Albert Lilly

🚨 What Recent OEM Incidents Reveal About the SDV Shift: Over the last few months, there has been a surge in software and display-related issues across multiple OEMs. A clear sign that the industry is entering a critical phase of the SDV transition. Here’s just a sample from recent news: 🔹 Ford - Nearly 230,000 vehicles recalled due to instrument panel display failures 🔹 Toyota/Lexus - Over 600,000 vehicles recalled for dashboard display startup glitches 🔹 Stellantis (Ram) - 72,000 vehicles recalled over digital cluster software issues 🔹 Subaru & Stellantis brands - Criticism over intrusive infotainment pop-up ads appearing during driving None of these cases is about individual OEMs.They reflect a broader reality: ⛓️‍💥 Software complexity is outpacing the underlying vehicle architecture. 📌 Cloud dependence and feature expansion are creating new failure modes. 📌 Display and infotainment systems are becoming critical safety touchpoints. 📌 One integration gap can cascade across multiple vehicle functions. As an industry, we are building more advanced software than ever, but the foundation now needs the same level of innovation. The questions ahead are not about who has the biggest screen or most apps. They are about: 🔹 How resilient is the architecture when connectivity fails? 🔹 Can the vehicle diagnose issues instantly and locally? 🔹 Are UX flows reducing cognitive load or adding complexity? 🔹 Do compute platforms truly match SDV ambitions? The next competitive edge in mobility will come from reliability, real-time diagnostics, and resilient system design, not feature count. SDV evolution is progressing, but these signals remind us of the areas where pressure is concentrated. Addressing them collectively is how the industry moves forward. #Leadership #SoftwareDefinedVehicles #AutomotiveInnovation #VehicleArchitecture #InfotainmentSystems #InVehicleExperience #AutomotiveSoftware #RealTimeDiagnostics

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In the U.S., Chinese OEMs are not “coming.” They are structuring their entry. At #NADA2026, one theme kept resurfacing in private conversations with OEM and dealer executives: The assumption that trade barriers will buy time. They won’t. Last week, Automotive News reported that Ford CEO Jim Farley discussed with Trump officials a framework allowing Chinese automakers to build cars in the U.S. via joint ventures where the American partner holds a controlling stake. This is no longer theoretical. The article makes three things clear: - Chinese OEMs are rapidly gaining share in Europe, Mexico and South America. - They combine advanced EV tech with structurally lower cost bases. - U.S. leadership openly describes this as an existential competitive threat. The conversation has shifted from “keep them out” to “under what structure do we let them in?” Now layer this with what we saw at #CES2026. Zeekr was one of the very few OEMs with a significant presence. Not a quiet observer. A statement. GEELY owns Volvo Cars. Volvo operates a plant in South Carolina. Volvo has an established U.S. dealer network. Zeekr is Geely’s premium EV brand You don’t need a dramatic scenario to see the pathway: Local manufacturing. Shared industrial footprint. Existing dealer infrastructure. Premium positioning under a politically acceptable structure. That is how market entry happens. At NADA, the most forward-thinking dealers weren’t debating if Chinese brands enter the U.S. They were debating positioning. Because once product quality converges and cost structures diverge, competition stops being purely about brand. It becomes about: – Control of distribution – Customer acquisition economics – Recurring revenue layers – Service and mobility integration The U.S. market is not insulated. It is being recalibrated. The only real question is who adapts their model before the shift becomes visible in their P&L.

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Last week at CES I released my latest white paper, “Unlocking Additional Income: A New Kind of $AI for OEMs.” While the jury is still out on whether consumers are willing to pay for the technology and features from the software-defined vehicle, commercial fleets have depended on data for years to run their businesses. The types of data signals that fleets need (and have demonstrated a willingness to pay for) are much more granular than the standard “phone app” data many OEMs collect for consumer use. Chapter 1: The Value Proposition of Fleet Data Chapter 2: The Monetization Blueprint Chapter 3: Build or Buy Technology? Chapter 4: Partnering for $AI: Three Key Opportunities for OEMs Chapter 5: Delivering on the Promise of $AI If you’d like to receive a copy, message me with your email address. #CES2026 #AIforOEMs #FleetData #MonetizationStrategy #SoftwareDefinedVehicles #DataDrivenBusiness

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Wireless Charging + Autonomous EVs = Perfection👌 Join us to explore how HEVO is removing the core barriers slowing down autonomous robotaxis and logistics fleets — and why wireless charging is poised as the essential unlock for a promising multi‑trillion‑dollar AV market ready to scale.

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