Yanfeng, one of the world’s leading automotive suppliers and a specialist in Smart Cabin concepts, is showcasing its smart surface expertise. The new Smart Surface Demonstrator consists of seven intuitive human-machine interface (HMI) solutions that are seamlessly integrated into different surfaces. Yanfeng is thus demonstrating the various ways in which the passenger experience can be redefined to suit OEMs’ specific requirements and ideas as well as how innovative operating concepts can be implemented in a customizable and sophisticated design.

“We are using the Smart Surface Demonstrator with its multiple control interfaces as a basis for discussion about the various implementation options for HMI solutions,” explained Han Hendriks, Chief Technology Officer at Yanfeng Technology. “The shapes, colors and, in particular, features presented are examples that illustrate new degrees of freedom of design and functional integration.” The intuitive HMI technologies used are especially focused on convenience and safety and are aligned with the company’s Smart Cabin approach, by which functional surfaces, health and wellness features as well as connectivity can be seamlessly integrated into interiors in the future.

Sensor-enabled intuitive operating functions
The Smart Surface Demonstrator features an ambient light solution under a fabric-covered decorative textile surface. Travelers can control the lighting intuitively thanks to a sensor behind the light source, regulating the light color and intensity by swiping the translucent surface. As with all mechatronic solutions on the module, the lighting area is only visible in an “on” state.

The company’s expertise in integrating technology into soft surfaces goes beyond decorative textiles, extending to artificial leather as well. In addition to seamlessly integrated dynamic surface illumination, which can be used as a blind spot warning light, for example, two backlit buttons are also embedded in the artificial leather decor. The touch icons respond to interactions with color changes. Both the dynamic illumination and the buttons appear when a hand comes close – thanks to the so-called secret-till-lit technology.

Features that appear when needed
The high-gloss decorative panel of the Smart Surface Demonstrator features an iconic switch framed by corona lighting, with light orchestration used to visualize the switch function. Next to it are three touch icons with secret-till-lit effect, which are designed as controls for the seat adjustment. In addition, reconfigurable display switches have also been seamlessly integrated into the decorative panel. Their switching functionality can be adapted to customer-specific operating concepts.

Yanfeng has invisibly integrated slider touch sensor technology into authentic wood trim. The wood decor is perforated and features a backlit function indicator, which only appears when the slider is touched. The switch function is also confirmed through haptic feedback.

Functionalities from customer-specific operating concepts can be integrated on almost all interior surfaces. “With the seamless integration of intuitive HMI technologies into hard and soft interior surfaces, we are offering functionality that is only visible on demand. This allows us to support an interior experience tailored specifically to the driver and passengers,” explained Han Hendriks. “Our Smart Surface Demonstrator solutions reflect not only Yanfeng’s technology integration expertise, but also the sheer versatility of the design and implementation options for future intelligent passenger compartments.”

The Smart Surface Demonstrator functionalities are currently at a concept design stage and may be used as early as the next generation of vehicles in model year 2021. More info about the Smart Surface Demonstrator including a video can be found at: https://www.yfai.com/en/social-media.

Yanfeng Automotive Interiors (YFAIrecognized the excellent performance of its European suppliers with the Supplier Award. A total of 14 companies received the awards in various categories at the European headquarters in Neuss yesterday.

Key rating criteria for the award were quality, cost, logistics, development, technology, and service. Depending on their total rating they have been recognized as Supplier of the Year, Distinguished Supplier, or Supplier Excellence.

“We are pleased to recognize our top suppliers and their teams, for their hard work and dedication. For us, they are important partners who play a key role in shaping our success globally,” said James Bos, Vice President Global Procurement for YFAI. Industrias Garita S. L. was named Supplier of the Year for its outstanding performance in YFAI’s metal stamping commodity group. The supplier from Spain received the best rating and was also recognized for their sense of urgency, flexibility and proactive approach.

The Distinguished Supplier award was presented to four companies: Total Research & Technology Feluy from Belgium; German suppliers Grammer Interior Components GmbH and Hoffmann und Voss GmbH, and Maier S. Corporation from Spain.

Nine suppliers were honored with the Supplier Excellence award in the categories of Service, Customer Satisfaction, Quality, Technology and Innovation. In the Service category, the Chinese company Cosco, P.E.T. Logistics N.V. from Germany, Industrias Alegre S.A. from Spain and the Belgian supplier ECA N.V. received awards.

Two German companies, Benecke-Kaliko AG and Vogel GmbH Kunststofftechnik, received Supplier Excellence awards in the Customer Satisfaction category. The award in the Quality category went to Halung GmbH & Co. KG, also in Germany.

In Technology and Innovation category TMG from Portugal and Actuator Solutions GmbH from Germany were the winners.

Yanfeng Automotive Interiors (YFAI), the global leader in automotive interiors, celebrates the opening of its new plant in the Šumadija district. Together with high-ranking officials and industry representatives, the state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Kragujevac was unveiled today. As a new employer in the region, the company is looking to recruit up to 800 new employees over the next few years.

“With this new plant in Serbia, we are expanding our manufacturing capacity in Eastern Europe’s growth markets and responding to our customers’ increasing presence in the region,” said Tony Elenbaas, Vice President & General Manager, Europe & South Africa at Yanfeng Automotive Interiors.

The company manufactures automotive interior components in a production area of approximately 18,500 square meters and has already created approximately 180 new jobs in the region. The plant is designed for up to 800 employees. Employee numbers are to be gradually increased year after year.
This is the company’s first plant in Serbia.

The good infrastructure in place and the availability of skilled workers in the Kragujevac region were key to selecting this location. Other factors included its central location in Southeast and Central Europe and proximity to other YFAI plants in Hungary, the Czech Republic and Slovakia.

What must the ‘in-car-experience’ look like to fulfill future mobility requirements? Han Hendriks, Chief Technology Officer at Yanfeng Technology (YFT), answered this question in his keynote speech at the ATZ live conference “Vehicles of Tomorrow 2019” in Frankfurt this week.

At the House of Logistics and Mobility (HOLM) participants learned more about how Yanfeng is transforming and acting on the most important trends relating to technology, mobility, and society and the new degrees of design freedom in the interiors of intelligent, connected, electric, and autonomous vehicles. He also explained why the company is looking at the time people spend in their vehicles and how sharing, ownership, and other quality of life factors influence the use of that time.

At YFT Han Hendriks is not only responsible for future-oriented interior concepts that are innovative and intuitive but also for the company’s research and development activities relating to interiors, seating, electronics, safety, and exteriors. In the newly founded YFT division, he will focus specifically on the integration of digital technologies into all components and systems in the vehicle’s interior because a new era of driving experience requires an integrated approach for interior design and electronics. The company has demonstrated how this will specifically look as part of its SmartCabin Interior Vision 2030 with the XiM20 concept car, which was unveiled for the first time in Europe recently.

Whether electric mobility, autonomous driving, car sharing, or digitization – at the conference, numerous representatives of the automotive and supplier industries discussed the up-and-coming changes to the automotive industry. This concerned strategies for revolutionary technology as much as new concepts and business models. Self-driving cars were among the topics to receive the highest audience interest. The panel discussion then explained the social benefits and customer acceptance on the way to the shared society.

The event was organized jointly by fks GmbH and ATZlive. It was used to exchange information and explain all of the elements of mobility change. At the booths of the accompanying exhibition, service providers and suppliers presented the newest developments and numerous services to the expert audience.

You can find out more about the event at https://www.atzlive.de/en/events/vehicles-of-tomorrow/

Yanfeng was recently awarded an Automotive Brand Contest 2019 award for its XiM20 concept vehicle in the Future, Mobility, and Parts category.

Han Hendriks, Chief Technology Officer of Yanfeng Technology and Tony Elenbaas, Vice President and General Manager, Europe and South Africa for Yanfeng Automotive Interiors (YFAI) and Francois Stouvenot, Executive Vice President Commercial for YFAI, accepted the award. It was presented during the press days of the International Motor Show (IAA) in Frankfurt. The Automotive Brand Contest is the only neutral, international design competition for automotive brands and has emerged as a worldwide important event in the sector. With the competition, the German Design Council honors outstanding product and communication design and draws attention to the fundamental importance of brand and brand design in the automotive industry.

“Less than a week after the XiM20 made its European debut, we are pleased to receive an Automotive Brand Contest 2019 award,” said Han Hendriks. “We are pleased to be one of only 11 companies selected in this category as an honoree.”

The XiM20 is a fully autonomous rideshare concept, offering new consumer experiences that are customizable to passenger’s preferences to better suit their journeys. XiM20 is a reflection of the most in-depth primary research the company has done to date.

Note: Images are available on our website under www.yfai.com/en/media-center

With its Experience in Motion 2020 (XiM20) concept car, Yanfeng, a leading global automotive supplier, unveils its Smart Cabin vision for the automotive interior of the future for the first time in Europe today. Not only delivering the physical environment for future mobility, Yanfeng’s Smart Cabin capabilities enable the coordination of features into a truly holistic Experience in Motion: information, displays, lighting, and interior ambience all react to passengers’ needs, and new forms of interaction bring surprise and delight in the mobility space. This interior concept for fully autonomous ridesharing vehicles reflects the results of in-depth end-user research combined with Yanfeng’s latest technologies and will be presented today to customers, partners and the media on the innovation platform of Startup Autobahn powered by Plug and Play in ARENA2036 in Stuttgart.

“Approaching this next iteration of the XiM demonstrator, we knew it was critical to evaluate users’ wants and needs within the vehicle and outside of the mobility context,” said Tim Shih, Vice President Design and User Experience, Yanfeng Technology. “The insights gleaned from our research defined what impacts consumers’ quality of life and what creates memorable, engaging experiences. With the XiM20, advanced technologies and product innovations complement intuitive design, providing flexibility and comfort for the autonomous rideshare passengers of tomorrow.” 

The XiM20 showcases technology integrations that stimulate the senses without overwhelming passengers with an array of options and features. By camouflaging the demonstrator’s screens and navigation systems within the surfaces of the vehicle using Smart Surface Technologies, passengers can choose whether or not to engage with the innovations around them.

“As an industry leader, we have the capabilities to provide holistic total interior solutions. As we approached this iteration of the XiM, we had to ask ourselves: If we choose to feature every product and technology available within this space, are we offering value? Our research said “no.” Instead, to design and develop interiors in this context, we needed to understand and craft experiences that are engaging and surprising, without being overly complex. For future mobility, this is where the opportunity lies,” said Hendriks, Chief Technology Officer at Yanfeng Technology.

The XiM20 interior is designed to enable the use of two distinct zones: the bright, airy front of the demonstrator and the more cocoon-like rear, offering lounge seating and privacy. Controls for the interior environment are accessible on the Smart Interior Surface (SIS) table located at the front of the demonstrator or can be accessed via a smartphone application.

The front area is an observation space, offering comfortable, functional seating with an uninterrupted 180 degree view through the curved windshield. This zone is reminiscent of a cafe or coffee house bar, pressed up against a glass window to allow passengers to feel connected to the world around them while enjoying their journey. Features of this zone include:

• Smart Interior Surface (SIS) Table – easily accessible on the natural wood table surface where the trip’s sequence is initiated and passengers can control the temperature, sound, UV cleaning, and navigation systems. When not in use, the table remains a beautiful, natural wood surface; 
• UV Surface Sanitizer – UV frequency light sweeps over the interior to disinfect frequently contacted surfaces between trips;
• Never-Forget Storage – storage spaces and bins recognize forgotten belongings, alerting passengers with a series of notifications directing them to the stored item;
• Noveto Smart Audio – an innovation resulting from the alliance of YF and Noveto Systems Ltd., this technology is designed to send sound sensors, transducers and software that can locate and track the passenger’s position and deliver high-quality sound without disturbing others. Also unlike traditional directional sound technology, Noveto’s Smart Audio technology works seamlessly within confined spaces which makes it an ideal solution for use within automobiles.
• Visible Natural Fiber – enhancing the interior experience with environmentally-friendly, lightweight construction to create an attractive finish made from sustainable materials.

In comparison, the rear zone offers secluded comfort where passengers can retreat from the hustle and bustle of their everyday lives. The space mimics the cozy atmosphere of a booth, with a soft fabric surrounding and technology integrations designed to complement passengers’ moods and preferences.

Features of this zone include:

• Active Space – a unique combination of in-cabin sensing developed with our partner IEE, and surface display technology to enable immersive interaction between passengers and their surrounding interior environment for entertainment, communication, and ambience;
• Bulletin Board – an eye-level integrated display panel provides ride information and notifications, navigation updates and alerts for passengers when they are approaching their destination so that they can prepare for arrival and gather their belongings;
• Slim Airvent – innovative vanes and air flow control allow vents to be a fraction of their conventional surface area while still providing sufficient air flow and heating/cooling effects;
• Active Cast Lighting – dynamic ambient lighting which mimics the play of light as it reflects and refracts in natural environments;
• Touch-Free Access – located on the exterior of the vehicle, this touchless palm scanner confirms a passenger is correct for the ordered trip by simply requiring guests to hover their hand over the unit to be identified and to gain entry.

Note: Images are available on our website under www.yfai.com/en/media-center

Yanfeng, one of the world’s leading automotive suppliers and specialist in smart cabin concepts, showcases its expertise in the field of integrated electronics and interior technology with a true masterpiece in craftsmanship the touchIN Interior Demonstrator. Its human-machine interface (HMI) technologies are designed to be intuitive and convenient, featuring the latest materials for smart, user-friendly, and eco-friendly surfaces.

The combined interior and electronics excellence and expertise of Yanfeng come together in the new touchIN cockpit module. The company excels in the integration of interior components, resulting in the state-of-the-art functionality and stylish elegance of the touchIN. Yanfeng’s customers will enjoy the uniqueness of the interior aesthetics created through mastery of lighting, materials, and processes.

“When designing the touchIN demonstrator, our global research and development teams from across our company’s areas of expertise, such as HMI electronics engineering or functional surface development, have worked to achieve the collective vision of a comfortable, relaxed, and pleasant driving experience that starts with a single touch. Through our cutting-edge technologies’ seamlessly integrated look, feel, and functions, we are proud to present flagship cockpit technologies that are now production-ready,” said Han Hendriks, Chief Technology Officer at Yanfeng Technology.

With industry-leading research and development capabilities for smart interiors, the company has optimized functionality not only for its new generation of Smart Cabin controllers but also for its floor console armrests and the entire cockpit space of the cabin.

Interior Electronics Systems: Smart Cabin Controller

Yanfeng’s new generation Smart Cabin Controller provides the latest in-vehicle electronics technologies and HMI intelligence, to provide cockpit, floor console, and cabin space control. When it comes to individual systems, the touchIN demonstrator excels in all details, as is shown by the integrated Augmented Reality (AR) Navigation System. The AR Navigation system features a live-action display of road and navigation information, giving auxiliary information about driving safety and creating an intuitive, real-life navigation experience.

Individualized electronics features such as face detection or warnings of unsafe driving provide additional assistance technology for drivers and passengers. Using facial recognition technology, the system can read facial fatigue and emotional cues, alerting or accommodating the driver with ambient lighting changes. Detectable sentiments or expressions include joy, smiling, sadness, anger, yawning, or sleepiness. For monitoring the environment around the car, a new Unsafe Driving Warning is instrumental in Yanfeng’s Smart Cabin Controller. Using radar sensing in conjunction with ambient lighting color changes, drivers are effectively warned when pedestrians get too close to the vehicle.

The instrument panel features Yanfeng’s Slim Air Vents, a stylish interior solution that perfectly regulates the vehicle’s environment. The slim design of the invisible air vent free up space for display screens or smart decorative packages. The Smart Cabin Controller enables position memory, smart directing and more to enhance passenger comfort.

Adaptive Floor Console and Functional Surfaces Gain in Performance

Multi-functional features and adaptive behavior are the key to enhancing floor consoles. The new touchIN demonstrator showcases a smart Adaptive Floor Console concept with variable size and volume. The armrest area converts on receipt of charging signals, near field communication (NFC) signals, or touch button signals, while offering open storage space when the adaptive surface is activated. Mobile devices can be charged by simply placing them onto the surface, providing real-time feedback of the charging status. A functional, translucent skin with an indicator lighting display has been integrated into this adaptive floor console. The company pays great attention to detail when configuring the floor console area into an attractive, adaptive space for consumers under different usage scenarios.

Increased vehicle infotainment requirements create new opportunities to redesign the automotive interiors of the future, and Yanfeng’s multi-functional surfaces and decorative panels showcase an efficient way of supporting these requirements. The company seamlessly integrates multi-functional decorative panels with vehicle interiors. Not only does it improve the overall interior aesthetics of Yanfeng-designed interiors, but at the same time, the smart touch panel provides an interactive and responsive HMI experience which can be customized. A perfect fusion of the infotainment display and HMI system has been achieved by the seamless integration of the decorative panel into the vehicle’s interior surfaces when the functions are not activated. A display panel with touch functions operates the multi-functional control area and is protected by an elegant acrylic glass surface, to create a premium interior appearance.

New, Innovative Materials Such as Ceramic and Crystal for Deco Trim Available

Decorative trims based on innovative, ecologically friendly materials are gaining in popularity with consumers. With its consumer research and concept developments around the world, Yanfeng R&D teams have repeatedly presented that the company understands consumer and market trends. The company has applied its sophisticated ceramic injection molding process to produce decorative parts made with authentic ceramic material. Characteristic for ceramic surface integration is a smooth, glossy surface with a jade-like appearance. This ceramic material composition is thinner and more solid than real wood and aluminum decoration providing a new look and feel to the car interior with increased performance and -scratch resistance. The new decorative technology enables greater design freedom with its ceramic injection molding process, allowing more complex 3D geometry products to be produced more easily.

The crystal surfaces create a more luxurious experience, improving the overall appearance of the interior surface. The new crystal material shows various decorative effects, such as high-gloss silver or high-gloss black, with perfect use of ambient lighting. It also enables the innovative application of decorative film with hidden touch functions, creating 3D design options with a high gloss surface. The design and production processes benefit from ultra-small radii for tooling design. Yanfeng’s manufacturing strategy of in-house integration has resulted in the development of this injection molding process for transparent integrated crystal parts. The transparency of the new material composition also allows application of translucent surface effects with a unique protective layer.

Yanfeng Excels in Design and Function of Skin Technologies

Yanfeng can functionalize almost any material, and has even developed a robust manufacturing process to apply customizable backlighting effects with static or dynamic engraved patterns on soft-touch surfaces. With this process, the company can seamlessly integrate advanced lighting technologies into traditional leather or leather-like materials. The innovative, illuminated door panel surface of the touchIN demonstrator provides both static and dynamic engraved patterns. In addition, user-friendly HMI design and customizable patterns create unique ambient lighting effects on door surfaces, to enhance OEM brand identity with distinctive interior aesthetics.

The touchIN demonstrator also features Easy-to-Clean skin technology. Consumer expectations toward more eco-friendly and healthier lifestyles are continually increasing. As vehicle interiors become the next living space, the quality of in-car environments is becoming more important. Yanfeng continuously invests in new material innovation and application of key interior surfaces, as well as advanced manufacturing processes, such as solvent-free coating processes for odor-free and easy-to-clean skins. The company’s eco-friendly and non-toxic surfaces with a smooth touch experience greatly improves the passengers’ experience on board, as well as improving interior air quality. 

Yanfeng, one of the world’s leading automotive suppliers and a specialist in Smart Cabin concepts, presents its expertise in integrated interior technology and Smart Cabin design with its advanced technology concept, the “Wellness Pod” – a unique antimicrobial device that sanitizes vehicle interior air and surfaces with UV light while bringing in the latest in Scent Dispensing. By combining UV Air Sanitization and non-liquid scent dispensing into an overhead console, Yanfeng’s Wellness Pod enhances the wellbeing of passengers on the commute. The company sees increasing use cases for both personal, sharing, and car-hailing services.

With the ever-rising awareness of personal health, wellness, and a growing ride-sharing economy, vehicle interiors will increasingly become a public space. Yanfeng’s Wellness Pod console features a touchpad interface with user-friendly smartphone app control. The slim console with its concealed air vents can be seamlessly integrated into the cabin interior. It can be mounted as an overhead console or be designed as a portable unit for multimodal transportation including train cabins, boats, buses, or vans, in line with customer specifications. The Wellness Pod, with built-in lens technology for UV distribution, integrates the features and functions of UV Air Sanitizer, Multi-Scent Dispensing, and UV Surface Sanitizer.

“We’ve developed the Wellness Pod to provide passengers with the most comfortable travelling experience, taking all senses into consideration,” explains Han Hendriks, Chief Technology Officer at Yanfeng Technology. “Most people do care a lot about the cleanliness of their own or shared cars, and people care about a wholesome, healthy, and appealing interior of the cabin when starting their journeys. Our Wellness Pod meets these demands with unmatched hygiene functionality and consumer choices. But it is also equally important for shared mobility service companies as a clean and fresh interior drives customer satisfaction and vehicle up-time, both are essential to this business model.”

UV Air Sanitizer and Surface Sanitizer improve in-car hygiene

The UV Sanitizer technology is an antimicrobial device that sanitizes interior surfaces and air with UV-C light, destroying both bacteria and viruses to ensure a healthy environment for all passengers. The UV Air Sanitizer efficiently uses the same UV light source as the Surface Sanitizer. Air circulation is based on redirected HVAC airflow.

Directly exposed surfaces experience up to 99.9% reduction in bacteria through the UV Surface Sanitizer, while even indirect surfaces show a 95% reduction. A quick-clean mode between rides ensures continuous cleanliness of high-touch zones for ride-share providers. The sensor technology in the vehicle effectively detects what spots have been touched and where cleaning is required. Full cabin air and surface sanitation would take around 30 minutes and is applied in standstill periods when the car is not occupied.

Smart Multi-Scent Dispenser enhances passenger’s experience through custom fragrance delivery

Yanfeng offers its passengers the choice to experience a ride that leverages all of our senses, including our sense of smell. The intelligent, cloud-based solution for diffusing scent is the world’s first connected platform for scent based on Inhalio technology. With this technology, OEM customers can customize fragrances for their vehicles and products. Ordering and installing the replaceable cartridges can be done through a smartphone app that Yanfeng can offer through its most recent startup partner Inhalió. Over time, a growing number of scents for wellbeing will be made available, to match consumer preferences. Initially, the standard configuration of the Wellness Pod offers four different scent cartridges, with fragrances that can be individually selected. In addition to wellness scents which are aimed at private car owners, several scents also offer functional benefits. These go beyond a pleasing smell in the vehicle and have the ability to mitigate motion sickness and enhance general wellbeing, provide a calming effect during stressful driving situations, and even increase alertness and attention.

Scent dispenser can mitigate motion sickness

Identifying solutions to mitigate travel nausea is gaining momentum due to the onset of vehicles that drive themselves and in rideshare situations. When passengers can comfortably rotate their seats to face backward and have a conversation or a business meeting, they are more susceptible to feeling sick from the vehicle’s movements. Through the scent dispenser this can be inhibited, even before travel sickness takes hold, making the ride more comfortable for the passengers.

“Our Intelligent Scent 3.0 technology does not use any spray or oil-based fragrances, as is common in cars to date. Non-liquid, scent impregnated polymers release their fragrance through a dry-air distribution system and natural airflow within the vehicle’s interior, completely free of alcohol, VOCs, or allergens”, said Keith Kelsen, CEO of Inhalió. Therefore, no oily surfaces and air-releases do not require cleaning.

“As the olfactory memory of humans is even more precise than our visual memory, this unique evolution of a scent experience will have a lasting impact on our riding experience. The odor endurance time of the fragrance is very short, so it is not overbearing. The residual smell stays in the brain, but doesn’t linger in the interior,” Han Hendriks added.

Artificial intelligence-based firmware collects data on preference, frequency of use and when the fragrance cartridges need to be changed. Controlled via the operating system of the vehicle or an app, the system will then be able to make informed purchase suggestions for new scents to passengers.
The strategic partnership with Inhalió was initiated through Yanfeng’s close relationship with startup platform Plug and Play in Sunnyvale, California — a contact that was first initiated in the spring of 2018.

Yanfeng, a leading global automotive supplier headquartered in Shanghai, China, announced today that it will integrate its Research & Development (R&D) activities in the areas of interiors, seating, electronics, safety, and exteriors into the global Yanfeng Technology unit (YFT) to accelerate the realization of its SMART CABIN vision for future automotive interiors.  Based on extensive market research and futuring activities, SMART CABIN features functional surfaces, health and wellness features, and connectivity seamlessly integrated in all interior systems including seating, as well as exterior parts and passive safety systems.

To make SMART CABIN a reality, Yanfeng has established YFT with a strong focus on the integration of digital technology into all interior components and systems, including a SMART CABIN controller to orchestrate all features and functions, creating a truly unique consumer experience.

“The Yanfeng Technology team is already executing projects at 13 R & D centers globally, jointly with our customers and partners to make SMART CABIN a reality very soon,” said Han Hendriks, Chief Technology Officer for YFT.

In support of YFT, Yanfeng leverages its global engineering and manufacturing capabilities to service the vehicle manufacturers and become the leading integrated supplier of SMART CABIN solutions globally.

“In Europe and in North America, Yanfeng customers benefit from an array of ready-to-sell innovations, the local team’s customer, market and technology expertise, as well as a state-of-the-art footprint, now combined with the enhanced global innovation expertise of Yanfeng Technology,” said Ni Jiawen, Yanfeng Executive Committee member and CEO for YFT.

Through its Yanfeng Automotive Interiors (YFAI) division, Yanfeng also leverages a leading network of partners and the global innovation platform Plug & Play that enable Yanfeng to tap into a major innovation source while as an integrator ensuring quick industrialization and one face to the customer.

To engage major stakeholders with its vision and capabilities for SMART CABIN, Yanfeng has invited customers, the media, business partners, thought leaders and startups to come together for an event to celebrate the official debut of YFT in Stuttgart hosted by Plug & Play, a global innovation platform. In Europe, Plug & Play is represented by Startup Autobahn, located in Stuttgart (Germany) within ARENA2036, a research campus dedicated to innovation projects for mobility.

Yanfeng, one of the world’s leading automotive suppliers and a specialist in Smart Cabin concepts, and IEE, a leading provider of sensor solutions in the automotive sector, are jointly developing an integrated technology vision for the vehicle interiors of the future. “Active Space” is their interpretation of an interactive interior in an autonomous, level 5 vehicle.

New forms of mobility, such as autonomous driving, ride-sharing and car-sharing, are changing automotive interiors. If driving tasks are largely eliminated or require less time, this frees drivers up for other activities. That is why the interiors of the future will have to cover a variety of different use case scenarios. Intuitive, interactive, and convenient concepts always focused on the user experience will play an increasingly important role. Therefore, Yanfeng is pursuing its Smart Cabin approach for intelligent passenger compartments, in which functional surfaces, health and wellness features and connectivity are seamlessly integrated into the interior in the future.

“New mobility services, such as autonomous ride-sharing, pose enormous challenges for us as interiors experts – but also give us the opportunity to be creative and come up with something new,” explained Han Hendriks, Chief Technology Officer at Yanfeng Technology. “With Active Space, we are giving passengers a way to interact with the vehicle and thereby bringing our Smart Cabin vision to life.”

In its Experience in Motion 2020 (XiM20) concept car, Yanfeng shows how this technology vision might actually look in a Smart Cabin concept for fully autonomous vehicles.

Interactive interior experience with intuitive control

Active Space portrays the all-encompassing experience that may be offered with sensor technology and surface integration in the interiors of the future. Integrated into the rear zone of the XiM20 cabin, Active Space offers occupants a way to retreat from the hustle and bustle of everyday life and create a feel-good atmosphere through playful interaction. The intuitive and interactive sensor solution is based on Yanfeng’s interior design and smart surfaces as well as IEE’s sensor technology. A near-infrared stereo camera serves as input device and captures the vehicle interior, while powerful algorithms used in conjunction with the Smart Cabin Controller control the lighting experience on the translucent textile surfaces in real-time based on the analyzed movements. In this way, Active Space offers a tailored human-machine interface (HMI) solution that integrates seamlessly into interior surfaces.

In the XiM20, the smart surfaces switch between four different modes, depending on the situation. For example, there is a blue Energy mode and a violet/orange Relax mode. When the UV surface sanitizer is activated, Active Space displays blue bubbles. In stand-by mode, the surfaces stay white. In general, Active Space can also be configured with customized designs. Travelers can interact intuitively with the vehicle thanks to the combination of sensor technology and smart surfaces. In a further step, it is conceivable that individual operating functions for the audio or air conditioning systems, for example, might be controlled via Active Space.

“We have combined our expertise through this strategic partnership with Yanfeng so that passengers can try out the mobility of tomorrow as a unique experience,” said Alain Schumacher, CTO of IEE. “Our customers benefit in that we can offer them everything needed for an integrated system from which various potential applications can be derived.” Yanfeng and IEE already signed a memorandum of understanding at the IAA 2017 to combine their complementary skills and jointly develop integrated smart solutions. The equal partnership has already produced a multitude of successful applications.

The latest result of the partnership is the Active Space technology vision, which is currently in concept status and may feature in real-life mobility solutions from 2035 onwards. In addition to the seamless integration of Active Space into headliners, there is also potential for it to find its way into B-pillars and front seat backrests.