Tag: Vehicle Safety Products

Industry News

Upgrade Your RV Visibility

October 25, 2023

Upgrade Your RV Visibility OCTOBER 25, 2023 // Elizabeth Breneiser As the leaves change and the fall weather rolls in, it’s time to winterize your recreational vehicle (RV) in preparation for the colder months ahead. While you’re inspecting your tanks, batteries, and water lines, take advantage of this opportunity to upgrade your RV’s visibility for the adventures to come. RVs, among the largest consumer vehicles on the road, often lack the safety features found in typical passenger vehicles, making visibility a significant concern. Brandmotion’s AHDS-7810v2 Wireless HD Observation System brings clarity to your long-haul road trips, whether you’re backing up in tight campsites, fueling up in crowded places, or anywhere you may travel. The AHDS-7810v2 consists of a monitor and a camera, and is ideal for regaining the views you’d typically have with a rearview mirror. This live streaming camera provides a crucial perspective at all times while operating your vehicle, not just when in reverse. Unlike some competitor products with 480p camera resolution, Brandmotion’s camera offers a stunning 1080p resolution, providing much clearer views. For expanded visibility, consider adding the full 78’ Series to your trailer. The AHDS-7811v2 Wireless HD Observation Camera offers a secondary perspective for your trailer. This is great for monitoring precious cargo while on the road or obtaining an additional perspective from your trailer. Some creative applications of this camera include a front facing camera off of the trailer, for added security and DVR recording in the unfortunate event of a collision. Other RVers use the camera for a bumper view while backing up their trailer, or even over their trailer door for observation purposes. The AHDS-7812 Wireless HD Side Marker Light Cameras provide visibility of the sides of your trailer. These side marker light cameras are the most popular addition to the base observation system. With the addition of the cameras, your blind spots will be significantly reduced, providing drivers peace of mind while on the road. With many viewing options through the monitor, you may view anywhere from one to four cameras at once for optimal visibility during your travels or while on-site. A popular screen option while on the road is a 3-camera view, with the side marker light cameras and rear cameras. With a quick installation time, along with installation guides and user manuals, the installation process is a breeze. Have a question during the install process? Assistance is available via the Brandmotion Technical Support line during workdays and regular Eastern Time business hours, or you may fill out a Technical Support request form. Check out our product pages for more information, product specifications, and installation materials. Take the stress out of your next adventure, and enjoy the road ahead! Latest Post Brandmotion and DENSO Announce Partnership for One Stop Vehicle Integration of Advanced Connectivity Technology Get Better Results in Less Time on Your Connected Vehicle Deployment Brandmotion Expands Its Digital FullVUE® Mirror Lineup to Add Ford Bronco What To Know Before Installing A Jeep Backup Camera

6 Myths That Are Hurting Your Automotive Technology Demonstrations

March 9, 2021 Industry News

6 Myths That Are Hurting Your Automotive Technology Demonstrations MARCH 9, 2021 // JEFF VARICK I see automotive suppliers making the same mistake over and over when they demonstrate their automotive technology to OEM buyers. It’s a mistake that leaves money on the table (at best) and sometimes even loses the sale (at worst). These automotive suppliers demonstrate a technology that isn’t seamlessly integrated into a demonstration vehicle. At worst, they show the product on top of a table. At best, they do a demo vehicle but leave cables exposed, bulky components mounted on top of the dash, and boxes shoved under the seats. It’s a mess, and makes your innovative technology look like a makeshift, second-rate product. I see it time and time again, because OEM suppliers have bought into the myths of automotive technology demonstration. These myths make it feel acceptable to skip the seamless vehicle integration, but they come at a cost. Have you bought into one of these myths? If so, you’re missing revenue with every automotive technology demonstration. Myth 1: Our Technology Doesn’t Call for an Entire Vehicle Not every technology needs a full vehicle integration. Smaller tech displays can be demonstrated on the bench, but vehicle developments such as autonomous vehicle systems or active safety systems are best highlighted by a full driving experience. For these technologies, you want your customer to be able to envision how your product could look, and operate, within the vehicle. Your OEM customers don’t want to see exposed cables and components that should be integrated into the vehicle — they want to experience what the driver will experience. If you can impress them with a seamless product that looks, functions, and feels like it came out of the factory, you’ll close more deals, and at a higher price point. Myth 2: Function Alone Will Knock Their Socks Off Engineers love elegantly functioning technologies. For them, it doesn’t matter how things look, as long as they work smoothly and efficiently. But your OEM customers aren’t thinking like engineers, they’re thinking like their own customers. They want your tech to look impressive. Your product could be the most innovative equipment in the vehicle. But if your demonstration is designed purely for functionality, you need to be aware that it’s going to look rough. When you show up with wires exposed, laptops mounted on the dash, and lidar bolted to the roof, your demonstration vehicle will actually play against your efforts. If you’re like Edison in the lab trying to show that a concept works, go with function over form. But if you’re trying to sell a product, you’ll need to capture the customer’s imagination. Myth 3: Our Temporary-install Demo Vehicle Is Reliable If you’re going to be demonstrating your technology multiple times, or over a long period of time, you need to know that it’s built to last. The last thing you want is to think it’s all set to go, only to have it flake out on you at the moment of truth. We’ve seen it happen before. You show it a couple times, then someone accidentally kicks the cables out of place or they snag the plug. Because it’s as easy to pull apart as it was to put together, your staff development engineers use it as a development vehicle and start pulling wires and parts in and out. If it’s only temporarily installed, it won’t last long. One OEM supplier came to us after a demo went awry. They delivered the demonstration vehicle to an auto manufacturer. Everything was set up and the customer’s decision makers were there. But when they began the demo, the system didn’t work. With all the wires exposed, it was easy for engineers to get in and make changes on the fly. Apparently, someone had made changes before the demonstration, but they didn’t reconnect it properly. Instead of impressing the customer, they had to hustle and call in the one person who had the proper connection configuration in his head. When you commit to truly building your system into the vehicle, you’re also committing to higher quality, longer lasting reliability, and greater robustness. You know it’ll work when you need it to work. Myth 4: We Can Integrate the Technology Ourselves Some teams choose to handle the vehicle integration in-house, before doing a thorough cost/benefit analysis. Before you go this route, ask a few questions: What are the pros and cons of building a demo vehicle internally? Do we understand our actual costs, labor, and opportunity costs of integrating in-house? Do we have all the resources we’ll need for a high-end integration? An in-house vehicle integration means you’ll be pulling people off of other projects, and that you’ll need to absorb all of the ongoing maintenance and system changes. If you’re willing to take on those costs, make sure you have specialists on hand who can deliver each of these activities: Part prototyping CAD modeling 3D printing Fiberglass and metal fabrication Painting Display radio integration Electrical wiring and integration At Brandmotion Solutions, we have specialists in each of these categories who are masters in the craft. They work in these areas every day, and they can turn around a project with optimal efficiency. Myth 5: Outsourcing an Integration Is Too Much Trouble Customers sometimes come to us thinking that an integration project will require a lot of work on their end — lots of sketches, demo properties, and specifications. It’s a lot of trouble, and it just won’t be worth it to outsource a vehicle integration. Not only is it less trouble than they expect, it’s also less trouble than doing the project in-house. The truth is, a good builder with the right creative staff only needs to have the vehicle and a conversation with you. Our clients drive their vehicle to us and do some hand waving. They tell us what they want during a single meeting that takes less than an hour, and we come back to them with

These UTV Cameras Let You See the Trail in a Whole New Way

February 2, 2021 Industry News

These UTV Cameras Let You See the Trail in a Whole New Way FEBRUARY 2, 2021 // JEFF VARICK If there’s anything four-wheeler riders hate to do, it’s stop. But sometimes, the trail demands it. You need a spotter, or you can’t see what’s up ahead. You have to know where your tires are going if you don’t want to take the wrong line on the trail. Brandmotion’s SummitView™ Camera System gives you the visibility you need to keep going — whether forward or backing up. See the Trail, Hit the Trail Brandmotion has released the latest in its popular SummitView™ series of off-road camera systems. The SUTV-2010 and SUTV-2020 products come with a bright, high-definition 7-inch monitor and camera system so you can see more from behind the wheel. Say good-bye to the days of constantly getting out to check the ground! It’s very difficult to see to the side or behind a UTV. And because many side-by-sides don’t even come with mirrors, that means you have a 180-degree blindspot when you’re hitting the trails or tearing it up on the dunes. You’re constantly riding on faith. You should always feel confident when you’re driving with your friends and family, whether going forward or in reverse. The SUTV-2010 is a single-camera high-definition rear vision system that makes backing up a breeze. Infrared technology gives you sharp nighttime vision so you can keep playing well after the sun goes down. Want front and rear visibility? Go with the SUTV-2020 dual-camera option, so you can see the ride ahead without a trail spotter. It’s an ideal solution for heavy-duty rock crawlers and boggers that need to see multiple approach angles. The SUTV-2020 system also features a dual-channel DVR. Relive your adventures with your friends long after you’ve pressure-washed your rig. “There’s a lot of times I can’t see anything in front of me, and if I’m climbing, it’s just the sky. And these cameras make a whole new world wake up,” said Brandmotion customer David Ipharr. “I feel so much safer with these cameras, knowing I can see the ground now! That is so important to me. It means everything.” Best-in-class and Easy to Use The SummitView System easily mounts to any off-road vehicle. The 7″ LCD display monitor offers a rugged roll cage bracket that can fit any standard roll cage tubing. It also comes with a standard bracket that can be mounted to the window or dash. Brandmotion’s SummitView UTV Camera System was named runner-up for Best New Powersports Product at the SEMA360 online trade event in 2020. It was selected from more than 2,200 products in the New Products Showcase — a lineup that represented the most innovative and cutting-edge automotive aftermarket products that will become available in 2021. When you aren’t worried about what’s on the other side of a hill, four-wheeling is a lot more fun. Check out the SummitView cameras now. Latest Post Brandmotion and DENSO Announce Partnership for One Stop Vehicle Integration of Advanced Connectivity Technology Get Better Results in Less Time on Your Connected Vehicle Deployment Brandmotion Expands Its Digital FullVUE® Mirror Lineup to Add Ford Bronco What To Know Before Installing A Jeep Backup Camera

Booming UTV Market Can Boost the Bottom Line for Accessory Shops

September 8, 2020 Industry News

Booming UTV Market Can Boost the Bottom Line for Accessory Shops SEPTEMBER 8, 2020 // JEFF VARICK The UTV market is an exploding segment that most vehicle accessory shops haven’t noticed, yet — but that’s sure to change before long. Insiders expect the UTV industry to see a boom from $11 billion in 2018 to about $14 billion by 2025. A record 458,000 UTVs were sold in the United States in 2018, up 5.9% from 2017 and a whopping 95.3% gain from 2006. On top of it all, UTV owners are actively looking for aftermarket accessories. That opens terrific opportunities for auto accessory shops that get in the door first. What’s behind the sudden upsurge in UTV popularity? Several things: The powersport vehicles are easy for novices to control, but exciting enough for experienced consumers. They handle rugged terrain as well as roads. Many states are legalizing UTVs for road use — there’s no need for a secondary vehicle or trailer. They’re more affordable than some other options. Side-by-side seating means you don’t have to buy multiple vehicles for the whole family to enjoy them. They’re versatile enough for work and play. They’re tons of fun. UTVs, or side-by-sides, have found a broader audience than many other powersport vehicles. They used to be stuck with the “with age comes the cage” label, but now families are getting into them. Trendwatchers expect the UTV market to keep exploding for years to come. One of the reasons is their versatility. Side-by-sides are being used in a wide variety of activities — everything from off-roading to dune jumping, trailing, hunting, rock crawling, mud bogging, and touring on the road. Aftermarket Opportunities Since these vehicles are being used in such versatile environments, manufacturers don’t want to load them up with features and accessories. For the most part, they come pretty bare bones from the factory. But consumers are eager to accessorize. Market research shows that about 82% of UTV owners have purchased or plan to purchase upgrades to their UTVs, and they’re making accessory decisions early. Most owners purchase upgrades within three months, and UTV upgrade spending is up over 50 percent since 2018. What do consumers want? Enhanced functionality tops the list, since side-by-sides are often used year-round, for all kinds of activities in diverse environments. UTV owners also care about safety, durability, and practicality. So the most popular accessories include hitch balls, tow hitch receivers, and rearview mirrors. SummitView™ Rock Cameras Rearview mirrors are a big deal for UTV owners. If you’re buckled in with a five-point harness and a fully-formed seat, you can’t turn your head. It’s very difficult to see to the side or behind the vehicle. And because many side-by-sides don’t even come with mirrors, that means you have a 180-degree blindspot when you’re hitting the trails or tearing it up on the dunes. You could slam into your buddy’s vehicle and never see them coming. Brandmotion’s SummitView™ UTV Rear Vision System (SUTV-2010 and SUTV-2020) changes that. Our SUTV lineup gives you either one or two cameras and a bright 7-inch display so you can always see behind you. The must-have offroading backup system easily mounts to the rear of any offroad vehicle. It’s especially helpful for backing up on tight trails and is equipped with infrared technology to deliver superior nighttime vision. The dual-camera option (SUTV-1020V2) lets you mount a camera on the front bumper. It’s an ideal solution for heavy-duty rock crawlers and boggers that need to see multiple camera angles and approach angles. Position the front camera downwards to see the approach angle as you’re going down a steep hill. The display features a DVR system that lets you record your trips and capture footage of jumping Razors at the dunes. Don’t Miss Out on the UTV Opportunities Most auto accessory shops still haven’t caught onto the UTV market yet, but this is a huge new segment worth going after. Not only are parts priced more, but owners are willing to spend more — and they’re eager to upgrade. What are you doing to grab the UTV market? Order the SummitView Rock Camera at Crutchfield  Latest Post Brandmotion and DENSO Announce Partnership for One Stop Vehicle Integration of Advanced Connectivity Technology Get Better Results in Less Time on Your Connected Vehicle Deployment Brandmotion Expands Its Digital FullVUE® Mirror Lineup to Add Ford Bronco What To Know Before Installing A Jeep Backup Camera

Curb Alert™ Puts the Brakes on Parking Disasters

August 20, 2020 Industry News

Curb Alert™ Puts the Brakes on Parking Disasters AUGUST 25, 2020 // JEFF VARICK Sports car owners love the low ride, the hug of the road, the connection to the pavement. What they don’t love is parking. Parking often means pulling up, getting out, checking curb distance, jumping back in, pulling up a bit more, and getting out again to check. It dampens the driving experience that a luxury or sports car should give. The worst sound a sports car or luxury car owner can hear is the CRUNCH of a front bumper against an unseen curb or parking block. Front end damage on sports and luxury cars can mean hundreds or thousands of dollars in repairs. Brandmotion can deliver problem-free parking that lives up to the driving experience. Problem-free Parking Brandmotion’s Curb Alert™ Parking System can protect drivers from ever crunching or scraping their front bumpers while parking. Curb Alert is an infrared parking sensor that alerts drivers of low-lying obstructions that can cause costly damage to the vehicle. The system senses curbs, parking blocks, and any low-lying object on the ground that you can’t see. The device gives an audible alert when you approach an object within range. Sensitivity can be adjusted from as little as 12 inches to a maximum of 30 inches. Curb Alert simply hooks into power and ground. Depending on the model, it actuates a camera or audible alert when you approach an object. Better Than Factory Sensors Curb Alert is a patented system that no other parking sensor can match. The devices that come closest to it are the factory-installed ultrasonic parking sensors. While factory sensors can detect objects, the comparison ends there. Curb Alert can tell the difference between a wall, a parking block, and someone standing in front of the car. An ultrasonic sensor is triggered by any object that’s two feet away, no matter the size or height. Factory sensors aren’t foolproof, either. If a parking block is low enough, an ultrasonic sensor may not pick it up. Curb Alert can be set to an exact distance and a specific height to match the car’s ground clearance. Easy Installation When we designed Curb Alert, it had to be quick and easy to install. All it takes is connecting to power and ground, and mounting the sensor. The simple, no-drill application includes bracket designs for a customized fit. When it’s time to purchase a new vehicle, Curb Alert can be easily removed and transferred, leaving no marks on the original car. Curb Alert truly integrates to an OEM level — just set it and forget it! Seamless Integration Brandmotion products are known for seamless integration with the vehicle, and Curb Alert is no exception. The only part of the product you can see is the discreetly placed front sensor, which can be mounted either on top or under the lower part of the valence of the front bumper. The calibration box and speaker are tucked under the dash, out of sight and out of the way. Seven Products to Fit Your Needs Brandmotion currently offers seven Curb Alert products in the series: 3 universal devices that are compatible with any vehicle 2 Corvette-specific devices 2 Mustang-specific devices More products are currently in development. 5000-CA5 The Curb Alert PRO is designed for professional installers. The high-end, simplified wiring goes off keyed power, rather than constant power. There’s absolutely no power going to it when the vehicle is off, which means customers won’t run into any electrical issues or unwanted power draw. It also means you don’t have to worry about comebacks. 5000-CA6 The Curb Alert Parkview PRO is a modified CA5 system with a front camera — and is the first and only auto-trigger front camera parking aid system. When the device senses an object, it turns on a front camera and provides a quick three-beep audible alert. 5000-CA13 This DIY-grade system is simple enough to be installed by a customer. Based on the CA5, the system connects to battery power rather than key-on power. The smart control module detects when the vehicle is shut off to prevent drain on the battery. This device has the same quality as the CA5, but it comes with one additional benefit: unlike the CA5/CA6, you can calibrate the parking sensor without the vehicle being on. 5000-CA8/CA9 The CA8 and CA9 are specific to the 2015-2020 Mustang. Each comes with a video interface to the factory 4-inch or 8-inch screen. 5000-CA12/CA14 The CA12 is specific for C5/C6 Corvettes and the CA14 is designed for C7 Corvettes. The audible-only sensor comes with specific instructions on how and where to install the system on the C5/C6/C7 Corvettes — sensor, power wirings, and how to run them. Quit Fretting About Parking Having Curb Alert is like owning an affordable insurance policy on your luxury or sports car’s front end – on most newer vehicles, the parking sensor pays for itself the first time it saves your bumper. Once you have the system, it’s hard to drive the vehicle without it, because it’s so convenient. Order Curb Alert at Crutchfield or Amazon, or find an installer near you. Latest Post Brandmotion and DENSO Announce Partnership for One Stop Vehicle Integration of Advanced Connectivity Technology Get Better Results in Less Time on Your Connected Vehicle Deployment Brandmotion Expands Its Digital FullVUE® Mirror Lineup to Add Ford Bronco What To Know Before Installing A Jeep Backup Camera

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