The 5G Automotive Association urged the FCC to allocate the upper 30 MHz of the 5.9 GHz band for cellular vehicle-to-everything technology, identify “40 MHz of dedicated, mid-band spectrum elsewhere for 5G-based” C-V2X and “adopt modest safeguards on unlicensed use of the lower 45 MHz portion of the band to prevent harmful interference.” Without the right controls, “unfettered unlicensed operations would cause harmful interference to C-V2X Direct in the upper portion of the 5.9 GHz band and foreclose the ability of American travelers to enjoy the safety benefits,” said a filing posted Friday in docket 19-138.

A professor backed a national task force on connected vehicles to identify applications, look at standards and work with the FCC on a proceeding, in a Day One Project paper Friday. “We could prevent hundreds of thousands of car crashes every year,” said Carnegie Mellon University's Jon Peha, ex-FCC chief technologist. “We could also reduce commute times, fuel consumption, air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions, and the cost of mobile Internet access,” he argued. “Deployment of connected vehicle technology can lay groundwork for better autonomous (self-driving) vehicles. Nevertheless, after two decades of trying, there has been little progress.”

A study based on three surveys conducted between June 2017 and January 2020 showed 63% of U.S. consumers are open to changing from their current policy to usage-based car insurance with a telematics-based premium, said Cambridge Mobile Telematics and IoT Insurance Observatory Tuesday. Many drivers showed interest in working with insurers to price their insurance based on how they drive vs. traditional rating factors such as ZIP code, age and gender, though only 5% of U.S. drivers use a telematics-based policy. Drivers are interested in different value propositions including upfront discounts, rewards and discounts at the time of renewal, with young, urban drivers the most likely candidates to opt for connected insurance. Just over half of respondents would look to traditional insurers for telematics programs; 20% chose nontraditional tech companies like Amazon as a possibility, “indicating an upcoming challenge” for traditional insurers.

Volkswagen will begin introducing SiriusXM’s flagship offering, 360L, in most model year 2021 vehicles, said the companies Wednesday. All Volkswagen models equipped with the MIB3 modular infotainment platform -- the 2021 Arteon, Atlas Cross Sport, Golf GTI, Jetta, Jetta GLI and Tiguan -- will incorporate SiriusXM with 360L; the Atlas, introduced in spring, will incorporate 360L as a mid-year change for model year 2021.5, they said.

SiriusXM’s 360L connected car platform will debut on 2021 model year BMW vehicles, starting with July production, said the satellite radio operator Thursday. Eleven BMW models will have 360L for delivery later in the summer, it said: BMW vehicles will be capable of receiving future 360L software updates, including one that will let Pandora listeners create their own ad-free music stations based on their favorite artists.

Ford is backing Swarm's ask for U.S. market access for a planned UHF non-voice non-geostationary satellite constellation (see 2003020002). Approval will help ensure global coverage of connected vehicles, Ford told FCC Chairman Ajit Pai in a letter Thursday. The carmaker wrote in 2019 urging OK of Swarm's VHF NVNG constellation.

SiriusXM’s 360L interactive system will debut on 2021 Ford F-150 trucks and be featured on all future vehicles with Ford’s Sync 4 connected car platform, said SiriusXM Friday. The 360L system gives listeners access to more than 10,000 hours of on-demand content. It will be available on F-150s by year-end, SiriusXM said.

Mercedes-Benz and Nvidia are partnering to create an in-vehicle computing system and artificial intelligence computing infrastructure built on the Nvidia Drive platform, they said Tuesday. A main feature will be the ability to automate driving of regular routes from address to address, plus numerous future safety and convenience features, they said. The upgradeable systems are to be available as standard equipment in Mercedes vehicles in 2024. Customers will be able to buy and add capabilities, software applications and subscription services through over-the-air software updates during the life of the car. Cars with the Nvidia Drive system will be supported by AI and software engineers “continuously developing, refining and enhancing the car over its lifetime,” said Jensen Huang, Nvidia CEO. The Nvidia Drive platform includes a system software stack designed for automated driving AI applications, which the companies will jointly develop. Applications will include SAE level 2 and 3 vehicle autonomy, and automated parking functions up to level 4, they said.

The few comments filed were mixed on a proposal by IEE Sensing for a waiver allowing VitaSense, “a system that detects children left in vehicles and provides this information to the vehicle’s warning systems” to operate in the 76-81 GHz band (see 2005060054). Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety said the technology is needed to address the overheating of children “who have unknowingly been left in or entered vehicles without adult supervision.” Deny the petition, said ADC Automotive Distance Control Systems. The band is used for advanced driver assistance technologies, providing a 360-degree view of a vehicle’s surroundings, the company said. These radars “must operate seamlessly, continuously and in an RF environment that mitigates interference risks to the greatest extent possible,” ADC said. “A full notice-and-comment rulemaking proceeding would be necessary to address the myriad of questions about compatibility of in-cabin sensors with external vehicular radars that are posed but not answered by the IEE Sensing Petition,” said engineering company Robert Bosch. Comments were posted Thursday in FCC docket 20-144.

Continental Automotive Systems opposes Wi-Fi in the 5.9 GHz band but said that if the FCC acts on proposed changes vehicle-to-everything technology should still be allowed to use the band's 45 MHz. Continental spoke with Chief Technology Officer Monisha Ghosh and other staff, said a filing posted Wednesday in docket 19-138. Commissioners agreed 5-0 in December to examine revised rules, reallocating 45 MHz for Wi-Fi, with 20 MHz reserved for cellular V-2X and possibly 10 MHz for dedicated short-range communications. Commissioner Mike O’Rielly expects the agency to address the band this summer (see 2006090060).