Mexico-made Mercedes Benz A Class sedan to debut cockpit domain controller by Visteon

1 October, 2018

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Visteon Corporation revealed that the all-new Mercedes-Benz A-Class, scheduled to officially debut this week at the Paris Motor Show, will feature its industry-first SmartCore, an intelligent integrated cockpit domain controller using a single silicon chip with multiple central processing units (CPUs), which, the company claims, will provide "a truly digital user experience."

The Michigan-based automotive electronics developer and manufacturer said its SmartCore technology powers the vehicle’s instrument cluster and infotainment displays through a seamless and intuitive human-machine interface (HMI), allowing drivers to personalize their experience with a simple swipe of the touchscreen, the touch pad or remote controls on the steering wheel.

The SmartCore user experience is based on two digital displays while the domain controller facilitates seamless instrument cluster, vehicle controls, multimedia, wireless Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto features. The system also incorporates multiple display modes that are user selectable, offering high levels of customization of the overall look and feel of the intelligent system.

“The SmartCore cockpit domain controller will initially be launched in the Mercedes-Benz A-Class and be followed by additional vehicle lines that will go into production in the near future,” said Sachin Lawande, Visteon president and CEO. “Visteon is the clear market leader in this segment and will be launching cockpit domain controller applications with several automakers during 2018 to 2020.”

Depending on the model variant, Visteon’s SmartCore solution powers the free-standing driver and information display consisting of two 7-inch screens or one 7- and one 10.25-inch screen. It combines the high-resolution widescreen cockpit with touchscreen operation of the media display through the touchscreen, center console touchpad and the steering wheel’s control buttons.

The in-car infotainment embeds tuner, multimedia and connectivity options such as Bluetooth, USB and Wi-Fi, and hands-free phone applications. Supporting a remote user interface, SmartCore enables the operation of wireless CarPlay, Android Auto and MirrorLink, as well as Baidu Carlife for the Chinese market.

Visteon operates four manufacturing facilities in Mexico, two in Chihuahua’s state capital and two more in Reynosa, Tamaulipas. It also owns a Technical Center in Queretaro which develops user interfaces (UI) software for automotive applications.

Also in Queretaro, is located a plant of Yanfeng Interiors which supplies the instruments panel for the A-Class sedans that will start to roll out of Daimler’s new plant in Aguascalientes. It’s worth noting that Visteon used to own a stake in Yanfeng which it sold in 2013.

However, Visteon says that manufacturing of the SmartCore domain controller takes place at a facility in Portugal.

MexicoNow

- Mexico-made Mercedes Benz A-Class to be unveiled at Paris Motor Show in October

- Visteon to debut its next-generation infotainment platform at CES 2017