NEVER TOO OLD TO LEARN….

TOGETHER WITH MY LOVE OF CLASSIC AUTOMOBILES (and reading about them in my fav Brit Classic & Sports Cars), I continue to admire and respect Automotive News. I’m never too old to ignore the latest trends and jargon; to wit, things like Direct Sales, SDV, and ADAS. Here are tidbits about each of these gleaned from recent issues of Automotive News.

ADAS = Advanced Driver Assist System. The Automotive News Editorial Board asserts, “ADAS Priority Must Be Safety, Not More Profit,” January 19, 2026/online January 14, 2026: “One thing made clear by this year’s CES [Consumer Electronic Show] in Las Vegas is that after decades of research and heavy investments, a number of automakers believe their most advanced driver assistance systems are on the verge of being ready for broader use.”

Image from Bosch via Automotive News.

Level 3: Achievement and Risks. The Editorial Board observes, “In the five recognized tiers of automated driving, Level 3 represents an important technological milestone—albeit one that has been difficult to achieve and which still presents substantial risks.” 

A long time in coming. Image from “AAAS Looks At Autonomous Cars,” Simanaitis Says, December 30, 2017.

In particular, note that the Level-3 driver “must be capable of regaining control within 10-15 seconds.”  

Thus, observes the Board, “Automakers could be reluctant to assume proper legal responsibility if their systems are operating a vehicle when crashes occur, despite marketing claims implying advanced so-called self-driving capabilities.”

It surely sounds like lawyer heaven to me.

SDV = Software-Defined Vehicles. Molly Boigon writes from the CES, “Software-Defined Vehicles Still Face Hurdles,” Automotive News, January 12, 2026: “Automakers are planning to add new functionalities and capabilities to the car using over-the-air updates. But for all their transformative potential, software may not extend such automobiles’ useful lives because of physical limitations.”

Inherent Limitations. Boigon recalls the cell phone situation: Updates and apps exist, but still new phone designs attract buyers with added features.

Plus, she notes, “Several hardware limits exist for SDVs.” An inherent movement of metal atoms can degrade silicon-based transistors. Heating and cooling can also cause stress. And, “… in many cases,” Boigon observes, “these processors just become obsolete—newer technology can run programs faster and better.” 

The Problem? Not really a problem: One specialist told Boigon that the real SDV culprit is physics.

The Direct-Sales Phenomenon. For much of its history, auto sales has been franchise-based. Then along came Tesla, with company-owned and -operated dealerships. These have encountered court challenges in several states on matters of franchise law.

Jack Walsworth reports in “Direct-Sales Bid on Move,” Automotive News, January 19, 2026: “Scout Motors’ drive to sell directly to U.S. consumers is slowly getting more traction despite legal challenges from dealers in several states. In an early, high-profile victory, Scout in December was awarded a dealer license in Colorado, and it appears it was not the upstart brand’s first, public document show.” 

So Who’s Scout Anyway? A slick website introduces Scout Motors Traveler SUV and Terra Truck.

Above, the Scout Traveler SUV. Below, the Scout Terra Truck. Images from Scout Motors.

The website boasts “American Built” and “EST 2022. It wasn’t until I queried Wikipedia about this marque that I learned “Scout Motors Inc. is an American independent subsidiary of German multinational automotive manufacturer Volkswagen Group and a member of the Volkswagen Group companies. Volkswagen AG obtained the Scout brand after acquiring American truck manufacturer International Motors (previously Navistar) in 2021, and the Scout brand was relaunched in 2022.”

Indeed, Wikipedia recounts, “Scout Motors plans to sell vehicles directly to consumers and service its vehicles itself, following the direct sales model used by competitors like Tesla, Rivian, Lucid and Polestar, rather than sell through franchised dealers.”

Wikipedia continues, “The National Automobile Dealers Association filed a lawsuit against Volkswagen Group and Scout Motors on February 3, 2025, alleging that as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Volkswagen, Scout’s direct sales violate laws that prohibit automakers from competing with their franchised dealers. Volkswagen and Audi dealers in California and Florida similarly filed lawsuits, alleging Scout’s direct sales model violates state franchise laws.” 

Back to Automotive News. Jack Walsworth confirms, “Direct-to-consumer sales are at the center of Scout’s U.S. marketing strategy but have drawn strong opposition and in some cases, legal action from dealers nationwide.”

He also notes that Scout has licenses in Arizona, Missouri, Tennessee, and Utah.

What’s more, Walsworth reports, “The California Department of Motor Vehicles spokesperson also confirmed that Sony Honda Mobility of America has a valid dealer license in the state.”

It ain’t over ’til the guy in the white loafers stops singing. ds

© Dennis Simanaitis, SimanaitisSays.com, 2026