Automotive Tag

The Rise of the Tier 0.5 Supplier

January 21, 2019

The role of automotive suppliers is structured into tiers. The tiered structure has given clarity and understanding to both industry outsiders and observers as to which company is responsible for which component or technology. The automotive value chain has changed. Technology is advancing at such…

More Seeking Outside Provider Assistance and Collaboration

January 10, 2019

Today’s opportunities require cooperation across the ecosystem at large. As indicated by Forbes Insights research, transportation-focused executives will not only be looking to hire outside providers for a wider array of services, but they will also be seeking closer collaboration with suppliers, customers and even competitors….

Driverless Car Bill Needs Adjustments

December 19, 2018

There are many different industry and interest groups that have a stake in the outcome of the driverless car bill. The bill passed the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee by a voice vote in October, and a companion bill sailed through the House last year….

Metal vs. Plastic

December 07, 2018

Plastics.  They are everywhere from packaging to automotive body parts. It is no wonder that according to a research report by Global Market Insights, Inc. that the automotive plastics market size is set to surpass 50 billion by 2024. Anything plastic can be made by plastic…

How to Decode a VIN

December 03, 2018

There are 17 numbers and letters (17 positions) in a vehicle identification number  (VIN) and you can divide them into three groups: World Manufacturer Identifier, Vehicle Descriptor Section, and Vehicle Identifier Section. Typically, the VIN is stamped into a plate that may be located in…

Vehicle-to-Everything Communication

November 26, 2018

Vehicles today are connected more than ever, even older vehicles can be connected. We are also connecting vehicles to smartphones. Connecting vehicles with smart cities is next. Needless to say, automotive communication technology will be even more important in the future. The below terms will…

Benefits of Virtual Prototyping

November 19, 2018

Virtual reality is not as new as one may think. In 1935, Stanley Weinbaum released Pygmalion’s Spectacles – a science fiction story. The story’s main character wears a pair of goggles which transports him to a fictional world which stimulates his senses aptly and features…

Was 2008 Automotive Bailout Worth it?

November 15, 2018

It is hard to believe it has been 10 years. In late 2008, global financial markets were panicking, U.S. employers were laying off hundreds of thousands of workers every month and consumer spending and the stock market were plummeting. In the waning days of the…