There’s lots more to share about Connected Cars since our first digest at the beginning of this year! In this issue you’ll find news and highlights to keep you informed about the pace of technology, business, and industry preparedness.
The Committee is most proud to host our first CONNECTED CAR TRAINING at the upcoming ASCCA September Team Weekend, packed with information about these topics and whatever questions fellow members may bring. We look forward to seeing you in San Diego!
Carolyn Coquillette
Committee Chair
Latest News
Autonomous Crashes
A fatal collision between an autonomous Uber vehicle and a pedestrian in Arizona has changed the timeline for autonomous vehicle (AV) introduction and adoption. Arizona and other areas have pulled back on allowing testing AV testing on public roads and Uber has stopped all use of their AV fleet, has pulled its vehicle out of Arizona, and has suspended testing in other metropolitan areas. Recent studies show an increase apprehension of AVs and their adoption.
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/uber-ends-self-driving-car-arizona-after-tempe-fatal-crash-elaine-herzberg/
“AI Winter”?
Accidents are just one aspect of newfound uncertainty about autonomous technology and rate of adoption. Engineers and analysts predict a cooling off period while systems transition from initial proof-of-concept into real world, reliable applications.
https://www.theverge.com/2018/7/3/17530232/self-driving-ai-winter-full-autonomy-waymo-tesla-uber
Continued Pursuit
Nonetheless companies remain bullish with investments and development. Apple’s Project Titan is still underway, and GM continues to push for its own “robo-taxi” service to rival Waymo and Uber, through its company Cruise Automation, headquartered in San Francisco. Cruise recently closed a notable financing round, putting its valuation at $11.5B.
https://cleantechnica.com/2018/06/24/apple-still-working-on-self-driving-cars/
http://www.autonews.com/article/20180703/MOBILITY/180709925/gm-cruise-robotaxis-san-francisco
Will people give up their own cars?
Popular thinking says that private vehicle ownership will shrink with future generations as autonomous vehicles become easy to share. This removes inconveniences such as servicing, insurance, parking, etc. Most cars are not in use for more than 80% of the time, so why own? The National Automobile Dealer Association (NADA) did a recent study that suggests this may not come true:
https://blog.nada.org/2018/04/09/the-future-of-personal-vehicle-ownership/
Industry Updates
Vehicle Security Credentials
NASTF’s Locksmith Identification (LSID) has been changed to “Vehicle Security Credentials” (VSC) to better align ourselves with what we do. A person that holds a VSC is called a Vehicle Security Professional. Moving forward any shop that performs any kind of programming - keys, immobilizers or just updating modules - will need VSC. The “Security Data Release Module” (SDRM) is the process that gets you your credentials/license. This process will update soon to be totally online.
Read ASCCA’s Guidance: “Obtaining your Vehicle Security Credentials”
Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE)
ASCCA participates with certain SAE committees relevant to the Connected Car Issue and general vehicle issues that affect our business.
J3138 Document - Passed and Issued. This document related to securing the DLC. This action dictates how the auto manufacturer embeds software, hardware and firmware that does not allow access to an unauthorized party to “hack”, steal and maliciously take control of the vehicle.
J4146 Document Task Force. This document further describes how software, hardware and firmware works to secure the DLC during testing, diagnosing and 3rd party dongles installed on the vehicle and how to secure them.
National Automotive Service Task Force (NASTF)
The National Automotive Service Task Force (NASTF) is a cooperative effort among the automotive service industry, the equipment and tool industry and automobile manufacturers (OEMs) to ensure that automotive service professionals employed outside the OEMs franchise system have the information, training, and tools needed to properly diagnose and repair today's high tech vehicles.
Regarding connected and autonomous vehicles, NASTF is working with Vehicle manufacturers to make sure they adhere to the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that took effect starting with 2018 MY vehicles. The MOU is a voluntary agreement that states the independent repair shops will have data, and tooling access equal to what the dealers now get from the manufacturer. (See below)
NASTF Educational Team is currently launching a technician educational platform called “The Road to GREAT Technicians” which is also a cooperative effort between all parties to ensure future technicians have the same training the dealer network has. (See below)
Right to Repair Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)
The Motor Vehicle Owners’ Right to Repair Act was the Auto Care Association’s principal policy objective for many years. The industry’s wildly successful campaign in Massachusetts paved the way for a national solution, eventually finalized in a 2014 memorandum of understanding between the Auto Care Association, Coalition for Auto Repair Equality (CARE) and vehicle manufacturers.
For the first time ever, new car manufacturers must make the same service information and tools available to independent repair shops that they provide for their franchised dealers. Right to Repair now guarantees every car owner’s right to have their vehicle serviced at the repair facility of their choice.
http://www.nastf.org/files/public/OtherReference/MOU_SIGNED_1_15_14.pdf
Getting “Service Ready”
The industry continues to intensify its focus on education and career building, to solve the shortage of qualified technicians and ensure we have the knowledge and training to fix increasingly complex vehicle systems, autonomous or no.
“Building the Road to GREAT Technicians” is a project lead by NASTF with participation from various stakeholders across the Aftermarket. Rob Morrell, Training Director at WORLDPAC and a member of the ASCCA’s Connected Car Committee, is active in this campaign.
https://www.nastf.org/i4a/pages/index.cfm?pageID=3869
https://www.partsandpeople.com/midwest-river-valley/newest-technology-requires-higher-level-service-readiness
ASCCA TRAINING EVENT
Do you want to learn more about Connected technology and trends? Join us in San Diego on September 8th from 1pm-5pm!
The Connected Car Committee will proudly host its first training event at the upcoming ASCCA September Team Weekend:
https://www.ascca.com/blog/two-special-events-happening-at-the-ascca-september-team-weekend
Agenda includes:
- Connected Cars Technology Update - Fred Gruner, NVIDIA
- Demo of Bosch ADAS technology and calibration - Neal Hoffman, Mitchell Intl.
- SAE + NASTF Update - Craig Johnson, NASTF Board, and Rob Morrell, WORLDPAC
- Q+A with Connected Car Committee membership
Don’t miss this high quality, information packed event!
ASCCA Connected Car Committee - Mission Statement:
The Committee shall protect the ability of ASCCA membership to do business in California, including safe, secure, and uninterrupted access to vehicle onboard systems and the required tools to fix them.
Read more about the CCC, including past digests and reference material, on ASCCA.com
https://www.ascca.com/connected-cars