California, January 25, 2010 – The latest innovations on display at the annual North American International Auto Show underway in Detroit put a premium on global connectivity. Mouli Cohen, clean tech investor and lifelong entrepreneur, predicted that five years from now nearly half the new vehicles sold in North America would be connected to the Internet, and nearly all of the luxury models.
“Having the car connected with the exterior world is a necessity,” Cohen said.
BMW has already begun to equip all its 5 Series, 6 Series, and 7 Series cars sold in the United States with BMW Assist, a feature launched a year and a half ago. The BMW Assist allows drivers to locate gas stations and their current prices, check weather forecasts and traffic conditions, access navigational tools such as Google Maps and MapQuest, and keep tabs on financial data.
The Cadillac XTS offers two separate back-seat screens, each outfitted with its own Internet connection and DVD reader. Ford is launching its MyFord Touch system, which will be introduced first in the upscale Lincoln nameplate under the name “MyLincoln Touch” and then integrated into the Ford Focus 2012.
The screens on next-generation vehicles function with touch commands when the vehicle is stopped, allowing drivers to change their selections without interfering with their driving. Cohen says these new functions and Web access in vehicles pose no danger.
“Automotive companies are in the business of safe transportation,” he said. “You’re best driving if you keep your eyes on the road and your hands on the wheel.”
The auto show, which opened Monday in Detroit, the home of the Big Three U.S. automakers General Motors, Ford and Chrysler, is scheduled to close January 24th.
About Mouli Cohen
Mr. Cohen is a successful entrepreneur who has founded and developed successful ventures in the biotechnology, high technology, digital media and entertainment sectors. He has balanced his success in business with extensive philanthropic activities. Over the years he has supported children’s charities, food programs, medical research, and the arts as well as education projects both in the US and abroad.