New observations on automotive electronics: Testing is becoming increasingly important

Translated from wardauto, author: Jeff Phillips, Director of Automotive Marketing at NI

The technological development and price reduction of electric vehicles are meeting the needs of consumers, which has greatly accelerated the trend of electric vehicles becoming mainstream and laid a new foundation for automotive OEMs to differentiate their market competition strategies.

Blurred supply chain

The terms “OEM” and “supply chain” have long existed in the automotive world. Over the past decade, the boundaries between suppliers have blurred somewhat, especially as investments in new electrification and autonomous driving technologies have shifted, leading to a series of mergers, partnerships, and co-investments in 2021.

At the 2022 CES, Qualcomm announced a partnership with General Motors, Volvo announced a new infotainment experience, Intel's MOBILEYE announced a partnership with Volkswagen and Ford, Nvidia unveiled new plans for autonomous driving solutions, Amazon announced a partnership with Stellantis, and so on.

These partnerships are highlighted by the participation of semiconductor suppliers and technology giants, rather than traditional automotive suppliers. This trend is likely to continue as the value delivered to the market will increasingly be centered around software implementations – including software-enabled controllers and sensors, software-connected data to predict battery life, and over-the-air updates.

Virtually all areas of technology are eyeing critical investments in the automotive sector. As the value delivered shifts to software, this raises the question of how automakers will seek to add new differentiation.

Has it become easier to build cars?

As the electric and autonomous vehicle revolutions take hold, profits on traditional cars are becoming increasingly slim. Continued mandates and threats of huge fines have led many traditional automakers, such as GM, Volvo, Mercedes-Benz and Hyundai, to launch new electric vehicle platforms that promise features such as 300 miles (483 km) of range and a price tag of around $30,000, which is expected to drive mass consumer adoption.

What is even more surprising is the sharp increase in the number of companies that are “making cars”. Vinfast announced a car in partnership with ZF, Sony announced the establishment of an electric vehicle division; small startups such as Udelv and BrightDrop launched autonomous and/or electric vehicles. The increase in car manufacturers will highlight a question: Who can we trust to make cars?

The importance of testing is increasing

Simply put, testing is the process by which we identify and fix faults in our products. Testing and standardized testing methods are critical to helping the public discern the safety features of vehicles, and in the autonomous driving race, this is a clear missing step. Autonomous vehicles will require more collaboration between technical experts, governments, and research institutions.

We can learn from China, which has adopted a vertically integrated approach to accelerate time to market. Through institutions such as the China Automotive Technology and Research Center, government-funded layout and integration research in the automotive sector has helped to integrate the workforce, key technology investments, and the gap between companies in bringing technology to market. This type of collaboration is critical to establishing standards for autonomous vehicles.

Electric vehicles are easier to measure because they are not mobile-related. However, many test procedures are performed at higher power levels, which can make testing more difficult and dangerous. Tests include driving range, charging time, handling and comfort. The authority of governments and standards bodies has accelerated the industry's progress in electrification standards.