The Automotive Service Association (ASA) and the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers (The Alliance) hosted the third Technology and Telematics Forum (TTF) last week in Anaheim, Calif.
Telematics refers to the connected car and, eventually, the autonomous vehicle that’s not far away. From the software used in instrumentation, backup sensors, adaptive cruise control, cameras and sophisticated wireless communications systems to tomorrow’s driverless vehicles, telematics represents a dizzying array of computer science, multimedia presentations and navigational components.
The forum consisted of several segmented discussions focusing on topics such as cybersecurity, consumer privacy and government oversight. Attendees heard from experts representing entities from across the automotive industry and the federal government including:
Craig Smith, Theia Labs; Mahbubul Alam, Movimento; Garrick Forkenbrock, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA); Matthew Valbuena, Mazda; Richard Salceda, Mazda; Mark Allen, Audi; Lauren Smith, Future of Privacy Forum; and Bob Gruszczynski, Volkswagen.
Toyota’s Jay Brown also explained the features of the Mirai, a hydrogen-powered vehicle equipped with the latest automotive technologies. Attendees were given the opportunity to experience the vehicle firsthand in a ride-along following the forum.
According to ASA Chairman Donny Seyfer, AAM, “The third installment of TTF was a wide-reaching program with more than 200 participants that encompassed the difficult topics of vehicle hacking, cybersecurity, vehicle-owner privacy and what the industry is doing to address these issues.”
Wayne Weikel, senior director of State Government Affairs for The Alliance added, “The Alliance was happy to once again sponsor the Telematics and Technology Forum. Our relationship with ASA is important, and we hope that by providing a glimpse into what’s on the road ahead ASA members will be better prepared to service our collective customers. We understand that we’re in this together.”
The Automotive Service Association is the largest not-for-profit trade association of its kind dedicated to and governed by independent automotive service and repair professionals. ASA serves an international membership base that includes numerous affiliate, state and chapter groups from both the mechanical and collision repair segments of the automotive service industry.
