And why would you not be he asks rhetorically.
Surprise, surprise !!! 1st surprise we don't know. 2nd is for you Tech , you asked a question which we consider either you or Fact finder should know more than us.
That's my take on it @Bravo. Haven't been in here much lately so this might have been posted before but I still believe the 2025 EQC will be one of the first produced by MB with all the bells and whistles including:Howdy All,
Here's a MUST READ article IMO!!!!! So many things to get excited about in here and I've highlighted some of my fave parts!!! Remember a recent article in which Markus Shafer said "Efficiency is the new currency"? Well, I for one cannot wait until I can get my mitts on a copy of Markus Shafer's blog on neuromorphic computing.
Vive l'Akida revolution!
Mercedes-Benz won’t follow Tesla into the robotaxi game
According to chief technology officer Markus Schäfer, the German automaker is happy to build human-driven taxis and a Level 3 automated system where drivers can basically stop paying attention while on the highway
By Roberto Baldwin
Nov 3, 2022, 10:00 PM GMT+11|
Mercedes-Benz
Mercedes-Benz CTO Markus Schäfer is energized by his visit to Silicon Valley. The executive is at the automaker’s Sunnyvale, California, research and development center to meet with his team and local tech companies.
“Very, very interesting discussions were had about potential partnerships in the future,” Schäfer tells The Verge as we sit down for a chat about the future of Mercedes-Benz. The company is in the midst of a supercharged transformation into an EV platform while working to become the first automaker to have a passenger vehicle for sale in the United States with Level 3 driver-assistance technology. The system allows the driver to not pay attention to the road or control the vehicle under very select circumstances — typically on the highway.
The company is in the midst of a supercharged transformation into an EV platform
It was another reason for Schäfer to make the trip to California. Mercedes wants to be able to launch its Drive Pilot feature in California, but making that a reality requires regulatory approval. The executive met with officials in Sacramento. The automaker’s goal is transparency with regulators and has gotten feedback from the DMV, California Highway Patrol, and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration about the system.
Mercedes-Benz CTO Markus Schäfer is meeting with regulators about the company’s Level 3 automation feature. Image: Mercedes-Benz AG
“They understand technology, the sense of redundancy [in computing], our safety philosophy, and even how we educate customers on this Level 3 system. So a very important milestone here, meeting with the regulators, explaining the system, and preparing the application,” the CTO said.
Mercedes’ Drive Pilot system’s Level 3 features would allow drivers under certain circumstances (on the highway under a certain speed) to remove their hands from the steering wheel and stop paying attention to the road. Nothing else on the market allows drivers to essentially check out from the driving experience. The closest thing we have in the United States right now are hands-free systems from BMW, Ford, and GM. All of them require the driver to continue to pay attention.
Yet potentially being the first to sell a passenger vehicle that can drive itself (again, in certain circumstances on the highway) does equate to a jump into the ride-hailing mobility space. Tesla CEO Elon Musk has said that self-driving Teslas could earn money for their owners and, at one point, announced that there would be a million self-driving Tesla taxis on the road in 2020.
Mercedes wants to be able to launch its Drive Pilot feature in California
That hasn’t happened yet, and for Mercedes, that’s not even a goal — at least not anymore. “We thought in 2016 or 2017, we could solve the robotaxi problem quite quickly,” Schäfer said. But committing to both a ride-hailing solution and a passenger driver-assistance solution was expensive. Something had to be scrapped, and it was the taxis driven by robots.
As Mercedes works toward Level 3 and beyond, other OEMs and their subsidiaries are going through a shake-up that seems to have landed them along the same path. The Ford and Volkswagen-backed Argo AI shuttered last week. Employees were reportedly told that some would be offered jobs by either Ford or Volkswagen, while others would receive a severance package. The technology would also be split between the two companies, although it’s not known which automaker will get what. During a third quarter earnings call, Ford announced that it would be focusing on Level 2 and Level 3 driver-assistance systems instead of vehicles that could be used as robotaxis.
Ironically, Mercedes has been providing vehicles to human-driven taxis for decades in Europe. It will continue to take part in that lucrative market, but it’s definitely not the automaker’s priority to get into the robotaxi world, according to Schäfer. The CTO doesn’t see the benefit of a self-driving taxi with a Mercedes star. “Would you wait five minutes longer for a Mercedes robotaxi? I don’t think so,” Schäfer said.
Tesla might not have to worry about battling the German automaker in the robotaxi game (whenever that happens), but it should be concerned about Mercedes’ recent rollout of EVS.
The EQS, EQE, EQS SUV, and EQB EVs from Mercedes are either already in US showrooms or will be soon. The automaker has been aggressive in its introduction of EVs with more on the way, including the EQE SUV. This current crop of EVs is based on a 400-volt architecture, which means they top off at 200kW while hooked up to compatible DC fast charging stations.
Tesla might not have to worry about battling the German automaker in the robotaxi game
According to Schäfer, more energy-efficient vehicles are on the way and will be based on the 900-volt EQXX concept vehicle.
Schäfer says that the automaker’s 2024 platform will feature a new battery chemistry with a silicone anode, a different type of cells, improved packaging density, and new cooling concepts. Meanwhile, the Mercedes-Benz-built motor in the EQXX is more or less the series motor we’ll see in future vehicles.
There may be one EQXX, but it’s the new baseline for the automaker’s future lineup. The result, according to Schäfer, is that “you will see a dramatic reduction in electric consumption to what’s out there today.” When pressed about what this efficiency means, the CTO said that the company is targeting a 20–30 percent range improvement.
For those still concerned about the range of electric vehicles, that’s a big boost on the luxury side. Yet Schäfer believes that, as the infrastructure becomes more mature and EVs become more prevalent, there will be customers that opt for a smaller battery pack that actually fits their driving lifestyle to save money.
That’s an important look into the future as the dream of price parity between EVs and gas-powered vehicles starts to slip away.
“Honestly, all our calculations and intelligence showed it would take a really, really long time to reach parity,” Schäfer said. The CTO noted that it wasn’t there before the supply chain issues, and it’s definitely something that’s not going to happen anytime soon now. That is, unless there’s a breakthrough in chemistry.
Mercedes plans to go fully electric by 2030. That’s five years ahead of California’s plan to no longer allow the sale of gas-powered vehicles. As the company that invented the modern automobile, Mercedes seems ready for the next step in the evolution of automobiles: a future with more efficient vehicles and actual autonomous functions (in certain conditions). But no robotaxis; it’ll leave that to the anonymous ride-hailing boxes.
Mercedes-Benz won’t follow Tesla into the robotaxi game
Level 3 instead of robotaxis.www.theverge.com
insideevs.com
I think Peter and Anil would have shown him the door by now if he wasn't impressing them with his leadership and commercialisation efforts thus far.
IMO, $2.75 could eventuate overnight by just having someone like Samsung or Sony making mention of using BRN Akida IP.Hi Pandaxxx, I think the release of AKIDA 2 will definitely see a jump in the SP. It will confirm that Anil et al are continuing to increase our technical lead over all competition. In my opinion it will rate up there with revenue. Perhaps we will hear something prior to Christmas in order to achieve FF's $2.75
Hi All,
Maybe I missed this a while ago, I'm not sure, but have we no longer a partnership with EASTRONICS??
They are mentioned in the SalesLink article, but their logo has been removed from our website.
Please update me.
Thanks Tech.
I’m not at all worried, but I just wish there where any mention to neuromorphic or new infotainment capabilities or something that was more linked to us in this statement. What are your take on this?Howdy All,
Here's a MUST READ article IMO!!!!! So many things to get excited about in here and I've highlighted some of my fave parts!!! Remember a recent article in which Markus Shafer said "Efficiency is the new currency"? Well, I for one cannot wait until I can get my mitts on a copy of Markus Shafer's blog on neuromorphic computing.
Vive l'Akida revolution!
Mercedes-Benz won’t follow Tesla into the robotaxi game
According to chief technology officer Markus Schäfer, the German automaker is happy to build human-driven taxis and a Level 3 automated system where drivers can basically stop paying attention while on the highway
By Roberto Baldwin
Nov 3, 2022, 10:00 PM GMT+11|
Mercedes-Benz
Mercedes-Benz CTO Markus Schäfer is energized by his visit to Silicon Valley. The executive is at the automaker’s Sunnyvale, California, research and development center to meet with his team and local tech companies.
“Very, very interesting discussions were had about potential partnerships in the future,” Schäfer tells The Verge as we sit down for a chat about the future of Mercedes-Benz. The company is in the midst of a supercharged transformation into an EV platform while working to become the first automaker to have a passenger vehicle for sale in the United States with Level 3 driver-assistance technology. The system allows the driver to not pay attention to the road or control the vehicle under very select circumstances — typically on the highway.
The company is in the midst of a supercharged transformation into an EV platform
It was another reason for Schäfer to make the trip to California. Mercedes wants to be able to launch its Drive Pilot feature in California, but making that a reality requires regulatory approval. The executive met with officials in Sacramento. The automaker’s goal is transparency with regulators and has gotten feedback from the DMV, California Highway Patrol, and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration about the system.
Mercedes-Benz CTO Markus Schäfer is meeting with regulators about the company’s Level 3 automation feature. Image: Mercedes-Benz AG
“They understand technology, the sense of redundancy [in computing], our safety philosophy, and even how we educate customers on this Level 3 system. So a very important milestone here, meeting with the regulators, explaining the system, and preparing the application,” the CTO said.
Mercedes’ Drive Pilot system’s Level 3 features would allow drivers under certain circumstances (on the highway under a certain speed) to remove their hands from the steering wheel and stop paying attention to the road. Nothing else on the market allows drivers to essentially check out from the driving experience. The closest thing we have in the United States right now are hands-free systems from BMW, Ford, and GM. All of them require the driver to continue to pay attention.
Yet potentially being the first to sell a passenger vehicle that can drive itself (again, in certain circumstances on the highway) does equate to a jump into the ride-hailing mobility space. Tesla CEO Elon Musk has said that self-driving Teslas could earn money for their owners and, at one point, announced that there would be a million self-driving Tesla taxis on the road in 2020.
Mercedes wants to be able to launch its Drive Pilot feature in California
That hasn’t happened yet, and for Mercedes, that’s not even a goal — at least not anymore. “We thought in 2016 or 2017, we could solve the robotaxi problem quite quickly,” Schäfer said. But committing to both a ride-hailing solution and a passenger driver-assistance solution was expensive. Something had to be scrapped, and it was the taxis driven by robots.
As Mercedes works toward Level 3 and beyond, other OEMs and their subsidiaries are going through a shake-up that seems to have landed them along the same path. The Ford and Volkswagen-backed Argo AI shuttered last week. Employees were reportedly told that some would be offered jobs by either Ford or Volkswagen, while others would receive a severance package. The technology would also be split between the two companies, although it’s not known which automaker will get what. During a third quarter earnings call, Ford announced that it would be focusing on Level 2 and Level 3 driver-assistance systems instead of vehicles that could be used as robotaxis.
Ironically, Mercedes has been providing vehicles to human-driven taxis for decades in Europe. It will continue to take part in that lucrative market, but it’s definitely not the automaker’s priority to get into the robotaxi world, according to Schäfer. The CTO doesn’t see the benefit of a self-driving taxi with a Mercedes star. “Would you wait five minutes longer for a Mercedes robotaxi? I don’t think so,” Schäfer said.
Tesla might not have to worry about battling the German automaker in the robotaxi game (whenever that happens), but it should be concerned about Mercedes’ recent rollout of EVS.
The EQS, EQE, EQS SUV, and EQB EVs from Mercedes are either already in US showrooms or will be soon. The automaker has been aggressive in its introduction of EVs with more on the way, including the EQE SUV. This current crop of EVs is based on a 400-volt architecture, which means they top off at 200kW while hooked up to compatible DC fast charging stations.
Tesla might not have to worry about battling the German automaker in the robotaxi game
According to Schäfer, more energy-efficient vehicles are on the way and will be based on the 900-volt EQXX concept vehicle.
Schäfer says that the automaker’s 2024 platform will feature a new battery chemistry with a silicone anode, a different type of cells, improved packaging density, and new cooling concepts. Meanwhile, the Mercedes-Benz-built motor in the EQXX is more or less the series motor we’ll see in future vehicles.
There may be one EQXX, but it’s the new baseline for the automaker’s future lineup. The result, according to Schäfer, is that “you will see a dramatic reduction in electric consumption to what’s out there today.” When pressed about what this efficiency means, the CTO said that the company is targeting a 20–30 percent range improvement.
For those still concerned about the range of electric vehicles, that’s a big boost on the luxury side. Yet Schäfer believes that, as the infrastructure becomes more mature and EVs become more prevalent, there will be customers that opt for a smaller battery pack that actually fits their driving lifestyle to save money.
That’s an important look into the future as the dream of price parity between EVs and gas-powered vehicles starts to slip away.
“Honestly, all our calculations and intelligence showed it would take a really, really long time to reach parity,” Schäfer said. The CTO noted that it wasn’t there before the supply chain issues, and it’s definitely something that’s not going to happen anytime soon now. That is, unless there’s a breakthrough in chemistry.
Mercedes plans to go fully electric by 2030. That’s five years ahead of California’s plan to no longer allow the sale of gas-powered vehicles. As the company that invented the modern automobile, Mercedes seems ready for the next step in the evolution of automobiles: a future with more efficient vehicles and actual autonomous functions (in certain conditions). But no robotaxis; it’ll leave that to the anonymous ride-hailing boxes.
Mercedes-Benz won’t follow Tesla into the robotaxi game
Level 3 instead of robotaxis.
There is another possibility she made an approach? Remember what Sean Hehir said about accessing the opinion of some of the best minds in Silicon Valley to assess AKIDA technology.
That is how I see it @Xray1 … it will not take much when another BIG announcement comes our way ! (And I’m sure over the next year or two we will see MANY!) to escalate our SP in big way… as FF put it after Mercedes Benz made their announcement that any other big companies that confirm they are using AKIDA will be.... “Doing a Merc”....
I will also be adding a good chunk of new BRN shares to my collection next week! First time in ‘many years’ 
I cannot let this opportunity slide by! … Set for life… 
HoW dAre YoU pOsT sOmeThiNg liKe ThiS hErE
According to this email from Tony, Mercedes is yet to be classified as material. This does not mean that it won’t turn into something material. NDAs are in place until Mercedes is confident and happy to sign an agreement. The good news is that when Mercedes does choose to except their destiny and sign with Brainchip, we will get a second dose of Mercedes injections into the SP
comes our way soon 
Well, it's a week closer than it was last week.Hopefully a better week comes our way
Looks like we will start of green on Monday as the sky is blue here in Sydney all week
Might even feel like it use to in Sydney, mmm warm weather.
Hope an announcement
I can feel it getting a lot closer than it was last week.
It’s only time that seperates us from financial freedom.
Enjoy the week brainers
) and have taken up a temporary ‘lurking in the background’ role
Yeah, Sean's on his way round to your house now with the bags of gold coins.Hello everyone, hope you are all well. I’m still here just been slammed at work (and home
I assume that management continue to target and capture new EAP and NDA relationships as we move forward ie they not content fostering existing relationships only?
From memory there were 10-12 NDAs mentioned circa 9-12 months ago and 100 plus EAPs (apologies if dates/figures are incorrect)
There will be some of course that have fallen by the wayside, however I’m hoping there are still similar numbers in play with new relationships being nurtured
Have we received an insight into this from management?
Yeah, Sean's on his way round to your house now with the bags of gold coins.
Yes, that’s what it said. I blacked this out as there was a response to something which I asked directly that I didn’t want to be misconstrued - not to mislead anyone.
F/F, I'm just impressed that BRN keep hiring, and attracting stellar staff. Share price going south, and no revenue. Yet they continue to hire, and attract the best in the business. I ask myself , why, and am calmed. GLTA
