Just as I was planning to write this blog about Silicon Valley and the car manufacturers (OEMs), I came across an interview with Prof. Dudenhöffer, Director of the CAR Center Automotive Research by Thomas Schmidtutz of Merkur.de (https://bit.ly/2EGUIb1) discussing this very topic.
ACCESS Europe
Since 1984, ACCESS CO., LTD. (Tokyo Stock Exchange First Section Index, 4813) has been providing advanced IT solutions centered on mobile and network software technologies to telecom carriers, consumer electronics manufacturers, broadcasting and publishing companies, the automotive industry and energy infrastructure providers around the world. The company develops mobile software solutions that have been installed on over 1.5 billion devices, and network software solutions that have been used by more than 350 companies. Utilising its network virtualisation technology expertise and knowledge, the company is currently focusing on the development and commercialisation of Internet of Things (IoT) and media solutions that combine embedded and cloud technology. Headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, the company maintains subsidiaries and affiliates in Asia, Europe and the United States to support and expand its business globally.
Terrestrial TV (ISDB-T) & BML/HybridCast: Japan’s route to in-car TV & Video
Next to the German car market, Japan is comparable in being home to a wide range of car brands. Looking at the sales figures for 2019, a total of close to 5.2 million cars were sold, European premium brands being particularly successful. Each market has its own challenges, and in Japan there are unique technological methods of distributing TV services.
Why Tesla might be the Auto OEM’s best friend
I guess the automotive industry is thinking about Tesla more than ever given the news last week that its share cap passed that of GM and Ford added together. There are even commentators saying that it could be eventually worth double the combined value of GM and Ford. Why is this? It’s certainly not based on the number of cars they’re selling right now. Rather, it’s due to the perception that Tesla is a tech company while the other OEMs make cars in factories out of metal and plastics. I’m now going to explain why it’s my belief that Tesla’s greatest impact will not be on the environment but rather on how other OEMs make cars and ultimately become recognized as tech companies too.
Why in-car entertainment will be a key differentiator for OEMs in electric vehicles
With the advent of electric vehicles (EV) comes a curious new scenario for OEMs and auto manufacturers. By removing the smartly engineered and traditionally brand typical engine from cars, OEMs are also removing a key differentiator from their key go-to-market messages. No longer will prospective buyers be able to discuss factors such as power and fuel efficiency as they consider their new car purchase.
Will the car be the next stage of the Streaming Wars?
The streaming wars are heating up and big-hitters like Netflix and Disney+ are focussing attention on their Originals offerings whilst others like Peacock and HBO Max are about to enter the scene and AVOD service like Pluto TV and Tubi grow in popularity.
This is demonstrated by the huge sums being ploughed into new programming, with Netflix estimated to have spent $15 billion on originals last year. According to data from Omdia, that sum resulted in 657 first-run original titles, up from 386 in 2018, and total first-run original hours of 2,769, compared to 1,537 in 2018, a year-on-year increase of 80%. Disney+, meanwhile, has said it will spend $1bn on original programming in 2020. Newer entrants to the streaming market boast similar spending: HBO Max put its originals figure at $2bn for 2020 and Peacock has earmarked $2bn over two years.