Automated driving

In terms of strategy and execution, Ford is the leading company developing automated driving systems, followed by General Motors, the Renault-Nissan Alliance, and Daimler, says a new Leaderboard report from Navigant Research that examined 18 leading companies. Automated driving is a key technology for improving the commuting experience while also addressing societal problems caused by the saturation of automobiles, including traffic congestion, injuries and fatalities, as well as diminished air quality. “Tremendous progress has been made in just the last few years on the development of automated driving systems. However, as we get closer to deploying high-level automated driving, everyone involved must now address the remaining questions that are in many ways more difficult to answer than developing the foundational technologies,” says Sam Abuelsamid, senior research analyst at Navigant Research.

Warming boost to AC

Growing affluence of people in developing countries — which lie in tropical regions where temperatures are high — will trigger the growth of the air-conditioning industry. Additionally, increasing global warming and heat in the environment will boost the AC industry in the developing countries where the market would likely shift from the high-luxury segment to the mainstream category in residential and commercial settings, say a report by Ken Research titled “Global Air Conditioning Industry Situation and Prospects 2017”.

Geographically, the global AC markets are the US, Asia Pacific, Europe and Middle East and Africa. European countries and the US hold a major market for the air-conditioning industry. However, in future, the Asia Pacific region will be a major revenue contributor to the global air conditioning industry. With rapid urbanisation and increase countries such as India, China, 

and Vietnam will be the drivers of growth in this region.