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- A-Major-League-Two-Timer
A Major-League Two-Timer
In September 2017, it is time for the auto industry to show the flag again at the International Motor Show (IAA) in Frankfurt. Many manufacturers will be presenting their latest models or concept vehicles to the public. But Nissan won’t be on hand this year. The Japanese automaker already presented its ideas during the spring at CeBIT, the IT trade fair.
At first glance, Nissan’s decision is surprising. But after a closer look, its presence at CeBIT seems consistent. Not least of all because vehicles are becoming smarter and more autonomous thanks to advanced technology. And then there is the fact that global IT companies, such as IBM, Samsung, Google’s parent company Alphabet, and Panasonic, have been pushing their way into the auto sector for some time. For example, Alphabet’s subsidiary Waymo is sending self-piloted cars onto the road, and Samsung bought the U.S. car electronics company Harman in late 2016.
A Strong Presence for Automakers at Electronics Trade Fairs
Major automakers themselves are actively involved with current IT and electronics issues and are appearing at the largest trade fairs for these two sectors. In January 2016, there were no fewer than 150 automotive companies on the list of exhibitors at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, which was originally devoted to entertainment electronics. It now attracts anything related to electric current. From now on, that will mean a growing number of powertrains for cars. Accordingly, electric mobility attracted a great deal of attention in Las Vegas, along with smart on-board services and autonomous driving.
Nissan wanted to “wow” CeBIT’s visitors, and not guests at the IAA, with its SAM technology platform.
Focus on IT Solutions
Nissan was not the only automaker among the exhibitors at this year’s CeBIT. Volkswagen displayed a concept designed to help drivers to steer clear of traffic jams in metropolitan areas in the future – thanks to a quantum computer. In this approach, each car is sent along a separate route. Audi and Vodafone jointly presented a way for cars to network with one another in real time.
In the “intelligent mobility” category, Nissan put its focus on autonomous driving, introducing its Seamless Autonomous Mobility (SAM) technology platform, which makes it possible for self-driving cars to respond to unforeseen situations – for example, the scene of an accident. In these cases, the vehicle makes contact with a command center that evaluates the situation and gives the car a plan for continuing the trip. The solution is stored immediately in the cloud and, if necessary, passed on to other vehicles in the fleet.
Digitization as Driver
These examples show that it is increasingly a matter of course for automakers to present their clever, IT-based solutions at electronics and technology gatherings. This trend is likely to continue since digitization and electric mobility will play a growing role in the auto industry. That’s how Thomas Hausch, Managing Director, Nissan Center Europe GmbH, sees things.
After all, the Nissan model presented in Hannover did not just feature autonomous driving – it was an electric car as well. Nissan’s partnership with the city of Essen, the “green capital of Europe” this year, also reveals a cheeky approach to promoting electric mobility. In the end, Hausch does not want Nissan’s absence from the IAA to be seen as an abandonment of the venerable industry gathering. But the move already seems to be a sure indication of that attitude, since Nissan wanted to “wow” CeBIT’s visitors, and not guests at the IAA, with its SAM technology platform.
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