BERLIN—To safeguard against total failure and a potentially dangerous situation, engineers at the Fraunhofer Institute for Reliability and Microintegration are developing an electronic disconnect device that is able to isolate any faults in vehicle electrical systems.

While many European automotive OEMs work toward expanding their market globally, they often prefer their components to be made locally. One supplier that many German carmakers rely on for printed circuit board assemblies is DELTEC Automotive GmbH & Co. KG (DAGC).

Today’s typical automobile features nearly 100 exterior and interior sensors, with the number likely to increase in the near future. Those located on the outside (axle load, steering angle, blind spots, air temperature, etc.) require special protection from the elements and unique production methods.

Once a lagging market segment, automotive electronics has gained significant importance in recent years, as the industry, the culture and consumer expectations have changed. Safety and regulatory requirements for vehicles have increased, manufacturers have new warranty requirements, and what used to be “luxury” features are now expected to come standard with a new car.

About 300 miles northwest of Mexico City sits the town of Aguascalientes. Although its name means hot waters, the place is much more well-known for its gentle climate, brave bullfighters and being a stopover point between the mines of Zacatecas and Mexico City.

For decades, automobiles have depended on 12-volt electrical systems. But, that’s about to go the way of chrome bumpers, hood ornaments and running boards.

A flexible pneumatic test system finds bad automotive electronics before consumers do.

DETROIT—The Open Automotive Alliance, a consortium of automotive OEMs and technology providers like Google, has launched a new, automotive-specific operating system—Android Auto.

DETROIT—For automakers, one of the biggest headaches posed by infotainment systems is instant obsolescence. With its three- to five-year product cycles, the auto industry simply can’t keep up with the short product cycles of smart phone makers. New applications produced for smart phones often aren’t compatible with the dated software and hardware found in autos.