tA new committee through the OPEN Alliance Special Interest Group in Detroit aims to further advance the use of Ethernet-based automotive connectivity using One Twisted Pair Ethernet (OPEN), which delivers high-performance bandwidth without increasing vehicle cost or weight.
tAnalysts predict that by 2025 all new cars will be connected with such features as lane departure warnings, rear cameras, and collision avoidance systems. The formation of the committee follows a surge in the organization’s membership, which includes more than 200 members representing automakers, Tier 1 suppliers, and technology companies.
t“As a proven technology with a vast ecosystem, Ethernet-based connectivity in automotive has enormous potential and based on how quickly membership has risen in the OPEN Alliance, the automotive industry is clearly enthusiastic,” says Natalie A. Wienckowski, chair of the OPEN Alliance Special Interest Group.
tOne Twisted Pair Ethernet delivers high-performance bandwidth of 100 megabits per second per port while dramatically reducing connectivity costs and cabling weight.
t“Growing interest and support for in-car Ethernet as an industry-wide standard means more companies are buying into the idea that cars wired with twisted pair Ethernet have an opportunity to innovate in ways that not only benefit drivers but make an impact on the bottom line,” says Ian Riches, director of global automotive practice at Strategy Analytics.
tFor more information about OPEN, visit opensig.org.
tIN OTHER AUTOMOTIVE NEWS, the average age of vehicles on the road is 11.4 years, with analysts predicting a rise to 11.7 years by 2019, says Southfield-based IHS Automotive.
t“In our history of tracking, we have seen a gradual increase in the average age of vehicles on the road,” says Mark Seng, director of aftermarket solutions and global aftermarket practice leader at IHS Automotive. “This year, we’re seeing somewhat of a plateau in the market, and expect it to remain over the next few years, without a major change in either direction. We attribute this to a number of factors, including the economy and the increasing quality of today’s automobiles.”
