Pioneer and More Join New 12V Group

Feature Story:

A new 12 volt non-profit group seeking to unify the industry to raise awareness of driver safety products that can save lives, announced support from Pioneer, Firstech, Brandmotion and Voxx International.

The group, Vision Zero Automotive, is lead by former head of Car Toys merchandising and sales, Jim Warren and group founder Jeff Varick, President of Brandmotion.

Supporting suppliers will contribute funds to the non-profit group, which is now seeking 25 volunteers to promote Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) by working with local media and political officials.

ADAS products include 360 vision cameras, blind spot detectors, backup cameras, collision avoidance, and night vision.

Executive Director Warren said, “We will soon be putting out the call for twenty-five Vision Zero City Advocates.  We are seeking to place volunteer spokespeople in up to twenty-five top U.S. cities to interface with media, state and local officials, as well as local retailers.  This is a key first step to build our national network.”

Warren told us in January, “What ultimately will be in it for the retailer is the raised awareness in the public. It will bring foot traffic to retailers. And retailers will be involved in saving lives.”

Vision Zero Automotive will operate a web site that will include a retail locator. The web site, in beta format, may be viewed here.

Vision Zero Automotive has an operating budget of a 1/2 million dollars for the first year and continues to seek support from industry members.  Contributions are tax deductible as the group has 501(c)3 non-profit status.

Vision Zero Automotive is part of a larger Vision Zero international effort to save 10,000 lives a year from traffic deaths.

Ted Cardenas, VP of Pioneer Electronics (USA) applauded the group’s advocacy of current and new driver safety products to help prevent traffic deaths. “The integration of IoT related features, such as real-time traffic, weather conditions, and cloud-based voice UI are only a few examples of how the latest automotive infotainment can support critical situational awareness and attentive driving behavior, he said.

Aron Demers, Senior Vice President at VOXX Electronics said, “We at Voxx are very much looking forward to spreading the awareness message of ADAS safety to the Vision Zero promoting retailers, as well as bringing in new products to complement the efforts. Not only will Vision Zero be an industry voice of conscious driving but [it will] promote the ADAS category for our dealers to stimulate sales in the growing marketplace.”

Firstech’s Managing Director, Jason Kaminski said, “Firstech is committed to being part of the solution by helping VZAN educate customers in the technologies that are available to them; regardless of what vehicle they own.”

Vision Zero Automotive is based in Detroit.  For more information contact Warren at [email protected]