Highlights from Day 2 at Automotive Interiors Expo North America

Today saw the launch of the highly anticipated InteriVision Summit alongside many exciting innovations across the show floor at Automotive Interiors Expo North America 2024.

The one-day InteriVision conference boasts speakers from the likes of VW Design Center, Faurecia, Pebble Mobility, Yanfeng Technology and JLR. Discussions have included human-centric design philosophy, the evolution of the smart cockpit, mobility for all and the creative synergy between engineering and design.

Read on to find out more about the presentations, technologies and solutions that have been revealed at this year’s show – so far!

InteriVision Summit opens in Novi

The brand-new InteriVision Summit kicked off this morning with moderator Harsha Ravi, an independent interior design consultant, introducing presentations including Yanfeng Technology’s CTO, Patrick Nebout, speaking on how to innovate for intuitive automotive interiors user experience; Maggie Kasper, advanced sales manager at Faurecia Interior Systems, discussing leveraging automotive interior surfaces for an intuitive user experience; and Nishatha Nagarajan, technical specialist – semiconductor engineering at JLR, talking about ADAS and UX-driven semiconductor advances and AI in automotive. It’s been a fascinating day.

Pebble Mobility shares approach to human-centric design philosophy

Page Beermann , head of design at Pebble Mobility (the company behind what it calls ‘the safest RV trailer on the road’), spoke this morning about the cultural aspects of creativity, in service of the end user. “I see the main function of the designer as creating structure and simplicity from complexity,” he explained. “Anthropology of creativity looks at the origins of human creativity and how it relates to cultural influences and our physiology. The psychology of form assesses the impacts we feel when viewing or using vehicles, products and how do they arise.”

MEMA on a mission to understand evolving industry needs

Vehicle suppliers association MEMA represents more than 1,000 companies that supply original equipment (OE) components, automotive aftermarket parts and heavy-duty equipment to the global vehicle manufacturing industry. “We’re here to connect with our valued members, understand their evolving needs and explore how we can continue to support their growth,” said Alison Trumble, director of marketing and membership at MEMA. “By engaging directly with key stakeholders, we aim to learn about the latest trends, technologies and challenges in the sector, ensuring that MEMA remains a trusted advocate and resource for the entire supplier community.” Talk to MEMA at Booth A216.

Publicis Sapient speaks on the evolution of smart cockpits in automotive interiors

Lori Mavis, associate director of product management at Publicis Sapient, led a session that explored pioneering features from the 1970s to the present day and the trends shaping the smart cockpits of today and tomorrow. “Our journey through the evolution of smart cockpit technology showcased not just how far we’ve come but also the exciting possibilities that lie ahead. By integrating cutting-edge innovations like AI and augmented reality, we’re not only enhancing driver safety and experience but also redefining what it means to be connected on the road.”

Taiyo exhibits latest trivalent chrome plating technology

With changes to environmental regulation having an impact on the conventional plating of plastics, Taiyo Technology developed its Chrome 6-free plating, which is on display at the show. “In the US the Big Three (Ford, Stellantis and GM), together with EV manufacturers such as Rivian and Lucid Motors, are taking a very active approach toward the adoption of trivalent chrome for their new chrome colors,” revealed Azeem Hamaradeen at Taiyo Soft Singapore. “Automotive Interiors Expo North America is the perfect chance for us to educate on safer chrome plating processes and answer to the needs of the market for high-quality, environmentally friendly components.” Find out more at Booth A518.

Toyota Boshoku explores mobility for all

Nick Flannery, senior engineer at Toyota Boshoku America, spoke this morning about providing an overview of TBA’s vision for future mobility, encompassing the company’s current products and capabilities, and highlighting its focus on creating accessible and inclusive mobility.

VW Design Center discusses creative synergy between engineering and design to unleash innovation

This presentation highlighted the pluralistic and interconnected nature of design through examples from the automotive industry, product design and architectural history. “I value and work always side by side with engineering in a very inclusive synergy,” said Rodrigo Galdino, interior design lead at VW Design Center. “New tools like Blender and AI revolutionized the design process, and seeing how CMF became one of the biggest, if not THE biggest player, nowadays changed the whole perception of car as a product, together with new technology on board with the EV rise in recent years. Not to mention AI on board.”