ICYMI - BPO News Roundup (Apr. 2021)

 A collection of curated stories from client industries, CX and global trends that grab our attention. 

While our last post was a brief timeline detailing how we got to where we are regarding chip shortage, that’s not the only newsworthy event going on in the automotive industry. While some say that the shortage will delay the timetable for connected car services and autonomous vehicles, the recent news does not seem to show any rest in these areas.  

The fully and semi-autonomous vehicles of tomorrow are racing to the present, and here’s how the auto industry’s biggest names are faring: 

1. Toyota Gives Lyft a Lift: Toyota Motor Company is taking no chances in the race to create the perfect autonomous vehicle and has purchased Lyft, Inc.’s self-driving technology wing for $550 million. Here’s how this impacts both companies, even if Toyota doesn’t create an autonomous vehicle. 
2. Ford Has Entered the Self-Driving Chat: Consumers won’t have to wait long to try out Ford’s self-driving technology. The company recently announced its 2021 F-150 pickup truck, as well as certain 2021 Mustang Mach-E models, will feature this technology through a software update later in 2021. Will a Ford truck near you start driving autonomously? Read here and find out.
3. Volkswagen: Not Just Cars Anymore. At the end of April, Volkswagen Group CEO Herbert Diess announced the company plans to design and develop its own autonomous vehicle chips, creating a three-way race between itself, Tesla and Apple. Who will come out on top?
4. Robotaxis in 2023, by Hyundai: Testing is already underway for the Hyundai Ioniq 5 – the vehicle selected by Motional, Aptiv and Hyundai to be its first all-electric robotaxi. Click here to see what features this $4 billion joint venture will offer to select customers – and what levels of testing the Ioniq 5 will have to overcome to reach the road.

The technology for hands-free, auto-driven autos is getting better all the time, and I can’t wait to test one of these vehicles for myself! For now though, we’ll have to be patient. Good things come to those who wait, and self-driving vehicles are a leap forward that every automaker must get right.