A recent article from The Detroit News says that along with in-car infotainment systems, advanced examples of which can now be had in a multitude of cheap, basic cars, another useful piece of dashboard-mounted tech is becoming increasingly popular: head-up displays, or HUD.
They project basic information onto a screen located in front of the driver, giving the impression that whatever is projected (speed, sat-nav information or a safety alert) appears to be around seven feet (roughly two meters) ahead. It is a proven solution to help drivers stay focused on the road, and not have to take their eyes off it – the latter is considered a leading cause of accidents.
Now, with active safety aids being available on all cars of all sizes, these HUDs will prove particularly useful in warning the driver, or bringing up important messages as quickly as possible. Many manufacturers are using or have used them, including BMW, PSA Peugeot Citroen, Mercedes-Benz, Audi and GM (Cadillac and Buick).
The source explains that global sales number for HUD-equipped vehicles is set to reach 9.1 million by 2020, which would equate to 9 percent of the total number of cars sold, whereas in 2012 the figure was closer to 2 percent. It is also estimated that the “cost per unit” will be around $1,000 more than the average value of current infotainment systems.
By Andrei Nedelea
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