gy, emissions and efficiencies, comfort technology, entertainment, safety and car connectivity is here,” says Arfi. While vehicle safety technology innovations may increase and the result may be less accidents, according toNHTSA,hereminds automotive recyclers that these innovations also means an increase in the number of parts that have higher value on the car.

The Amazing Car Experience Overall, auto manufacturers are promoting safety

first.Ontheir race to the George Jetson-age, safety is their first stop. They are almost all moving forward with their version of the autonomous self-driving car. Right now, on high-end premiere vehicles, the active safety technology generally known as “ADAS” must be perfected to get there. These systems include emergency braking, lane-departure warning, adaptive cruise control, and “parktronics.” In fact, the new 2017 Mercedes-Benz E-Class is a shining example. It drives itself on the highway. It will maintain a speed, slow down if the car in front slows, stay in its lane up to 130 mph, and change lanes automatically with nothing more than a touch of the turn signal. This is astounding technology. As far as “parktronics,” it also parks itself. After you’ve let the car drive for a while you can find a park- ing spot. It’s “Parking Pilot” searches for suitable parallel or perpendicular parking spaces to either side as you drive by. Choose a space to pull or back into, and it can expertly shift, steer and brake for you. When it’s time to leave, it can also steer you back out. In a Mercedes-Benz “first,” their PRE-SAFE® sensor technology candetect instability during certain vehicle maneuvers that suggest a colli- sion or rollover is imminent. It can then tighten the front seat belts, adjust the front passenger seat, and close the windows and sunroof, all inaneffort to better prepare the occupants and restraints in the moments before a collision. If no accident occurs, the seat-belt tensioners

reverse, and you simply readjust your seat, open the sunroof and continue on your way.

While you are not driving your E-Class, you can

also take advantage of its amazing infotainment sys- tem that is operated on the steering wheel while comfortably sitting in seats that were two-and-a-half years in the comfort-design phase. And you can enjoy an array of ambient lighting to the tune of 64 colors … because you need that. Geely Automobile’s new global brand, Lynk & Co.,

Two cutting edge features on the 017 Mercedes-Benz E-Class illustrate the future-is-now in technology. The car is equipped with “parktronics,” (top) a self-parking feature, and “pre- safe,” (bottom) where the car’s interior safety reaction keeps a driver safe when sensing an impending side impact.

Are consumers ready for all this? A recent ReportLinker.com survey says maybe not.

A majority – 63% – of consumers say they won’t feel safe in a fully-automated vehicle.

will start sales of its first model, an SUV developed with Volvo Cars (seen on page 30), in 2018 in Europe and the U.S. The launches will happen after the vehicle debuts in China late next year. According to Lynk’s website, the “car is not a car – it is anapp, a hub, a bike, an idea, a key, a service, a revolution.” All models will come with a large central touch screen and telematics systems that are always connected to the Internet and to the car’s own cloud network. A share button will allow the owner to provide oth- ers with access to the vehicle via a shareable digital key. Owners can use theLynk app to control and monitor their car from a smartphone -- or directly from the car. Lynk is collaborating with Microsoft and Alibaba to build a new digital customer infrastructure for the car indus-

try, with new digital order, supply, sales and customer relationship management systems and custom applica- tions for user interaction.

Ready ... or Not? Are consumers ready for all this?

A recent ReportLinker.com survey says maybe not.

A majority – 63% – of consumers say they won’t feel safe in a fully-automated vehicle. When asked what they believed was the main drawback to automated

November-December 2016 | Automotive Recycling 33