Doug Newcomb

Columnist, Autoblog
Doug Newcomb has been covering car technology as a journalist for over 25 years and is a recognized expert on the subject of the connected car and mobility. He has been sought out for his opinion by such high-profile media outlets as USA Today, Christian Science Monitor, Los Angeles Times, Boston Herald, Detroit Free Press, Reuters, Agence France Press and others. Doug has appeared on CBS News, CNBC and the Los Angeles affiliates for ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox News to talk about car technology and is a frequent speaker at automotive and consumer-electronics industry events. In 2013 Doug cofounded the Connected Car Conference (C3) at CE Week in New York and co-producer the inaugural Connected Car Expo at the LA Auto Show. In 2014, Doug coproduced successful events under the C3 banner at CE Week and in Silicon Valley. In the same year he formed the Connected Car Council, made up of top industry thought leaders, and launched the C3 Report to provide news and analysis to the fast changing car technology and mobility space. He's also a columnist for PCMag.com's NextCar, Automotive IT News and writes for Wired, Automobile, Popular Mechanics and other outlets. Prior to launching C3, Doug served as Senior Editor, Technology at Edmunds.com, where he created a new Technology section for the website to educate consumers. He also spearheaded the Car Technology 101 series to explain features such as Bluetooth, navigation and telematics in easy-to-understand terms. Before joining Edmunds.com, started Newcomb Communications & Consulting to provide content to such outlets as Road & Track, MSN Autos, MSN Tech & Gadgets, Corvette Quarterly, SEMA News and many others. He also worked with AMCI Testing to benchmark in-car technologies and served as a consultant to innovative companies in the industry. In 2008, he published his first book, Car Audio for Dummies (Wiley). Doug began his career in 1988 as the editor of the industry trade magazine Mobile Electronics, and went on to serve as editor of the consumer publications Car Audio and Electronics, Car Stereo Review, Mobile Entertainment and Road & Track Road Gear.
37 Articles by Doug
May 23, 2018
The era of the over-the-air-updates is really, finally Here

OTA Connect will help add new features to existing cars

Like the weather, everyone talks about over-the-air (OTA) software updates for cars, but no one really does much about it, except for Tesla. Until now. Starting today, Here, the company known for its automotive mapping services, hopes to change this and help keep car electronics current with its new OTA Connect services.

Doug Newcomb
Apr 16, 2018 Featured
Economy-car buyers increasingly get the best deal on technology

Democratization of tech: Same – or better – amenities as luxury cars

One of the great things about technology is – with the exception of Apple products – consumers get more for their money every year. For example, the first 1GB USB drive I bought in 2005 cost me $30. Today you can get 10 for that price, delivered to your door thanks to Amazon. The same goes for car tech.

Doug Newcomb
Mar 30, 2018 Opinion
Would you pay $17 a month to give your older Ford connectivity?

Ford SmartLink may be a tall ask for niceties customers simply expect

When it was first introduced in 2007, there was nothing like the original Ford Sync system, since it allowed car owners to connect and use a portable device better than anything that came before it. It took competitors awhile to catch up. But now Ford is the one playing catchup.

Doug Newcomb
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