Perfect partners

The automotive and electronics industries have travelled similar paths for a long time, sometimes arm-in-arm.

Way back in 1912, GM introduced the industry's first electric starter, which replaced the old hand-crank starter. It was the first of many electronic innovations that transformed automobiles from rough-and-tumble horseless carriages to the sophisticated machines that we know and drive today.

The electronics content of the typical automobile has increased by almost 50 per cent over the last five years. And you cannot think about new consumer electronics for long without imagining what automotive applications they might have.

At the same time, it is hard to think about today's cars without thinking about the electronics they already incorporate — not just radios, DVD players, GPS devices and navigation systems but also the things you cannot see such as airbags, anti-lock brakes and engine control modules.

The auto and electronics industries have worked together for many years and in future we think the two will work even more closely.