Hello From Valeo: June Edition

Spring has SPRUNG, everyone! (Do not forget to add spring emojis.)

You know what this means!

Sales, sun and, of course, our personal favorite: Cleaner, safer and greener mobility!

...Okay, that last one is across the year, but still.

With that, let’s dive right in, shall we? 😁

What have we been working on this month?

Guys, we have the best news everrrrrr! ⭐

We have another—yes, you guessed it— new technology that won a major Imaging Radar Program for Automated Driving From a Premium Global Automaker! And no, we can’t tell you which one. It’s a secret. 🤫 

The production of this breakthrough imaging radar system is set to begin in 2028. We can’t wait!

What are we most excited about?

It’s not just something we’re excited about. It’s something you are going to be excited about, as well.  In three letters: IAA Munich. 

Okay, that was nine letters, but who’s counting, right? HEHE.

IAA Mobility is taking place between 9-14 of September and we’re going to be there. BMW’s Neue Klasse will definitely be among the stars of the show. And guess what? There’s a lot of us in there! Our ADAS domain controller, the thinking brain that will host all driving assistance functions of the car, for example. Or our software for low-speed maneuvering as well as quite a few sensors! This demonstrates our major role as a tech player in SDV.

We’ll see you there! 

What's new in the automotive industry?

For those of us working in the automotive industry, extended range electric vehicles (EREVs) are the talk of the town. For example, according to one report, Xpeng has planned at least 5 EREVs models. They’re the fastest growing propulsion system for cars in China where electrification is becoming increasingly diverse in its forms, ranging from battery-powered electric vehicles to plug-in hybrids and EREVs. 

Our CEO said he’s sure this practical approach letting the customer pick the type of electrification that works best for them is the right move everywhere. Thus, he is in favor of maintaining plug-in hybrids and range-extending technologies in Europe beyond 2035, as long as the electric range is sufficient.

On another note, AI is everywhere and it’s in the automotive industry, too! More specifically, as our CEO Christophe Périllat said recently, we took its first steps in AI more than 20 years ago, gradually integrating it into our driver assistance technologies, a field in which we’re a world leader! 

Our R&D uses AI to reduce our development times, and go faster and further. For example, we have already trained and equipped over 5,000 of our software and systems engineers in automatic coding. And even though we are only at the beginning of this AI-driven transformation, the results are incredibly promising.

Cool factoid of the day:

The first electric powered vehicle was created by Scottish inventor Robert Anderson, sometime between 1832 and 1839. Well alright, technically batteries were not rechargeable yet. Still counts as an electric vehicle though, amiright?

The number of the day: 3,000,000

That is the record for the highest mileage with a personal car. For reference, that equates to 120 trips around the earth! That record was held by Irwin Gordon in his 1966 Volvo with which he would commute “making his way downtown”🎶 (you’re definitely a 90s kid if you got that ref) and take road trips making him drive a mindblowing 100,000 miles per year! Volvo eventually gifted him a brand new XC60 to celebrate this achievement. Sorry Vanessa Carlton, your throne has been overturned. 👑