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Telematics (and mention of BMW) in the news...

Hi.

This is bad news, in my humble opinion.  I hope this technology never 
fully comes to pass - I don't mind navigational assistance, but the
thought of my car driving itself is not a pleasant thought.

Just MHO,
 .steve.
1983 528e 232k miles
1987 528e?? soon??
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Steven J. Bernstein                         TEL: 00 (1) 516 435 6369
Standard Microsystems Corporation (SMC)     FAX: 00 (1) 516 435 8657
Components Products Division
80 Arkay Drive                               Work: bernstein@domain.elided
Hauppauge, NY 11788          __________   Home: bernstein@domain.elided
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Article 6 of clari.biz.industry.automotive:
From: C-reuters@domain.elided (Reuter / Neil Winton)
Subject: Car makers hope telematics will boost fortunes
Copyright: 1994 by Reuters, R
Date: Mon, 28 Nov 94 18:10:17 PST

	 LONDON, Nov 29 (Reuter) - Growing use of computers and 
telecommunications will cut accidents, unravel traffic jams, 
guide drivers through unfamiliar terrain, and curb pollution, 
car manufacturers expect.
	 They also hope this convergence of technology, known as 
telematics, will become a burgeoning new business which will 
disarm critics who say car use must be curbed because it is 
increasingly anti-social and environmentally damaging.
	 In the first decade of the next century, people will only 
have to drive cars in cities and obscure rural areas. Elsewhere, 
the computer will take over. The family car will be driven to 
the nearest main road, the destination will be punched into its 
computer which will lock on to the cable system under the road. 
The car will then drive itself across the highway network and 
deposit the occupants close to their destination.
	 The telematics system will have avoided traffic jams, taken 
avoiding action if an accident threatened, and kept a safe 
distance between other cars as it sped at 150 miles (240 
kilometres) per hour down the fast lane.
	 Currently, the industry is able to offer only comparatively 
mundane technological gadgets, but an exhibition opening in 
Paris on Wednesday hopes to ignite public and government 
enthusiasm for telematics and demonstrate the progress that the 
industry has already made.
	 The exhibition, organised by the European car lobby 
Association des Constructeurs Europeens d'Automobiles (ACEA), 
runs until December 3 at the Palais des Congres, Porte Maillot.
	 "We want to spur a new partnership between industry and 
local authorities," John Hollis, the ACEA's director for 
transport policy told Reuters in a telephone interview from his 
Brussels office.
	 "This exhibition should focus public interest. If we can do 
that it will make it easier for companies to justify the huge 
investments needed," Hollis said.
	 German luxury car maker BMW is the only European company so 
far to offer one of these infant devices -- a navigation system 
in its latest "7" series saloon. Costing just under $2,000, the 
system developed by Philips Electronics NV of the Netherlands 
locks on to satellites and guides the driver with instructions 
from a voice synthesiser.
	 Business opportunities will be huge. In a recent report, 
London's Economist Intelligence Unit estimated the world market 
for vehicle navigation devices would explode from about $1 
billion next year to $8 billion by 2000. The value of in-car 
semiconductors, which perform at the heart of computers, will 
zoom to $10 billion by 2000 from $4.5 billion next year.
	 "The Japanese, as usual, have got the ball rolling. They've 
got the costs down to realistic levels, with the car and 
electronic industries working together," said Peter Schmidt, 
joint managing director of British automotive consultancy AID.
	 According to the EIU, more than 140,000 navigation devices 
were sold in Japan last year, and more than 250,000 are expected 
this year. Leading suppliers include Sony Corp, Pioneer Electric 
Corp and Nippondenso Co Ltd. Rockwell International Corp of the 
United States and Robert Bosch Gmbh of Germany are also 
prominent in the business.
	 But progress in Europe may be bedevilled by lack of 
political will. Before companies are prepared to put up the 
massive investments to supply car makers with electronic 
hardware, governments across Europe will also have to commit 
huge sums to build the infrastructure for car computers to lock 
on to. Standards have to be agreed to allow compatibility of 
telematics devices. Rules are needed to sort out legal 
responsibility when such devices fail.
	 "It's hard to see how Europe can put this together in a 
reasonably short time. They can't even coordinate speed limits 
or licence plates. And the infrastructure is going to cost 
billions. Who's going to pay for that?" said Vic Heylen, 
managing director of the European Centre for Automotive Studies 
in Antwerp, Belgium.
	 But if the car is not to fall victim to its own popularity, 
answers are urgently required. According to the ACEA, there are 
140 million cars on Europe's roads, and this will increase by 
between 30 and 40 percent by 2010.
	 Gridlock is the prospect, or an expensive increase in road 
building. The industry hopes telematics may provide a third and 
more pallatable choice.
	 "Traffic density and congestion is going to get much worse 
without the new technology," said AID's Schmidt. "Telematics can 
push it through alternative channels. It will get an efficient 
flow of traffic that otherwise would mean a massive traffic 
jam."
	 "The future is very exciting. You'll get cars guided 
automatically across Europe from door to door. On the motorways 
they can switch from petrol power and key on to electric current 
just like a train to cut emissions. It's all technically 
possible now but will we see the investment?" wonders Schmidt.