The new Silicon Valley facility of Honda.
SAN FRANCISCO: Honda marked the opening of its new Silicon Valley R&D facility last week, using the occasion to unveil a refreshed 2016 Accord featuring Honda's first application of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
It also announced a new open innovation R&D initiative, Honda Xcelerator, which will provide resources to breakthrough technology innovators to help rapidly develop prototypes with the potential to transform the automotive experience.
Honda's Silicon Valley operation, which was first established in 2000, is charged with researching and prototyping innovations and harnessing new ideas and technology.
Current areas of focus include connected mobility, novel human-machine interfaces, supporting app developers through initiatives like Honda Developer Studio and computer science research for vehicle intelligence.
Silicon Valley engineers also spearhead the company's working relationship with Silicon Valley-based technology companies.
"As an industry, we are on the verge of some major transformational changes brought on by the convergence of what have been, to this point, largely disparate technology disciplines," said Honda R&D Americas President, Frank Paluch.
"Honda will embrace and help lead this convergence. Our operations in Silicon Valley are a testimony to our focus on this new direction in our product and technology development efforts."
Leveraging technology created in Silicon Valley, the 2016 Accord will be the first Honda model and among the first high-volume cars in the marketplace to feature both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, among major upgrades that will make the 2016 Accord the most high-tech Accord in history.
For model year 2016, the reigning best-selling car in California also will receive Honda Sensing, the suite of safety and driver-assistive technologies that helps reduce driver workload and avoid or mitigate the severity of a vehicle collision.
Honda Sensing also serves as both a technological and perceptual bridge to the highly automated cars of the future. Honda is the first major automaker to publicly reveal a high-volume model in Silicon Valley.
