Ficosa

The Japanese corporation Panasonic acquired in the spring of 2017 a controlling stake of the Spanish company Ficosa International, S.A. (Ficosa), supplier of the automobile systems and components. To already available 49% of stocks corporation will add another 20%, having made Ficosa the consolidated subsidiary company. It is expected that this step should strengthen positions of Panasonic in an automobile segment — to 2019 financial year the Japanese corporation expects to increase sales of solutions, components and systems for automotive industry to 2 trillion yens.

Partnership with Ficosa began in 2015 with development of electronic mirrors and systems of the help to the driver (ADAS). In the short term the companies will develop jointly technologies for connected (to the Internet) cars and also solutions for self-driving transport, security systems and electric vehicles, Yosio Ito, the senior managing director of Panasonic reported.

In 2016 Panasonic and Ficosa started monetization of the first joint product, having signed the contract with one of the European car makers for delivery of rear-view mirrors with function of wireless payment. Using this gadget owners of cars will be able to pass without stopping points of payment of highways whereas the mirror independently pays all necessary fees. Externally development of Panasonic and Ficosa almost does not differ from a normal rear-view mirror, however in it there is a built-in module for map reading and the small screen on which fare is displayed. According to developers, the functionality of this system goes much further normal payment — the mirror exchanges various information with control points on the highway and can share it, for example, with the navigator. This project is expected seven years, the cost of the contract was €50 million.