Ficosa International, S.A. / Headquarters Business Report FY ended Dec. 2019
Contracts
-On March 25, Panasonic Automotive & Industrial Systems Company (Panasonic AIS) announced that the new interior mirror with built-in ETC 2.0 system (ETC mirror), developed jointly with the Company, has been adopted as original equipment for BMW’s new X5 for the Japanese market. The ETC mirror is a new product which comes after the development of an electronic interior mirror and a telematic control unit. The new ETC mirror combines the Company’s mirror technology with Panasonic’s ETC wireless communications technology. (From an article in the Nikkan Jidosha Shimbun on March 26, 2019)
-The Company expects to manufacture more than 8 million parking cameras by 2028, based on orders already received from top OEMs. Since 2014, the Company has manufactured and sold 3 million rear-view cameras worldwide. Rear-view cameras are part of the Company’s Advanced Driver-Assistance Systems (ADAS) business unit. When the driver starts the car, the camera in the back activates and rear-view images are shown on the central monitor. The system uses mobile overlays to control the turn of the steering wheel, allowing for more precise maneuvers. (From a press release on May 30, 2019)
R&D Activities
-At the Mobile World Capital Barcelona, the Company, SEAT, Telefonica, ETRA and i2CAT have signed a collaboration agreement to perform a pilot project for connected cars. The project lies within the scope of the 5G Barcelona consortium, which is an initiative intended to consolidate the city of Barcelona as Europe’s benchmark 5G hub. It also involves the collaboration of other 5G Barcelona members such as UPC and CTTC. This pilot project, jointly headed by SEAT and Telefonica, represents the first step towards fully cooperative autonomous driving. The features of 5G technology, such as low latency and edge computing (a technology that simplifies IoT device traffic and permits real-time local data analysis), will facilitate communication among the vehicles and the infrastructure. (From a press release on January 28, 2019)
-The Company is the first global manufacturer to receive European RED certification for its CarCom platform with Cellular-V2X (C-V2X) technology. This platform integrates Qualcomm’s latest technology and has been certified in collaboration with Dekra Laboratories. The Company develops solutions for connecting cars with infrastructures and with other vehicles through both DSRC (802.11p) and C-V2X. The CarCom platform allows modular integration of the two connectivity options and also provides a dual mode variant. With the RED certification, the Company is positioned as a primary supplier of automotive components in collaborative systems for smart cities. (From a press release on June 17, 2019)
-The Company is participating in the SECREDAS project. The SECREDAS project aims to work on defining and implementing adequate levels of security against attacks on products. This project started on May 2018 and will conclude on April 2021. The Company will provide a secure ITS-G5 V2X On-Board-Unit which will include technologies to provide highest level of security across both hardware and software. The Company is expected to include the results and acquired know-from the project into its telematic unit portfolio. The Company will also develop a driver monitoring system that analyses the driver’s respiratory signal to provide information about the driver’s drowsiness and stress levels. (From a press release on May 17, 2019)
Product Development
Bitax telematic platform
The Company has developed the Bitax telematic platform, a hybrid solution which allows the integration of Wi-Fi technology (DSRC) and cellular technology (C-V2X). This hybrid solution allows for both types of communication using the same hardware platform. The Company also offers the CarCom platform, which allows modular integration of various connectivity solutions. This solution meets the goal of facilitating direct communication between vehicles and new technology systems. At MWC 2019, under the framework of the 5G Barcelona pilot program for the 5G Connected Car, the Company, together with other consortium partners Telefonica, SEAT, Mobile World Capital, ETRA and i2Cat, shares three use cases of a 5G connected vehicle with C-V2X technology developed by the Company in a real city environment for safer driving. (From a press release on February 28, 2019)
StreetSmart Door concept
-The International Automotive Components Group (IAC) and AGC Automotive Europe announced that they will be unveiling the StreetSmart Door concept in cooperation with the Company at CES 2019 in Las Vegas. The StreetSmart Door concept features seamlessly integrated, shaped, glass surfaces in the door panel, a display for a digital side camera monitoring system (CMS) and comfort and lighting controls. The system can support multiple operation modes from personal to autonomous to ride-sharing, with current and future multimedia applications. The design includes an industry-first glass speaker, premium materials and dynamic ambient lighting. The industry-first, transparent audio glass speaker reduces production complexity and cuts weight by 50% compared to a conventional automotive speaker system, while offering a unique acoustic experience. (From a press release on January 4, 2019)
Investment Activities
-The Company announced that it is implementing an aggressive investment plan, with an additional EUR 500 million investment over the next four years, in order to fuel its leadership in vision, connectivity, safety and e-mobility systems. The new technological products aimed at enhancing assisted driving, autonomous cars, connected cars and e-mobility have become the pillars of the Company’s growth. The Company has developed and manufactured the Audi e-Tron’s digital rear-view system, the first vehicle to market featuring cameras and screens substituting for conventional exterior mirrors. In late 2018, the Company reaffirmed its commitment to electromobility by inaugurating its new e-Mobility Hub in Spain. (From a press release on March 15, 2019)