Information contained in this news release is current as of the date of the press announcement, but may be subject to change without prior notice.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tokyo, April 4, 2018 ---Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd. today announced that automakers and auto parts manufacturers including Hitachi Automotive Systems participating in the Study Group for Ideal Approaches to Model Utilization in the Automobile Industry set up by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) will speed up their effort to explore further into SURIAWASE 2.0, the project aimed at harmonization of differences in development capabilities among the participants, based on Model Based Development methodology and utilizing virtual simulations.
METI created the Study Group for Ideal Approaches to Model Utilization in the Automobile Industry in November 2015 in the drive to boost the international competitiveness of the Japanese automobile industry further. Together with the participating companies, the ministry has been conducting studies to achieve this goal through the use of Model Based Development in the vehicle development and performance assessment processes, employing virtual simulations instead of actual car testing and hence enhancing harmonization ability of the participating companies.
In March 2017, METI and the participating companies announced their agreement on the use of the guidelines and model compliant with the guidelines that were created under the study group, as well as on active promotion of efficiency in development based on virtual simulation technology, its dissemination, and on government support in manpower training in use of the technology. At the same time, the SURIAWASE 2.0 was announced as the plan to build leading-edge development centers through advances in development power mobilizing IT and virtual simulations.
Following the announcement, METI and the participating companies have announced additional items in the further study of SURIAWASE 2.0, founded on solid progress made on the issues in the agreement concluded in fiscal 2016 and on the findings of the study group meetings in fiscal 2017. The items added in the latest agreement include the development of a “scheme for management, maintenance and expansion of the guidelines and the model compliant with the guidelines under private business initiative” by 2020, expansion in the application of the guidelines and model from gasoline-engine models to electrified and other vehicles, and study into new areas of cooperation concerning the model, in face of megatrends in autonomous driving and electric vehicles.
Hitachi Automotive Systems will continue to engage in activities aimed at in-depth study of the model and expansion in the scope of cooperation through coordination of the industry, academic and government sectors.
Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd is a wholly owned subsidiary of Hitachi, Ltd., headquartered in Tokyo, Japan. The company is engaged in the development, manufacture, sales and services of automotive components, transportation related components, industrial machines and systems, and offers a wide range of automotive systems including engine management systems, electric power train systems, drive control systems and car information systems. For more information, please visit the company's website at http://www.hitachi-automotive.co.jp/en/
