14 Suppliers Win PACE Awards for Innovations

Most of the 14 winners of this year’s PACE Awards (Premier Automotive Suppliers’ Contribution to Excellence) were related to autonomous, connected and electrified vehicle programs.

The annual awards, which are sponsored by Automotive News and the Automotive Parts Manufacturers Assn., are chosen by a panel of 24 independent judges based on product innovation and market impact.

The winners, selected among 33 finalists, were announced Monday night in Detroit. To qualify, a supplier’s technology must be available on a production vehicle. Valeo was the only company to win two awards this year.

The full list of winners and their innovations are:

• A123 Systems: 48-volt ultra-phosphate battery
• Aptiv: Aluminum intermediate cable, selective metal coating
• BorgWarner: Wire forming for high-voltage motors
• Bosch: Integrated connectivity cluster
• Continental: Digital micro-mirror head-up display
• Cooper Standard: Fortrex lightweight elastomeric material
• IEE: Steering wheel hands-on/off detection
• Magna Electronics: Trailer angle detection
• SKF: Scotseal HD truck wheel end seal
• Strattec Power Access: Invis-A-Rise power liftgate system
• Techno Polymer America: squeak-eliminating plastic for vehicle interiors
• Toyoda Gosei: Integrated driver airbag damper
• Valeo: Driving assistance laser scanner
• Valeo: R-744 AC system
• Visteon: SmartCore cockpit domain controller

In addition to supplier awards, Audi and General Motors beat out 31 other finalists to win the Innovation Partnership awards. Audi partnered with Continental on a control module that combines passive and active safety management in a single unit. GM worked with TK Holdings to develop a driver monitoring system for the Cadillac CT6 that determines whether a driver is drowsy or distracted.