The Garage 284

NEWS 06
NEW AUTOMOTIVE TECH CHALLENGE
HELPS SHAPE FUTURE OF MOBILITY
NEARLY 50 exciting
new players from
the technology sector
came together
with five of the
world’s leading motor industry
brands today, in a major
new cross-industry initiative
to help shape the future of
transport and mobility. The
Society of Motor Manufacturers
and Traders‘ (SMMT)
Future Mobility Challenge,
held this year at Plexal Innovation
Centre at Here East, is
designed to drive cross-sector
collaboration and could
result in new partnerships,
routes to market, investments
and acquisitions between
automotive companies
and innovative technology
start-ups and SMEs.
The 49 ambitious start-ups
and SMEs were shortlisted
from 94 Challenge entries
and invited to pitch innovative
mobility solutions to
some of the biggest names in
the automotive sector - BMW,
Jaguar Land Rover, Bosch,
Ford and Toyota. From data
solutions to digital applications
for shared mobility,
fleets and new subscription
models, and from new cyber
security solutions to AI in
future vehicles, some of the
innovations pitched today
could one day redefine the future
of mobility and, indeed,
the automotive sector.
Mike Hawes, SMMT Chief
Executive, said, “SMMT’s
first Future Mobility Challenge
provides the perfect
opportunity for automotive
industry leaders and innovative
technology SMEs to collaborate.
From future vehicle
technologies and innovative
connected car services, to intelligent
data tools and cyber
security solutions, innovators
from across the country
are presenting technology
advancements that could
help shape the future the
industry in the UK. The challenges
facing the automotive
sector are significant but exciting
and it’s clear that innovation
will be key. We want to
encourage the brightest and
the best to be part of that future,
one that will define the
future of mobility.”
Jesse Norman, Future of
Mobility Minister, said, “We
are on the cusp of an exciting
and profound change in how
people, goods and services
move around the country.
The UK can become a global
leader in this coming transport
revolution.”
During the sessions, start-ups and
SMEs pitched solutions to seven
key innovation opportunities:
1. Harnessing the potential of mobility data – creating
customer value through, for example, seamless payments
at fuel forecourts and chargepoints or integrated insurance
services.
2. Intelligent solutions for intelligent fleets – innovative
solutions that go beyond existing telematics offerings,
potentially helping operators to optimise fleets, reduce their
environmental footprint or support drivers’ wellbeing.
3. Urban mobility solutions for future cities – smart use of
data to help tackle challenges such as congestion, parking
and EV charging infrastructure constraints, or deliver
integrated propositions to promote active mobility.
4. Innovative shared and on-demand mobility models –
solutions to identify and deliver new, flexible models of car
ownership or sharing via a single platform to bring mobility
to more people.
5. Creating new and superior customer experiences in the
age of hyper convenience – using augmented or virtual
reality and remote services or blockchain solutions to
deliver efficient business processes and premium and
lifestyle customer propositions.
6. New connected car services – unique solutions to
unlock greater potential from connectivity such as location
services, journey management or remote services
including, for example, predictive maintenance.
7. Future vehicle technologies – new solutions for
everything from artificial intelligence and machine learning,
to automated driving, glass and display technologies, audio,
and battery management.
Padtech releases new
pads for Jaguar and Audi
AUTOPARTS UK has introduced more new brake pad references
under the established Padtech brand, offering customers
expanded vehicle parc coverage.
The five new front and rear pads cover a selection of the
world’s top marques for both passenger and light commercial
vehicles, including the Jaguar XJ (X351) 2015, Audi A4 2015,
Mazda MX-5 2015, Renault Clio 2015 and Ford Transit Connect
2013.
Padtech is one of the UK’s fastest growing brake-pad brands,
manufactured in the UK to OEM specifications and fully compliant
with ECE-R90 requirements. Featuring anti-squeal coating to
reduce noise, the pads are backed by a 20 month/20,000 miles
warranty and offer easy installation for customers.
Rigorous testing procedures are performed on all products,
including density, strength, friction, OE dynamometer and
compression tests, guaranteeing quality and providing ease of
fitment.
This latest expansion means the Padtech range now comprises
more than 1300 references covering all makes of vehicle, details
of which are available via MAM Software’s cataloguing system
AutoCat.
6 News.indd 1 19/10/2018 14:13