Our Autonomous Moonshot

Our Autonomous Moonshot
by Roger C. Lanctot on 06-17-2018 at 7:00 am

Keynoting the TU-Automotive event in Novi, Mich., last week on the 50th anniversary of the assassination of Senator Robert F. Kennedy I took the occasion to note the lofty visions to which Robert and his brother, President John F. Kennedy, aspired. We face our own challenges in the automotive industry today, with an annual global… Read More


Driver Distraction? Don’t Look at Me!

Driver Distraction? Don’t Look at Me!
by Roger C. Lanctot on 10-06-2017 at 7:00 am

The Automobile Club of America’s (AAA) ongoing battle with driver distraction, among other issues such as drowsy driving and teen driving, turns a new page with a report flagging 23 of 30 tested in-vehicle infotainment systems as demanding that drivers pay a high or very high level of attention when performing tasks with… Read More


Tuning in to Tesla Radio

Tuning in to Tesla Radio
by Roger C. Lanctot on 08-18-2017 at 12:00 pm

The rumor is spreading far and wide that Tesla Motors’ CEO Elon Musk is talking with major record labels about creating a streaming audio service dedicated to Tesla vehicles. The widespread industry reaction is head scratching and eye rolling at what is seen as the latest chapter in the Musk follies – Solar City, Model 3, Autopilot,Read More


Between Waze and a Thin Hard Place

Between Waze and a Thin Hard Place
by Roger C. Lanctot on 10-27-2016 at 4:00 pm

Car makers, semiconductor companies and wireless carriers are all excited these days about creating cars that can drive themselves. Billions of dollars are being spent on acquisitions and investments in companies and technologies that can make this happen. But there is a fly in the ointment by the name of Waze.

To create cars capable… Read More


Apple Car Crumble

Apple Car Crumble
by Roger C. Lanctot on 10-21-2016 at 7:00 am

Software, mechanical and electrical engineers working for auto makers received a huge self-esteem injection this week as events unfolding at Apple suggested that the company had abandoned long-rumored plans for building a car. Considering the fact that Apple still hasn’t delivered a decent navigation app with traffic services,… Read More


Stop the Dashboard Insanity!

Stop the Dashboard Insanity!
by Roger C. Lanctot on 04-26-2016 at 7:00 am

Speaking as part of the digital track at this week’s NAB confab, John Ellis proclaimed the demise of the dashboard radio in the coming world of automated vehicles. The headline reporting his talk in Tom Taylor’s newsletter was “Radio is on a path to extinction in the vehicle.”There’s no point in being subtle … Read More