News Flash - 01/10/16 (Updated)

Norway Registrations In September:

Tesla Model X - 600 units;

BMW i3 - 500;

Kia Soul EV - 340.

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The New MIVEC Turbo Diesel Engine

The new engine uses an aluminum die-cast cylinder block with the result that the weight of the engine is lighter by 12.5 kilograms as compared to the conventional cast-iron cylinder block. Its maximum output is 221kW (300PS)/ 6,500rpm and its maximum torque is 422Nm (43.0kgf･m)/3,500rpm (for Japan market), a higher maximum torque than the 4G63 model. The intake and exhaust side layout of this engine is also different with the intake side at the front of the vehicle body and the exhaust side at the rear. This eliminates the need to have an exhaust pipe underneath the engine, so Mitsubishi was able to lower the position of the engine by 10mm compared to a conventional model, contributing to lowering the height of the center of gravity.

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Anchoring Trust in the Increasingly Software-Based Car

Bill Boldt
Business Development Manager, Security, Blackberry
wboldt@blackberry.com

Electronic Control Units (ECUs) started out in the 1970s as discrete modules with each one doing one particular thing, at that time mainly for emissions controls and mileage.  Then they became connected via in-car networks with the invention of the CAN bus in 1985.  In-car networking represented a big improvement in capability.  However, being networked means that ECUs became vulnerable to mischief and thus they, and what the connect to (such as domain and area controllers) need to be secured cryptographically to ensure that the signals being sent have not been tampered with or corrupted, and perhaps most importantly, that they are authentic.   There is also the emerging need for confidentiality (i.e. encryption/decryption).

The picture below shows the top attack points.  This range or targets indicates just how vulnerable cars have become: 

With a car having so many places to attack, how can trusted security be implemented and why is it so important?  Well, the main thing is that trust leads to safety, especially as cars become more connected and autonomous.  Hacked or corrupted signals can have dire consequences in a car, which is obvious.  In a car, safety is related to security and security comes to a  large extent from cryptography.  (Note that safety and security are not exactly the same thing, but there is tremendous overlap and interplay, and safety is becoming much more dependent on cryptographic security as cars become more connected and autonomous.  For more on functional safety look here.)

Trust
Trust is paramount in digital systems, and increasingly so in automotive. Trust comes from cryptographic solutions that:

• Securely store secret keys
• Securely issue, manage, renew and revoke security certificates
• Include a mix of software and security hardened hardware devices, and
• Are manufactured in highly secure facilities

What Creates Trust?
A major tenet of security is that each system and sub-system will have different types of threats and a range of options to provide countermeasures to those. This means that the automotive security equation has many variables and thus is difficult to solve.

However, two things are always common to trustable cryptographic security, and they form the basic foundation of modern security:

1. A proven algorithm (e.g. Elliptic Curve Cryptography (ECC)), and  
2. A secret cryptographic key  (to provide the required level of security for the selected algorithm). 

The challenge for the automaker is to choose the right algorithm and key length for the available processing resources and to securely issue, manage/store, renew, and revoke the security certificates. Cryptographic strength comes from the combination and application of these principles, processes, and techniques. 
 
Trust Anchor
On a CAN bus, which was designed without security in mind, ECUs are exposed.   So, connected cars should employ best practices for security, but cost, complexity (especially of the supply chain) and time get in the way. Having said that, best practices will eventually prevail and that will likely include a hardware trust anchor system to establish, maintain, and update cryptographic processes.

 
From the diagram you can see the four basic things that create a PKI-based hardware trust anchor:

1. A trusted hardware anchor that stores the key
2. That key, which becomes the root of trust
3. The certificate chain anchored by the root of trust, and
4. A signing mechanism that creates the anchored certificate chain

Multi-level Security

Because there are so many systems in the increasingly software-defined car, security has to be multi-layered and fit the specific application. In other words — it must be tailored. You have to figure out what you are securing, what threats that system will face, and what countermeasures should be employed. You have to pick what pillars of security to apply; namely, confidentiality, data integrity, authentication, and non-revocation. Making sure you are doing the right security things on each system is what Blackberry is positioned to help you with, from consulting, to design, testing, certificate management, securing the supply chain, making updates, and applying cryptography to the in-car and around-the-car networks.

To learn more about cryptography for automotive please contact Blackberry's Certicom
subsidiary, and for more information and/or help regarding reliable, secure, and trusted software for safety- and mission-critical applications such as automotive please contact QNX. 

The bottom line is that BlackBerry, Certicom, and QNX can help your system become not just secure, but BlackBerry secure. 

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World Top 10 August 2016

Tesla Model S is charging  into the Leadership

Models - 2015 All Over Again?

The global EV market continues to grow at rapid pace, with some 63.000 units delivered in August, representing a 66% growth YoY, with YTD sales now up 55%, we are headed for a total sales number of around 800.000 units.

In the models ranking, the Best Seller of the Month was again the Tesla Model S, thanks to 4.715 units, this was the third consecutive month that the sleek Sports Sedan won the Monthly Best Seller trophy, so this might turn out to be the same story as last year, with the Nissan Leaf leading the ranking during most of the year and then the Model S stealing it from the Japanese hatch in the final months.

Looking at the rest of the YTD ranking, the Renault Zoe stumbled to #8, because of the seasonal drop (Vacances time), while the #4 Outlander PHEV lost significant ground to the Chevrolet Volt, now in search for higher standings. 

Looking outside the Top 10, there were a number of models pulling out brilliant performances last month, the BYD e5  recorded 1.961 units, a personal best, that allowed it to be #9, while the Zotye Cloud EV did even better, registering 2.116 units and rising to #8.

But this August headlining performance belonged to the Tesla Model X, that delivered 2.307 units, its best month to date, allowing it to climb to #7 in the Monthly ranking and #12 YTD, with 10.222 units. With less than 2.000 units separating it from the Top 10, it is possible likely that we will see two Tesla's in the September ranking...

Pl	WORLD	Aug.	YTD	%	'15Pl
1	Nissan Leaf	3.044	34.596	8	2
2	Tesla Model S	4.715	29.835	7	1
3	BYD Tang	2.502	24.668	6	8
4 5 6	Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV Chevrolet Volt BMW i3	1.218 2.509 2.848	17.602 16.429 15.288	4 4 3	3 9 5
7	BYD Qin	3.106	15.266	3	4
8	Renault Zoe	870	13.987	3	7
9	BAIC E-Series EV	1.465	12.798	3	11
10	SAIC Roewe e550	1.446	12.222	3	15
	TOTAL	63.417	438.066

Manufacturers -  BYD and Tesla, disruptive forces

BYD continues to be the Master In Command, in August it delivered another impressive result, with 10.691 units, while Tesla secured the Second Place, with more than 7.000 deliveries. 

These two brands are pointed as the disruptive manufacturers of the EV market and September seems to confirm that, with all pointing to record-breaking performances (12k?) by both brands.

BMW is ambitiously hunting a weakened Nissan in the race for the last place of the podium, while Mitsubishi is losing positions every passing month, it is now #7, far from the Third spot won last year, having been surpassed by BAIC, that has been recording strong results and is now threatening the #5 Volkswagen. 

The Beijing Chinese manufacturer is something of a Dark Horse, we don't hear a lot about it, but the truth is that it is the manufacturer that made the most progress regarding last year, climbing six positions, and is one of three brands that have already beaten last year result in 2016 (17k last year vs 22k now), with the others being BYD (62k vs 64k) and BMW (33k vs 34k).

With Chevrolet finally selling at decent levels, the American car maker is now biting Renault's Eighth Place, so we might see a change here soon. 

Looking below the #10 Ford, we see SAIC Roewe, #11, edging just a little but closer, with 788 units separating it from Ford, this is another race to follow closely.

Pl	WORLD	Aug.	YTD	%	'15Pl
1	BYD	10.691	63.925	15	1
2	Tesla	7.022	40.163	9	2
3	Nissan	3.346	37.022	8	4
4	BMW	4.801	33.522	8	6
5 6 7	Volkswagen BAIC Mitsubishi	2.843 4.066 1.545	22.647 22.582 20.667	5 5 5	5 12 3
8	Renault	1.461	18.837	4	8
9	Chevrolet	2.806	18.554	4	11
10	Ford	2.242	15.595	4	10

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Europe August 2016 (Updated)

 

BMW i3 surges to #1 thanks to arrival of 33 kWh version

The European EV market had more than 13.000 registrations last month, up 19% over August 2015, with the market is set to surpass the 200.000 units by year end. In a relatively stable market, one model stole the show.

Looking at the Monthly Ranking:

#1 BMW i3 – Thanks to the massive arrival of the 33 kWh units, the BMW i3 had the anticipated sales surge, jumping directly to Number One in August, with 1.317 units, its best score of the year, while also for the first time in 2016, the BEV version outsold the Rex brethren, meaning that with the extended electric range, buyers feel more safe to go all into the EV game with the BEV version, without needing the safe net of the Range Extender. The largest markets to absorb the extended range Bimmers were Norway (293 units, all BEV) and Germany (280 deliveries, 147 of them BEV).

 

#2 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV – The Japanese SUV dropped to Second in August, with 1.028 units, but actually Mitsubishi had some good news, as the Outlander PHEV deliveries went up 6% YoY, ending a five month trend of slowing sales. Although dropping in the all-important UK market, Norway and Germany have done the heavy lifting this month, pulling it into the black. And the Japanese brand really needs positive news...

 

#3 VW Passat GTE – Besides the usual Sweden and Norway, big time Passat GTE lovers, Volkswagen’s midsize offering  also impressed in the Netherlands, with 119 units, its best result of the year there, allowing it to reach the Third Position, with 916 units. With the right mix of electric range, space, power and a reasonable price, the Passat GTE was destined for success as company car across Europe.

 

#4 Nissan Leaf – Sales of the Japanese hatch were down 15% last month, to 869 units, with registrations dropping across the continent. In normal circumstances, Nissan would be worried and would try to pull some tricks to turn things around, but this time, the Japanese brand is just keeping production at minimal levels to avoid big unsold stocks, waiting for the big EV Push to be made by the Alliance at the upcoming Paris Auto Show.

 

#5 Renault Zoe – In what is usually a slow month for the French hatch, August turned out to be a not so bad sales month, with registrations up 47% YoY to 857 units and for that it had to thank the German market, that with 256 units, compensated the seasonal slowdown of the French market. Actually, Renault, the owner of the current EV Yellow Jersey in Europe, is probably not that much concerned with the current sales trend of its hatch, as it is preparing itself for the Paris Auto Show big product showdown, where the Zoe is expected to win some interesting new features… 

Article also published in EV Obsession and CleanTechnica.

Joining the Top 20 soon

  

YTD Ranking

Looking at the YTD ranking, there weren’t significant changes at the top, with the Top 4 positions with no real chances of being contested in the short term.

But the race for #5 should be interesting, now that the rejuvenated BMW i3 is delivering their 33kWh units, the VW Golf GTE better step up the game or else in will have to say Auf Wiedersehen to the Fifth Place.

In the midst of the Summertime Chill season, besides the BMW i3, two other models had excelled in August, the Mercedes B250e had 466 units registered, its best performance ever, while the newly arrived Tesla Model X had its first significant deliveries month in Europe, with 307 units, already pulling it to #15 in the August ranking and #2 in the Luxury SUV class, only behind the Volvo XC90 PHEV, with 333 units.

(Un)Coincidentally, several of the Model X direct competitors had lower than average scores, like the BMW X5 PHEV (223 units, worst result in a year), Mercedes GLE500e (77 units, worst result of 2016), or the Porsche Cayenne Plug-In (154 units, lowest result since December 2014). Do I see a trend here?...

Considering that September is the last month of the Quarter and Tesla usually delivers some Ludicrous performances by that time, I wouldn’t be surprised if the Model X sneaked into the next month Top 5.

“What about two Tesla in September’s Top 5?” – While possible, I don’t believe it will be probable, with Tesla firing on all cylinders electrons to have as much units delivered as possible, I think they will make North America a priority for the MS (It’s simpler to deliver there) and won’t have the manufacturing / logistic ability to deliver so many MS units on this side of the Pond. Go on Tesla, prove me wrong!

Looking at the manufacturers ranking, the trophy bearer, Volkswagen (16%), has been successful in fending off its direct competitors, but now it has a new and ambitious runner-up to take in account, as BMW (15%, up 2%) is profiting from a strong (And extensive) line-up to climb in the ranking, this time to Second Place, while dropping Renault to Third, with 14% share.

While BMW is still far from the leadership, 1.870 units behind, to be more precise, the booming sales (i3 33 kWh deliveries, 740e arrival…) of the Bavarian manufacturer means that it won’t be all that surprising to see BMW as Europe’s best-selling EV brand in 2016, by December 31^st.

Pl	Europe	Aug.	2016	%	'15Pl
1	Renault Zoe	857	13.864	11	2
2	Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV	1.028	12.803	10	1
3	Nissan Leaf	869	11.835	9	5
4	Tesla Model S	850	8.202	7	4
5 6 7	Volkswagen Golf GTE BMW i3 Volkswagen Passat GTE	787 1.317 916	7.524 6.916 6.358	6 5 5	3 6 12
8	Mercedes C350e	662	6.022	5	11
9	Volvo XC90 T8	332	5.884	5	18
10	Volkswagen e-Golf	538	4.920	4	4
11 12	BMW 330e Audi A3 e-Tron	501 268	4.432 4.157	4 3	37 7
13 14	BMW X5 40e BMW 225xe Active Tourer	201 449	3.140 2.968	3 2	22 32
15	Renault Kangoo ZE	298	2.588	2	13
16	Kia Soul EV	385	2.488	2	10
17	Mercedes B250e	466	2.292	2	17
18 19 20	Volvo V60 Plug-In Nissan e-NV200 / Evalia Porsche Cayenne Plug-In	231 252 190	2.129 1.995 1.845	2 2 1	9 15 14
	TOTAL	13.274	125.682

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