Jeep Cherokees with 2.4-liter engines

(Detroit Free Press)

Subaru, Toyota recall 165,000 U.S. cars with defect that could lead to
engine stalling

(USA Today)

-General Business & Executive News-

Broadcom makes $1 billion patent claim against Volkswagen: Der Spiegel

(Reuters)

New Autotrader Experience Helps Car Shoppers Accelerate Their Deal, Buy
Faster From The Palm of Their Hands

(PR Newswire)

U.S. Auto Industry's October Surprise

(Forbes)

With $50M investment, AutoNation obtains 7% stake in Vroom

(Auto Remarketing)

-AEA Reminder-

Did we miss something? Let us know via our

Contact Us Page >>

. If you have specific important news going public soon that you would like
to share with your fellow AEA Members, submit your

PR Distribution Request >>

Have a great week,

Member Services

memberservices@automotiveexecutives.com

Automotive Executives Association

www.automotiveexecutives.com

Go-Jek releases beta ride-sharing app to kick off Singapore launch

Indonesia’s Go-Jek has unleashed a beta version of its ride-sharing app in Singapore, marking the start of its anticipated entry into the market where it will be looking to challenge incumbent Grab. Available for download on Google Android and Apple iOS devices, the beta app was party of the company’s “staggered approach” to ensure its… Continue reading Go-Jek releases beta ride-sharing app to kick off Singapore launch

Deputy Raises $81M in Series B Funding Round

Deputy, an Australian provider of a workforce management software platform, closed an $81m Series B funding. The round, which brought total funding raised to date to $106m, was led by IVP, with participation from OpenView, Square Peg Capital and EVP. The company intends to use the funds to accelerate growth, develop new products and build… Continue reading Deputy Raises $81M in Series B Funding Round

Top Automotive Industry News for Week of November 5 – November 11, 2018

Here is the most important news associated with the automotive industry
identified by the AEA for the week of November 5, 2018 -November 11, 2018.

We hope it helps you stay up to speed on the key developments in our
industry:

-Automotive Manufacturing News-

First ex-UAW official sentenced in FCA-related scandal; gets 1 year

(Detroit Free Press)

Ford plans construction on Michigan Central Depot by year's end

(Detroit Free Press)

Former Tesla employee charged with embezzling $9.3 million from Elon
Musk's company

(MarketWatch)

Is Toyota Next to Pare Back its Passenger Car Line?

(The Detroit Bureau)

Tesla picks an insider to be chairwoman, fueling doubt Elon Musk will
be reined in

(LA Times)

The gas engine still has a long life to live, Aston Martin CEO says

(CNBC)

VW planning $21K EV to challenge Tesla

(The Detroit News)

VW takes another shot at compact pickup market

(The Detroit News)

White House, California to discuss vehicle emissions rules next week

(autoblog)

Why GM is moving 3,000 workers from Pontiac to Warren

(Detroit Free Press)

-Automotive Evolution News-

8 concept cars that show how technology will dominate the drive of the
future

(CNBC)

Autonomous Cars Face Big Hurdles; They Will Succeed, But When?

(Forbes)

Daimler And Bosch Choose San Jose For Their Silicon Valley Robo-Taxi
Service

(Forbes)

GM's future lineup will run on electricity, drive itself — and fly

(Detroit Free Press)

Mercedes-Benz, Bosch to offer self-driving car rides in San Jose,
California

(USA Today)

Tesla Drivers Report Autopilot Disengaging While Driving Due To
Software Bug

(Forbes)

This Robot Truck Startup May Have An Edge Over Waymo In Bad-Weather
Driving

(Forbes)

Uber rival Taxify says it can grow 100 times bigger in the scooter and
ride-hailing market

(CNBC)

Uber ups its driver perks with 'Pro' program, including free college
education

(USA Today)

-Automotive Retail News-

Better inventory listings, lead management anchor more sales

(Auto Remarketing)

CarGurus Helps Dealerships Solve for Attribution with More Insight

(PR Newswire)

Dealertrack Looks to Speed Car Buying Process

(Auto Finance News)

Jumpstart: Car Buyers Want to Negotiate

(Auto Dealer Monthly)

Lithia and Shift to operate separately and share technology

(Auto Remarketing)

Luxury car owners trade up for American pickups as Ford, GM and Ram
trucks dominate market

(CNBC)

Millennials Spending Big on Cars — With Auto Loans to Match

(The Detroit Bureau)

Used car payments hit record $400 per month as prices top $20,000

(USA Today)

Used-Car Prices Reach 13-Year High in Third Quarter

(Vehicle Remarketing)

Used Vehicle Prices Rising, Pushing Buyers to Look at Leasing

(The Detroit Bureau)

-Automotive Wholesale News-

Compact Van Values Dip at Start of November

(Vehicle Remarketing)

-Automotive Ownership News-

Where your car is most likely to be stolen in every state

(USA Today)

-Automotive Enthusiast News-

Inside the World's Most Valuable Hot Wheels Collection

(Car and Driver)

With millions at stake, car collectors scour Earth for lost classics

(Detroit Free Press)

-Automotive Servicing News-

Mazda to recall 640,000 vehicles globally over diesel engine issue

(Reuters)

Subaru recalls nearly 400K vehicles to fix stalling problems

(Detroit Free Press)

U.S. agency probes 1.7 million GM SUVs over wiper failures

(Reuters)

-General Business & Executive News-

CDK Global Names Brian Krzanich President and Chief Executive Officer

(CDK)

Ford buys electric scooter startup Spin, joining competitors Bird and
Lime

(USA Today)

Harley-Davidson's electric motorcycle signals a big change for the
legendary, but troubled, company

(CNBC)

Tesla’s Booming Model 3 Sales and More This Week In The Future Of Cars

(Wired)

Time Dealer Of The Year

(Automotive News)

VW Considers Investing in Ford-Backed Autonomous Unit Argo

(Bloomberg)

-AEA Reminder-

Did we miss something? Let us know via our

Contact Us Page >>

. If you have specific important news going public soon that you would like
to share with your fellow AEA Members, submit your

PR Distribution Request >>

Have a great week,

Member Services

memberservices@automotiveexecutives.com

Automotive Executives Association

www.automotiveexecutives.com

Elon Musk Is Right: LiDAR Is a Crutch (Sort of.)

By Luis Dussan

Tesla founder Elon Musk recently declared that LiDAR is a “crutch” for autonomous vehicle makers. The comment sparked headlines and raised eyebrows in the industry. Given that this vision technology is the core of many companies’ self-driving car strategies, his view strikes many as anathema or just plain nuts.

But for the moment, let’s ignore the fact that LiDAR is vital to self-driving cars from GM, Toyota and others. Forget that the most advanced autonomous vehicle projects have focused on developing laser-sensing systems.

Even disregard that the alleged theft of LiDAR secrets was at heart of the legal battle between Uber and Alphabet’s Waymo. Waymo claimed that LiDAR is essential technology for autonomous vehicles and won a settlement recently worth about $245 million.

The truth is: Mr. Musk is right. Relying solely on LiDAR can steer autonomous vehicle companies into innovation cul-de-sacs.

LiDAR is not enough. Autonomous vehicles require a rapid, accurate and complete perception system. It is a system-level problem that requires a system-level solution.

My agreement with Mr. Musk may seem surprising given that our company, AEye, sees LiDAR as playing a significant role in making driverless cars a commercial reality.

But we too have realized that if autonomous vehicles are ever going to be capable of avoiding accidents and saving lives, LiDAR is not the answer. At least not by itself.

Not THE answer, but part of the answer…
At Tesla, Mr. Musk is forsaking LiDAR for a 2D camera-based vision system. While Mr. Musk is known for disruptive thinking, it is hard to escape the fact that autonomous vehicles move through a 3D world and successful navigation of that world requires the seamless integration of both 2D and 3D data precisely mapped to both time and space.

At AEye, we believe LiDAR is the foundation of the solution when it seamlessly integrates with a multi-sensor perception system that is truly intelligent and dynamic. Our research has produced an elegant and multi-dimensional visual processing system modeled after the most effective in existence — the human visual cortex.

In fact, AEye’s initial perception system, called iDAR (Intelligent Detection and Ranging), offers a robotic perception system that is more reliable than human vision. LiDAR integrates with a low-light camera, embedded artificial intelligence and at-the-edge processing to enable a car’s vision system to replicate how the human visual cortex quickly interprets a scene.
In short, iDAR enables cars to see like people.

Why this is the superior approach?
In his skepticism of LiDAR, Mr. Musk has curiously bet on a “camera-mostly” strategy when building a vision system for autonomous Tesla vehicles. He has previously made bold (many say unrealistic) predictions that Tesla would achieve full Level 5 autonomous driving with camera-mostly vision in 2019. Navigant Research, in their annual ranking of self-driving vehicle makers, says this is “unlikely to ever be achievable” and rates Tesla at the back of the pack.

The company’s Autopilot system relies on cameras, some radar, and GPS. It has suffered setbacks due to a split with its camera supplier in 2016 after a fatal accident that investigators have blamed partly on Autopilot. Last month, a Tesla smashed into a firetruck in Culver City, California, and the driver said it was “on autopilot.”

The evidence strongly argues against Mr. Musk’s decision to bet on passive optical image processing systems. Existing 2D image processors and 2D to 3D image conversion concepts have serious flaws that can only be addressed with massive computing power and more importantly — algorithms that have not been invented, and are many years away from becoming a reality. This makes this approach too costly, inefficient and cumbersome to achieve Level 5 autonomous driving at commercial scale.

At AEye we know that integrating cameras, agile LiDAR, and AI equals a perception system that is better than the sum of its parts. It surpasses both the human eye and camera alone, which is required if you don’t have the sophistication of the human brain yet replicated.

In his “crutch” comments, Mr. Musk predicted that LiDAR-based systems will make cars “expensive, ugly and unnecessary,” adding: “I think they will find themselves at a competitive disadvantage.” The truth is that size, weight, power, and cost are decreasing for vehicle navigation grade LiDAR. And they will fall further. AEye, and maybe others, will see to that.

We respect Musk’s innovations and are grateful to him shedding light on where LiDAR needs to go to reach full autonomy. But in the end, as we see LiDAR as a lever, rather than a crutch, we can only give him partial credit for his understanding of the way forward.

ALL NEWS & VIEWS
Elon Musk Is Right: LiDAR Is a Crutch (Sort of.) — AEye Introduces Groundbreaking iDAR TechnologyObserve, Orient, Decide, Act: How AEye’s iDAR System Adopts Principles of the OODA Loop to Achieve Intelligent, Long-Range DetectionAEye Introduces Next Generation of Artificial Perception: New Dynamic Vixels™AEye Announces the AE100 Robotic Perception System for Autonomous VehiclesThe Future of Autonomous Vehicles: Part I – Think Like a Robot, Perceive Like a HumanAEye Announces Addition of Aravind Ratnam as Vice President of Product ManagementCB Insights Unveils Second Annual AI 100 Companies at A-ha!AEye Granted Foundational Patents For Core Solid-State MEMs-Based Agile LiDAR And Embedded AI TechnologyGartner Names AEye Cool Vendor in AI for Computer VisionAEye Welcomes James Robnett to Executive Team as Vice President of Automotive Business Development

Uber Ends Rental Car Program for Drivers

The decision to end Uber Rent comes a few weeks after Lime, a scooter-sharing company that partners with Uber, announced that it would start testing a carsharing service in Seattle.  Photo courtesy of Uber.  Uber has ended Uber Rent, its program that lets drivers rent vehicles from within the Uber app, Quartz reports.  The program,… Continue reading Uber Ends Rental Car Program for Drivers

‘Out of control’: Chinese authorities slam ride-hailing giant Didi over safety

BEIJING (Reuters) – Chinese authorities announced a broad crackdown on China’s ride-hailing industry on Wednesday, targeting market-leader Didi Chuxing with fines following the deaths of two passengers in separate incidents earlier this year. FILE PHOTO: The company logo of the Didi ride hailing app is seen on a car door at the IEEV New Energy… Continue reading ‘Out of control’: Chinese authorities slam ride-hailing giant Didi over safety