The 42nd Tokyo Motor Show opened on Wednesday 30th November at the end of a difficult year for the Japanese automotive industry, with first the earthquake and tsunami in March severely impacting output and then the flooding in Thailand in July causing further disruptions to the supply chain.
The theme of this year’s show was “Mobility can change the world” with domestic and foreign manufacturers alike focusing on the environment, safety, energy and ITS. SBD visited the show and bring you the latest trends and developments in Secure Car technology and feature fitment.
Omron exhibit Bluetooth gateway key fob concepts
Following quickly on the heels of the latest generation of enhanced key fobs shown at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September 2011, Japanese supplier Omron exhibited their Multi Operation (MOT) and Multi-Authentication key fobs. Functioning as a gateway between the vehicle and the user’s smart phone, the key fobs transfer data using Bluetooth Low Energy (BTLE) and UHF communication. The key fobs operate up to a range of 10m (key fob to smart phone) and 300m (key fob to vehicle). The user will be able to control various functions including locking and unlocking the vehicle.
U-Shin targets increased K-Car market share with new steering lock
Lock supplier U-Shin exhibited their latest generation, smart key system compatible, electronic steering column lock which has been designed specifically for the unique Japanese K-Car market. The new lock is smaller than previous versions which will allow vehicle manufacturers more freedom when integrating it into a vehicle; a highly desirable feature for K-Car components where the physical size of the vehicle is restricted.
Modern design trend towards low profile outside door handles
Most of the concept cars on show at Tokyo have flat, recessed or low profile outside door handles and switches and are favored by vehicle designers for the sleek and premium appearance they give. Some models, such as the Toyota FCV-R shown on the left, have mechanical handles that can be folded away to become flat. Whilst mainly appearing on concept models at this time these types of feature could become commonplace in the near future but designers should be careful not to sacrifice security in favor of the overall appearance.
If you want to meet one of our Secure Car team who has attended the Tokyo Motor Show and discuss first hand what we’ve seen and how it can affect your product design and development, then why not contact us today? If you have a specific need for information, then talk to us about how our team of specialists could cover your research requirements in a cost effective way. To find out more please contact +44 (0)1908 305105 or security@sbd.co.uk.