LIASE Group attended the 2017 editions of the Consumer Electronics Show (CES), from January 3-6, and the Consumer Telematics Show (CTA), on January 4, in Las Vegas. LIASE Group benefitted from this year’s events by mingling and networking with global automotive executives, leaders and disruptors during this major trade show.

Celebrating its 50th anniversary, CES has over the years become a leading event in the automotive industry, where car lovers and automotive leaders are introduced to the latest technology and innovations. At the same time, they get a preview of the direction in which the industry is going, with self-driving cars and artificial intelligence in the spotlight this year for example. The 2017 edition offered many new products which will be reaching the market in the future.

Major announcements and reveals

During his keynote address, Nvidia founder and CEO Jen-Hsun Huang presented Xavier, a computer which gives every car the ability to have artificial intelligence. Huang wants to do so by working with companies like Audi and announced a partnership with the president of Audi of America, Scott Keogh, which will bring self-driving Audi cars by 2020.

BMW introduced HoloActive Touch, a new holographic control interface which offers reactive floating graphics over the car console, by using a projector, a camera and a speaker. BMW sees this innovation as a future form of their iDrive control system. BMW also presented its well-established BMW 530, combined with the Personal CoPilot technology, its automated driving feature, which keeps a car’s speed and lane positions on highways. Finally, BMW also presented the addition of Cortana, Microsoft’s digital assistant, to their cars, which integrates the system’s voice-controlled commands while driving.
 

Honda added an emotional component to driving with its new concept, the NeuV. This electric car lets users customize their experience by enabling cars to be aware of the driver’s emotions, through Honda’s Automated Network Assistant. Instead of remaining idle while parked, the car, built for ride-sharing, will have the ability to drive around to find passengers, therefore creating a revenue stream for the owner.
 

Bosch also introduced a new concept car, which uses facial recognition to adapt its settings to the preferences of the user, therefore controlling the radio station, the mirror positions or the temperature.
 

Toyota presented the Concept-i car, which has an artificial intelligence component named Yui, designed to provide a warmer and friendlier experience.
 

Faraday Future unveiled FF 91, its first electric car. While the car is not ready for production, the company says it will have a range of 378 miles and will charge at more than 500 miles per hour. It will also remember the preferences of passengers, in whichever seat they pick. The vehicle will also offer autonomous driving.

Ford confirmed it would integrate the Amazon Echo smart home device in their cars, which means users will be able to play audiobooks, order items on Amazon, and also remote start the car and control the doors. Ford also presented the Fusion hybrid autonomous vehicle.

Hyundai announced its Blue Link service would support Google Assistant with Google Home’s voice control speaker, to facilitate the driving experience, but also controlling different elements like the car’s temperature. Hyundai also displayed the electronic Ioniq car, its own autonomous prototype.

Google and FCA will create a concept Chrysler 300, built to run Android 7.0, which means Android Auto can run directly on a phone instead of being limited to new cars or new display heads.

CES Keynote Speakers

This year’s event featured the following speaks amongst others:

-Jen-Hsun Huang, Founder, President and CEO, NVIDIA

-Carlos Ghosn, Chairman and CEO, Nissan Moto Corporation, Ltd.

CTS

Several themes and trends were discussed on January 4th, during the Consumer Telematics Show. After an opening session where investors discussed the automotive technology coming up in 2017, different panels presented the challenges of developing smart cities to support automotive innovation, or the upcoming legislation surrounding autonomous cars. Ford and Toyota discussed the adoption of SmartDeviceLink, an open-source software, and its impact on the integration of apps in cars. Other topics discussed included:

-the cybersecurity of cars;

-the potential of subscriptions for car connectivity;

-the timeline of autonomous cars in 2017;

-the relation between man and cars.

Finally, Roger C. Lanctot, Associate Director, Global Automotive Practice, Strategy Analytics, presented a closing keynote on the biggest tech trends and the business models disrupting the automative industry this year.

CTS Speakers
This year’s event featured the following speakers amongst others:

-Don Butler, Executive Director of Connected Vehicle and Services, Ford Motor Company

-Shigeki Tomoyama, President, Connected Car Company, Toyota

-Peter Lorentzon, Vice President, Digital & Connectivity Consumer Services, Volvo

-Kurt Hoppe, Global Head of Innovation – Connected Car, General Motors

-Rickj Whittemore, Connected Vehicle Portfolio Manager, Audi of America

-David DiMeo, Director, Connected Car Innovations, FordDirect

-Martin Rosell, Managing Director, WirelessCar

-Henry Bzeih, Managing Director KIA Connected & Mobility Division, KIA Motors

-Richard Wallace, Director, Transportation Systems Analysis, CARS

-Steve Cowper, Vice President of Business Development, Europe, Caruma

Vanessa Moriel, LIASE Group Managing Director Asia poses with Chinese Celebrities at CES press day 2017 in Las Vegas.

Vanessa Moriel, LIASE Group Managing Director Asia stands in front of the newly revealed FF 91 SUV at CES 2017 in Las Vegas. With the FF91, Faraday Future hopes to rival Tesla in the high-end all-electric car market.

John Bukowicz, LIASE Group Managing Director Americas (left) and Vanessa Moriel, LIASE Group Managing Director Asia (right) pose in front of the FF91 reveal outside of CES 2017 in Las Vegas.

Nick Sampson, SVP of R&D & Engineering for Faraday Futures welcomes Jia Yuetieng, Chief Executive Officer of LeEco to the stage during their press conference at CES 2017.

Robert Carter, Senior Vice President – Automotive Operations at Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A. Inc., presents during the reveal of the Toyota Concept-I, a fun twist on the driverless car concept.

Dr Volkmar Tanneberger, Head of Electrical and Electronic Development at Volkswagen duing Volkswagen’s press conference at CES 2017. Volkswagen focused it’s presentation on connectivity developments in its cars.

John Scumniotales, General Manager, Alexa Automotive Domains at Amazon speaks during the Volkswagen press conference at CES 2017. Volkswagen announced it would be integrating Alexa, Amazon’s voice controlled virtual assistant, into its cars.

Divergent, an automotive 3D printing company, displayed their impressive ‘Blade’ car and ‘Dagger’ motorcycle at CES 2017.

Jose Munoz, Chief Performance Officer at Nissan Presents at CES 2017 in Las Vegas.

LIASE Group Managing Director Asia Vanessa Moriel and Non-Executive Board Member Vic H. Doolan attended the Los Angeles Auto Show Press Days, called Automobility LA, on November 16 and 17, 2016. The two day visit was an opportunity to meet up with executives, leaders and professionals from the automotive and transportation industries.

Automobility LA is one of North America’s largest auto industry trade shows. The 4-day press and trade event comes just before the public opening of the L.A Auto show.

This year’s edition featured presentations from industry leaders, new car reveals, test drives, as well as discussions about several important advancements in automotive technology.

Some of the main topics covered at the event included:

• – The future of fully connected and autonomous cars
• – Advances in Race cars and their applications to the mass-market
• – Automotive data and analytics to improve driver experience
• – Car and ride sharing
• – The future of mobility
• – The automotive applications of 3D printing (divergent 3D)
• – Infotainment
• – The future of automotive retail
• – The use of virtual reality (VR) in the automotive industry
• – The future of flight-enabled vehicles
• – Automotive technology start-ups
• – Automotive cybersecurity
• – Open innovation and vehicle design
• – Artificial intelligence and the future of transportation
• – Advancements in in-car navigation

Many of the presentations at the event underlined that the transportation industry is rapidly evolving as a result of growing city populations and congestion. Speakers also noted the rise of new transportation options as well as changing consumer needs and tastes as drivers of industry transformation.

An industry in transformation

Points of agreements among the industry experts gathered for the event included:

• – Automotive companies will have to adapt to the changing landscape and become both auto and mobility companies.
• – The way that cities are designed and built will have to take these evolving trends into account.
• – Self-driving and electric cars, as well as on-demand services will all play an important role in the evolution of the automotive and transportation industries. However, there will need to be an accompanying ecosystem that supports the mainstreaming of these new vehicles and services, including tax incentives, government regulations, and practical considerations such as recharging times and grid connectivity.

The speaking list featured American automotive industry leaders as well as new technology actors that are trying to rewrite the rules of the sector.

Speakers included:

• – Mark Fields (Ford President & CEO)
• – Stephanie Latham (Director US Automotive, Facebook)
• – Tim Strafford (Automotive Director, McLaren Applied Technologies)
• – Brian Kraznich (CEO, Intel)
• – Steve Banfield (CEO, BMW ReachNow)
• – Pasquale Romano (President & CEO, ChargePoint)
• – Ben Stapleton (VP Facilities and Operations, LA Clean Tech Incubator)
• – Andrew Liu (VP New Ventures, AECOM)
• – Peter Rawlinson (CTO, Lucid Motors)
• – Rachel Bhattacharya (Director, Commercial, Maven/GM)
• – Matt Jones (Chief Product Officer, Moovel/Daimler)
• – Padmasree Warrior (CEO and Chief Development Officer, NextEV USA)
• – Sébastien Stassin (Chief Creative Officer, KISKA GmbH)
• – Jay Rogers (CEO, Local Motors)
• – Johann Hiebl (Executive Vice President, Infotainment & Connectivity, Continental)
• – Rob Lloyd (CEO, Hyperloop One)
• – Armed Niestroj (CEO, Mercedes-Benz NA R&D)
• – Thilo Koslowski (CEO, Porsche Digital)

Luxury and crossovers steal the show

Los Angeles is one of America’s largest markets for luxury cars and the L.A Auto Show did not disappoint with its display of luxury vehicles. Mercedes revealed its new Mayback S650 convertible, of which only 300 models will be made. Porsche featured its Panamera 4 E-Hybrid and Jaguar introduced the Jaguar i-Pace.

But what dominated the Los Angeles Auto show were crossover utility vehicles (CUVs).  Reveals at the show included Mazda’s second generation CX-5 compact SUV/crossover, Jeep’s new 2017 Compact SUV, Alfa Romeo’s Stelvio SUV and Subaru’s Viziv-7 Concept, a seven-seat CUV.

Green car and environmental issues were also an important part of the event. The Chevy Bolt EV won the 2016 Green Car of the Year Award.

Safety was also addressed at the auto show. Automotive company executives underlined that although their cars were built with increasingly advanced safety equipment and driver assistance systems, it was important to raise awareness about driving carefully and avoiding distractions such as texting.

Like in previous years, the event was a great opportunity for the LIASE Group to discuss advances and trends in the automotive industry with leaders and executives from the industry.

LIASE Group Non-Executive Board Member, Vic H. Doolan (right), poses for a picture with Gerry McGovern, Land Rover Chief Design Officer (center).

LIASE Group Non-Executive Board Member Vic H. Doolan with GMC executives.

LIASE Group Managing Partner Asia, Vanessa Moriel, and Non-Executive Board Member, Vic H. Doolan, pose for a picture in front of the Escala Concept at the LA Auto Show.

LIASE Group Managing Director Asia Vanessa Moriel, and Non-Executive Board Member Vic H. Doolan take a picture with one of the KIA hamsters featured in KIA ads in recent years.

LIASE Group Managing Director Asia Vanessa Moriel stands in front of the Jaguar I-PACE Concept which made its North American debut at the LA Auto Show in 2016. The I-PACE is Jaguar’s first fully electric car.

Jaguar Land Rover CEO Ralf Speth walks in front of Jaguar Racing’s formula-E vehicle with LIASE Group Non-Executive Board Member Vic H. Doolan (hidden).

Another view on the Jaguar I-PACE Concept.

Los Angeles is the home of Hollywood, and the Tie Fighter made an appearance at the Auto Show.

The baby blue Lincoln Navigator concept was on show at the 2016 LA Auto Show. With its vertical-lift doors, the concept stroke many car lovers as a show-stealer.

Padmasree Warrior, CEO and chief development officer of NextEV USA speaking at Automobility LA.

Ms. Warrior, CEO spoke about the current state of the automotive industry. With a broad overview of the problems plaggueing the industry (congestion, highway fatalities, emissions and changing usage and ownership models), she introduced NextEV’s vision of driving to be built around the car as a safe, green companion. She noted that innovation should be focused on safety and autonomy to give back time to consumers and restore the car as an object of aspiration.

Steve Banfield CEO of BMW ReachNow, speaking at LA AutoMobility. BMW’s alternative mobility platform announced its expansion into Brooklyn, NY and debute its solutions for residential buildings. Brooklyn is ReachNow’s first foothold into the American East Coast.

Ford debuted the new Ecosport SUV at the LA Auto Show. The new SUV targets environmentally conscious millennials and older baby-boomers looking for a small sized SUV.

Edmunds & Facebook panel at Automobility LA. How messaging chatbots & AI will transform automotive retail.

Vanessa Moriel, LIASE Group Managing Director Asia (center) answers a question during a panel at the CBU/CAR 21st Annual International Conference in Beijing. She is joined by Jack Perkowski, Managing Partner, JFP Holdings (left) and Shah Firoozi, Founder and CEO, PAC Group (right).

Article:
LIASE Group Managing Director Asia Vanessa Moriel joined a who’s who of automotive executives in Beijing on May 24 and 25, 2016, for the CBU/China Automotive Review (CAR) 21st Annual International Conference. Held in the prestigious Grand Metro Park Hotel and proudly sponsored by the LIASE Group, the conference gathered to discuss the theme of “Smart EV: How it Defines Made-in-China 2025.”

This year’s topic and discussion was partially a response to Chinese President Xi Jinping’s call for growth and innovation in China’s automotive industry in the coming decade. The President challenged carmakers to put 5 million Neighborhood Electric Vehicles (NEVs) on the road by 2020 and has offered generous subsidies toward this goal. With this shot in the arm, it is up to auto’s incumbents and newcomers to seize the opportunity provided by a rapidly evolving industry and create a new generation of smart electric vehicles (EV).

LIASE Group Managing Director Asia Vanessa Moriel highlighted the human resources aspect of this entirely new market landscape. She also discussed how newcomers to the auto industry are shaking things up.

As Ms. Moriel noted, one way through which the new “Internet carmakers” are competing with traditional auto manufacturers is by attracting automotive talents away from traditional players. New automotive firms such as Tesla, NextEV, LeSEE and Uber draw young automotive talent with creative environments, organizational flexibility and appealing compensation packages. According to Ms. Moriel, automotive executive tend to move out of major OEM’s for the following reasons:

• Resistance to change and evolution within the OEM
• Inability of the OEM to start from scratch
• Conservative mindset and environment
• Bureaucratic organization
• Lack of agility and dynamism
• Slow internal process
• Unappealing compensation package

The recent shuffle of company executives has lowered OEM stock prices, caused much uncertainty and confusion within the organization, and decreased OEM attractiveness for top talents.

According to Ms. Moriel, OEMs have responded to disruption in the automotive human resource sector in the following ways:

• The creation of new entities and organizations
• M&A initiatives
• Hiring or promoting a younger generation of executives
• Refreshing their company culture
• Accelerating decision making
• Promoting a new company image
• Designing more competitive compensation structures

A fast evolving market
China has the fastest expanding auto market in the world by far, and its auto population is already the second largest in the world, after the U.S. Meanwhile, pressures from consumers and governments to reduce emissions and oil dependency are shifting the desirability of EVs over combustion vehicles past the tipping point.

In 2014 and 2015, new energy vehicles saw explosive growth of more than 300%, mostly in the Chinese market. With its shift of GDP share from primary and secondary industries to the tertiary sector, China is transforming from the World’s Factory to the World’s Consumer, as Jack Perkowski, Managing Partner, JFP Holdings underlined in his presentation.

In the opening talk of the conference, Xu Changming, Director, Information Resources, State Information Centre shared his outlook on the development of EVs. He cited three reasons for potential EV market growth: Large-scale demand, particularly within public transportation; a dynamic supply-side market driven by innovative newcomers and improvements in battery and charging technology; and favorable changes in government policy and EV subsidies. He also cautioned that the EV market is policy-driven and dependent on subsidies, and that charging time and convenience are still below consumer expectations. With these caveats, he explained, the EV market in China is ready to take off.

New technology at the forefront
Various speakers at the conference highlighted how new technologies will be driving the industry forward for the foreseeable future.

• Lu Qun, Chairman of Qiantu Motors, presented on the importance of smart manufacturing and Industry 4.0 to meet the individualized needs of consumers in an increasingly personalized and diversified car market.

• Jack Cheng, Executive Vice-President and Co-Founder of NextEV presented his company’s vision for a holistic, integrated user experience by offering connected services beyond the car.

• Kevin Quinlan, Vice President, Delphi Powertrain Systems, President, Delphi Gas Engine Management Systems shared his perspective on the emerging trends creating challenges and opportunities for original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), namely exponential computing power, expansion of the internet of things (IoT) and the convergence of safe, green and connected consumer demand. He showcased Delphi’s 48-V solution to support electrification and meet these diverse challenges.

• Edouard de Pirey, President of Valeo, China presented his firm’s two-pillar growth strategy based on CO2 emissions reduction and intuitive driving; and development in Asia and emerging countries, especially China.

• Zhu Chaohong, Director, ZF E-Mobility showcased his firm’s E-Mobility solutions for the Chinese NEV industry, focusing on connectivity, mobility, efficiency and electrification.

• Chen Quanshi, Director, Auto Research Institute Tsinghua, presented his vision for the new smart EV as a mobile electronic control center, where connection is continuous and driving a thing of the past, in effect doing for the car what Apple did for the phone. He emphasized the importance of developing the smart NEV for China’s changing economy.

• Shah Firoozi, Founder and CEO, PAC Group followed-up on the impact of automotive industry newcomers in his closing presentation. These newcomers are reshaping the car as a “computer on wheels” and are setting new benchmarks for innovation, IoT integration and time to market. They may emulate the Apple model of sub-contracting manufacturing but controlling technology, design, cost, quality, marketing and distribution, as well as the Tesla/Faraday Future model of building new facilities in multiple locations. Either way, he said, the game will change for the auto industry.

Other speakers at the conference included Shen Haiyin, CEO and Founder, Zhiche Auto; Jianguo Wang, President of Bosch China; John Wang, Founder and CEO, FutureMove Telematics; Wu Gansha, Founder, UISEE Technology; Huang, Yonghe, Chief Engineer and Director of Policy Research, CATARC; Pang Yicheng, Chairman, Zhidian Interaction Group; Feng Wutang, Chery Automobile; and Paul Lin, Vice President, Yudo New Energy Vehicle Co., Ltd.

Collectively, the CBU/CAR 21st Annual International Conference was a thoroughly stimulating and successful exchange of ideas about the upcoming challenges and opportunities brought on by the coming of the smart EV.

Vanessa Moriel, LIASE Group, Managing Director Asia discusses with Kevin Quinlan, Vice President, Delphi Powertrain Systems; President, Delphi Gas Engine Management Systems, during the CBU/CAR 2016 Conference.

Vanessa Moriel, LIASE Group, Managing Director Asia speaks with a journalist.

Vanessa Moriel, LIASE Group Managing Director Asia (middle left); Jack Perkowski, Managing Partner, JFP Holdings (middle right); Dr. Wang (right) and Lei Xing, Editor-in-Chief, CBU (left) at the CBU/CAR 2016 Conference.

Vanessa Moriel, LIASE Group Managing Director Asia speaking with Executives from Axalta.

Vanessa Moriel, LIASE Group Managing Director Asia speaking with Jack Chen, Founder of NextEv.

Zhang Jiyu (长寄语) Chairman of CH-AUTO Technology Co. Ltd speaking with Vanessa Moriel, LIASE Group Managing Director Asia and Melania Wu, LIASE Group, Head of Beijing Office.

Vanessa Moriel, LIASE Group Managing Director Asia, presents to the attendees of the CBU/CAR conference on the executive reshuffling brought on by the new “Internet Car Makers”.

LIASE Group Managing Director Asia speaks with Brose-SEW CEO Wolfgang Sczygiol.

Article:
LIASE Group Managing Director Vanessa Moriel and her team attended Auto China 2016 in Beijing. As the automotive world bore down on the Chinese capital for China’s most important automotive event of the year, LIASE Group team met with a number of regional and global automotive executives, and was present for this year’s major reveals and announcements.

Held every second year, in alternation with the Shanghai exhibition, this year’s Beijing auto show once again attracted carmakers from across the globe. In addition to the hundreds of thousands of members of the public in attendance, more than 14,000 journalists from over 40 countries covered the event, held from April 25 to May 4. Visitors to the show were not disappointed as 1,179 vehicles were exhibited by over one hundred manufacturers.

Innovation to Transformation
“Innovation to Transformation” was this year’s theme, and exhibitors delivered.

Amongst international OEMS, Audi showed off its powerful new TT RS, a sports coupe which can go from 0 to 100 km/h in 3.7 seconds. Audi also revealed the Connected Mobility Concept Q3, which features a motorized longboard stored in the rear bumper. When the car detects that traffic conditions become too slow, it prompts you to break out the longboard and whiz there instead.

Meanwhile, Mercedes unveiled The Smart Brabus, a sportier and more souped-up version of the ForTwo and ForFour.

Lovers of luxury and sports cars were treated to a slew of beautiful unveilings and debuts. Bentley launched the head-turning First Edition, a limited availability luxury saloon car with wood trim interiors. Porsche presented the 718 Cayman, promising better performance and fuel economy. Jaguar’s debuted the new luxury XF saloon, which features options for backseat Wi-Fi, electric blinds and massaging seats. And Volvo presented a renovated concept interior, the S90 Excellence, which forgoes the front passenger seat in exchange for expanded legroom and unobstructed view for the chauffeured rear passenger, not to mention heated footrests and chilled drinks from the mini-fridge.

Chinese OEMs Show their Colors

Many homegrown Chinese firms also made their mark at this year’s exhibition, particularly within the exciting electric car market.

Beijing-based LeEco unveiled its new concept electric sedan, the LeSEE, heralded by some as a challenger to Tesla’s Model S. Designed as a fully autonomous car, it will work in tandem with the firm’s product ecosystem including a smartphone, virtual reality and TV.
Anhui-based Chery revealed the ultra-modern FV 2030 plug-in hybrid concept, designed in partnership with Jaguar Land Rover.

Continued Dominance of SUVs
SUVs continued to be all the rage this year, although OEMs have increasingly been pumping out more fuel-efficient models.

Volkswagen unveiled its new flagship concept, the T-Prime Concept GTE, which is fully-electric until the 50 km/h mark, at which point it switches into gas power. And Infiniti released the QX Inspiration, possibly to replace its previous QX50 model.

Meanwhile, Geely launched the Emgrand GS SUV, which will soon be available in the UK. Changan Auto, a Chongqing-based manufacturer, presented the affordable CS35 SUV, which it hopes will overtake international models in China. SAIC Motor unveiled the new Roewe ERX5, which will intergrate Internet technology developed through a new partnership with Alibaba.

Global Automotive Executives Attend in Force
Prominent attendees from the global automotive industry at this year’s event included:
• Nissan-Renault CEO Carlos Ghosn;
• Ford CEO Mark Fields;
• GM CEO Mary Barra;
• Jaguar Land Rover CEO Ralf Speth;
• Volvo Cars President and Chief Executive Officer Hakan Samuelsson;
• Audi CEO Rupert Stadler;
• BMW AG Chair of the Supervisory Board Norbert Reithofer;
• Continental CEO Elmar Degenhart;
• PSA Peugeot Citroen CEO Carlos Tavares;
• Volkswagen Member of the Board responsible for China Jochem Heizmann;
• Bentley CEO Wolfgang Dürheimer;
• Lamborghini President and CEO Stephan Winkelmann; and,
• Mercedes Benz Head of Marketing Ola Kallenius.

Andy Palmer, CEO of Aston Martin Lagonda Ltd and LIASE Group’s Vanessa Moriel take time to chat during the 2016 Beijing Auto Show.

LIASE Group Managing Director Asia Vanessa Moriel chats with Johan De Nysschen, Executive Vice President, General Motors, and President of Cadillac.

Vanessa Moriel (front) poses for a picture with Ford Asia President, David L. Schoch (back).

Vanessa Moriel greets Ralf Speth, Global CEO of Jaguar Land Rover.

Kevin Wale, previous President and Managing Director of General Motors China and LIASE Group Managing Director Vanessa Moriel discuss on the sidelines of the 2016 China Auto Show in Beijing.

Vanessa Moriel exchanges a few words with a Volvo Global Executive during the press day at the Beijing Auto Show.

Vanessa Moriel and a Faraday Future Executive exchange ideas on the sidelines of the press day in Beijing.

Liase Group’s Vanessa Moriel poses in front of BMW’s new open-top i8 Spyder Concept launched in Beijing. The new model is a convertible version of the i8 plug-in hybrid sports car.

Faraday Future brought the FFZERO1 to Beijing, after first unveiling it in Las Vegas. Faraday Futures confirmed at the show that their first production model would be an SUV.

Over 800,000 attendees flocked to the 2016 Beijing International Automotive Exhibition. With China’s car ownership rate rocketing, the exhibition has become one of the world’s most important.

BAIC Motor presented their EX200 electric SUV, one of many new fuel-efficient SUVs which were prominently displayed at the Beijing auto show this year.

The LeEco LeSEE offered conference-goers a glimpse into the future of the connected, autonomous automobile.

The Porsche Cayman 718 sports is an all-new sports car offering better fuel-for-power efficiency.

Smart has gone sporty with the new Smart Brabus, a name that conjures both brain and brawn.

SAIC Motors presents its new Roewe ERX5, a fuel-efficient, connected SUV that aims to be more affordable than its foreign competitors.

Volkswagen released its reboot of the Touareg SUV, the T-Prime plug-in hybrid. Volkswagen is trying to turn the page on its diesel scandal with major investments in fuel efficiency.

The new Renault Koleos SUV aims to take on the global market with its blend of style, power and quality. Renault tagged it with the signature, “every inch an SUV and every inch a Renault.”
 

The made-in-China Chery FV2030 made its debut at Auto China 2016. The electric plug-in hybrid was dreamt up in a joint venture with Jaguar Land Rover.

John Bukowicz, Managing Director for the Americas, LIASE Group; Vanessa Moriel, Managing Director Asia, LIASE Group; and Vic H. Doolan, Non-Executive Member of the Board, LIASE Group attended the 2016 edition of the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas January 6-9 followed by the North American International Automotive Show and the Automotive News World Congress in Detroit January 11-15. With the rise of CES as a major automotive show and the continued importance of Detroit as North America’s largest car show, LIASE group benefitted from both events to mingle and network with global automotive executives, leaders and disruptors.

CES has become the top destination for car companies to unveil their latest tech and gadget; and for car lovers and automotive leaders to see what new products will be reaching the market in the coming months and years. The 2016 edition was no different as automakers and tech suppliers once again stole the spotlight in Las Vegas.

Autonomous driving took center stage at CES, but other more mature technology was also on display. Driving personalization through cloud connectivity and smart mobility stood out as particularly interesting.

Mercedes-Benz, which had unveiled the stunning F015 Concept at CES 2015 took a bold step and unveiled a production model vehicle for the first time ever at the Las Vegas show. The 2017 E-Class will have fully autonomous technology when it hits the road next year. Mercedes also unveiled its ME concept, using predictive data to know the driver’s daily routine.

Toyota had announced a US $ 1 billion advanced AI and robotic program to make cars safer and smarter and develop home robots to help people earlier in 2015. Toyota Research Institute CEO Gill Pratt announced an impressive line-up of engineers and executives. Among these senior hires are James Kuffner, who recently headed Google’s robotic program and will work on cloud computing with Toyota. Notable advisers include Rodney Brooks from Rethink Robotics and Marc Benioff from Salesforce.

Toyota also made a splash with its FCV Plus concept that generates electricity from a hydrogen fuel cell. The fuel cell not only powers the car, but can also be used to power a house as well. And Toyota also unveiled its Toyota Agent+, which used machine learning to predict the driver’s likely destination.

Ford CEO Mark Fields unveiled a partnership with Amazon. This will link Ford’s Sync 3 infotainment system to connect with Amazon’s Echo voice command device. Ford owners will be able to use voice commands to start the car or open a garage door. Ford also unveiled a vehicle-to-drone communication system that will initially be used in disaster relief but could eventually develop into wider commercial use.

GM’s Chevrolet premiered the 2017 Bolt EV, which garnered high praises for its massive range, interior space and competitive price, at about $US 30,000 in the US. Until Tesla unveils its model 3, industry insiders seem to agree that the new Bolt will be the EV model to beat. GM also unveiled a $500 million partnership with Lyft the day before CES started.

Volkswagen unveiled an electrified version of its popular camper van. The BUDD-e Concept will be configured like Tesla’s Model S, with motors in the front and back, and a battery pack in the middle and boasts. The BUDD-e comes with the usual array of gadgetry, touchscreens, and voice command activated features.

Korean automaker Kia showed its Drive Wise autonomous driving technology and sub-brand. The system uses a combination of radar, camera, GPS and ultrasonic sensors to drive on the highway or in the city without driver involvement. It said it planned to invest $2 billion into self-driving car technology before 2018. Kia also unveiled the I-Cockpit concept, previewing the carmakers future in-car technology.

Suppliers also made major announcements at the show.

• -Chipmaker Nvidia release its Drive PX 2 self-driving computer which controls self-driving vehicles through 12 CPU cores.
• -Leading camera supplier Mobileye announced deals with GM and Volkswagen to supply mapping data for their autonomous driving programs.
• -Meanwhile, their competitors, Here, which was purchased by a German consortium of automakers made up of Audi, BMW and Mercedes-Benz showed off its HD Live Map platform for self-driving cars.
• -Blackberry’s infotainment division, QNX, introduced its platform for autonomous cars, ADAS. The product will allow carmakers to build automated driving system with 360-degree surround view that integrate information from multiple sources including radar, cameras, and high-performance processors that control fully autonomous vehicles.
• -Delphi talked about V2E, which it says stands for “vehicle to everything” communication. The concept encompasses vehicle-to-vehicle, vehicle-to infrastructure and vehicle-to-smartphone communication.
• -Bosch showed technology connecting the car to the home, adjusting the lighting and temperature of the home once it detects the car approaching. It also showcased how images from the home can be seen from the car.
• -Harman showed several advances in its in-car technology. First was the Harman Advanced Navigation system, which uses crowdsourced traffic, parking and hazard information to make trips as stress-free as possible. It also showed how its acquisition of TowerSec security company could protect cars from hackers , announced a partnership with Microsoft to port Office 360 and Skype conversations on dashboards, and unveiled eye detection technology that can measure driver drowsiness.

Detroit Auto Show

Now in its 28th year, the Detroit Auto Show taking place January 11-24 at the COBO Center in Detroit remains most important annual showcase for US carmaker.

While executives in Las Vegas celebrated high-end EV vehicles like Chevrolet’s Bolt and autonomous driving technology, back in Detroit, low fuel prices and surging sales figures meant that large pick-up trucks and SUVs were on full display.

The new SUVs and pick-ups on display in Detroit are designed to boost profits and help fund the massive R&D investments necessary to improve fuel efficiency and keep up with technology giants such as Google and Apple in the race to create driverless cars.

This is also what’s behind the surge in luxury vehicles. Ford unveiled a new Continental saloon and Hyundai launched a new luxury brand with the unveiling of its Genesis G90 luxury model. Meanwhile, Volvo launched the new S90 sedan and Nissan unveiled the latest version of the Q60 sports sedan. Lexus showed off its LC 500, a new flagship sports coupe, along with a hydrogen-powered concept, the LF-FC. Buick surprised many commenters by unveiling a beautiful Avenir Concept for its future flagship. Some even worry that the luxury car market could be reaching saturation.

In terms of pickups, Honda reveled its new Ridgeline truck. Nissan unveiled a beefy Titan Warrior Concept truck. And Kia, known for small affordable cars, unveiled a full-size pickup concept.

Meanwhile, Chrysler updated its Town and Country line with the Pacifica. The minivan features a number of features and comes as a plug-in hybrid.

GMC also made a bang with the debut of its seven to eight passenger crossover Acadia model. The new model is more than 20 centimeters shorter than the old one.

But the high-tech ways of Las Vegas also had reverberations in Detroit. Toyota’s main presentation focused on a new satellite antenna which will be capable of downloading massive amounts of data, and essential update for the coming era of connected and autonomous vehicles.

The government also had an unusually high profile at the show this year.

Obama visited the Detroit Auto Show for the first time in his presidency. Obama stopped at the exhibits of Fiat Chrysler, Ford and German supplier ZF. The President also praised the new Chevy Bolt, saying he planned to buy one once he had left office.

The U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx announced a $4 billion request to set up a nationwide connected car network. In the process also announcing a willingness to revise federal rules to develop high-end safety technology in the country.

Automotive New World Congress

The Detroit Auto Show press days were followed by the Automotive News World Congress, one of the world’s most prestigious automotive conference. This year’s event was featured the following speakers amongst others:

• -Donna Satterfield, Vice President, Americas Automotive, Aerospace & Defense, IBM
• -Mike Jackson, Chairman, CEO and President, Autonation
• -Don Walker, Chief Executive Officer, Magna International
• -Dan Ammann, President, General Motors
• -John Krafcik, CEO, Self­Driving Car Project, Google
• -Jim Lentz, Chief Executive Officer, Toyota North America
• -Carlos Ghosn, President and CEO, Renault­Nissan Alliance
• -Rick Hanna, Global Automotive Leader, PwC
• -Scott Keogh, President, Audi of America
• -Andrew Brenner, Product Manager, Android Auto, Google
• -Jeff Klei, President, NAFTA Region, Continental Corporation
• -Danny Shapiro, Senior Director of Automotive, NVIDIA
• -Janet Barnard, President, Manheim North America
• -Ludwig Willisch, President and CEO, BMW of North America LLC
• -Harry Wilson, Chairman & CEO, MAEVA Group LLC
• -Mark Fields, President and Chief Executive Officer, Ford Motor

The two week trip closed off with the annual NAIAS black tie gala which LIASE Group gladly attended.

2016 Consumer Electronics Show

Ford Motor Company President and CEO Mark Fields talking with industry people at the 2016 edition of CES after finishing his keynote press conference at CES.

LIASE Group Managing Director Asia, Vanessa Moriel, posing together with Joe Vitale, Principle, Deloitte Consulting.

Ford CEO Mark Fields talking about the new Velodyne Puck sensor during his press conference in Las Vegas. Velodyne Lidar devices help autonomous cars scan the road ahead and plot a safe course.

Ford also announced it is investing in technology to launch droned from its vehicles. The applications that were cited were for first responders in disaster zones, but its uses could eventually be expanded.

Global top management attending the Faraday press conference.

GM Chairman and CEO Marry Barra introducing the Chevrolet Bolt at CES 2016.

The Volkswagen BUDD-e Concept is an all-electric concept minivan inspired by the 1970s VW camper vans.

Kia unveiled plans to develop autonomous cars and this new Novo concept car at CES 2016.

The interior of the new Mercedes-Benz E-Class unveiled at CES 2016 feature “touch-sensitive” controls on the steering wheel.

2016 Detroit Auto Show

Vanessa and John pose in front of the Verizon IndyCar Series display with Juan Pablo Montoya’s 2015 Indianapolis 500-winning car.

General Motors Company Chairman and CEO Marry Berra (left) posing for a picture at the Detroit auto show while touring the show on press day.

LIASE Group’s John Bukowicz, Managing Director for the Americas and Vanessa Moriel, Managing Director Asia posing together with the Borg-Warner Trophy, which is presented every year to the winner of the Indy 500 race.

Vanessa Moriel, Managing Director Asia, Liase Group posing with Juan Pablo Montoya, the Winner of the Indianapolis 500 Race.

Vic H. Doolan, Non-Executive Member of the Board, LIASE Group, posing with Keith Crain, Founder, Crain Communications Inc.

Left to right: Vic H. Doolan, Non-Executive Member of the Board, LIASE Group; Vanessa Moriel, Managing Director Asia, Liase Group; and, John Bukowicz, Managing Director for the Americas, LIASE Group, pose in front of new the new Genesis G90 luxury car by Hyundai.

Vanessa Moriel, Managing Director Asia, Liase Group and John Bukowicz, Managing Director for the Americas, LIASE Group stand next to Volvo’s new S90.

Vanessa Moriel, Managing Director Asia, Liase Group poses with Jack Cheng, CEO, Nextev and Cynthia Lin, Assistant of Foreign Affairs, CCPIT Automotive Committee.

Vanessa Moriel, Managing Director Asia, Liase Group poses for a picture next to a convertible Ford Mustang.

Left to right: John Bukowicz, Managing Director for the Americas, LIASE Group; Vanessa Moriel, Managing Director Asia, Liase Group pose with North America Executives from Autoliv and Panasonic.

Left to right: John Bukowicz, Managing Director for the Americas, LIASE Group Vanessa Moriel, Managing Director Asia, Liase Group; John Lauri, Director, Siren of Chrome, and the movie’s main actress Rachel.

John Bukowicz, Managing Director for the Americas, LIASE Group (left); a TV presenter (center) and Vanessa Moriel, Managing Director Asia, LIASE Group pose during the black tie gala at the Detroit Auto Show.

Lighthearted celebration and an enjoyable moment at the Gala.

Vanessa Moriel, Managing Director Asia, Liase Group and Mark Stewart, COO, ZF TRW.

John and Vanessa with an Autoliv executive and his son.

Vanessa posing with Ford & Deloitte executives.

John Bukowicz, and Vanessa Moriel take a picture above the crowd during the black tie gala.

John Bukowicz, Managing Director for the Americas, LIASE Group, and Vanessa Moriel, Managing Director Asia, LIASE Group, pose with Thomas Heringer from Automobilwoche

There were more than13,000 attendees at the 2016 North American International Auto Show’s 40th annual Charity Preview at Cobo Center. Guests were able to mingle on the showroom floor and get a first look at 750 vehicles before the public opening.

Media were also on hand to film the event.

Volvo Cars Corporation CEO Hakan Samuelsson at the Detroit Auto Show. Volvo unveiled the new S90 that will compete with Mercedes’s E-Class and BMW’s 5 series.

Bill Fords, Executive Chairman, Ford Motor Company and Mark Field, CEO, Ford Motor Company, posing together following Ford’s press conference in Detroit.

Bill Fords, Executive Chairman, Ford Motor Company, in the middle of a press scrum at the Detroit Auto Show.

Volkswagen US Chief Micheal Horn and Head of Volkswagen Brand Herbert Diess unveil the Tiguan GTE Active Concept in Detroit.

Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn standing in front of the company’s latest Infiniti Q60 sports sedan.