The automotive industry continues to be at the forefront of innovation. From the first car, a horseless carriage, to driverless cars and smart cars, automobiles have been on the cutting edge of technology. Technology, culture, and consumer trends drive change in the industry every year.
Here are some trends transforming the automotive industry:
1. Autonomous vehicles
Autonomous vehicles, also known as self-driving cars, are one of the most exciting and transformative trends in the automotive industry. While they are still years from being a mainstay on the road, autonomous vehicles are already available for purchase. For example, you can purchase a Tesla Model S today and pay extra for it to automatically steer, change lanes, and park when you’re not driving it.
For now, there are some limitations — you still have to be in the car to take over if you want to go someplace other than where it’s set to go. However, these features show cars are becoming more like computers that people can use as they need them than an appliance they control all the time.
2. Connected cars
Cars also have become more like smartphones in that they can connect to wireless networks so that people can do things such as make calls or access apps while they’re driving. Connected cars, or cars that can communicate with drivers and other vehicles around them, have become a reality in recent years.
These cars are a trend that will offer customers a completely new way to interact with their vehicles while also providing businesses a new way to monetize the technology inside their vehicles. Manufacturers like General Motors, Audi, and BMW, and smaller players like Tesla Motors are all including this technology in their mainstream products.
3. Electric vehicles
In the automotive industry, it’s no longer a secret that electric vehicles are steadily gaining ground. Recent years have seen them become more widely available and affordable for the average consumer, and their popularity is rising. These vehicles are now increasingly popular thanks to their many advantages compared to conventional cars fueled by gas or petrol. Here are just some of them:
Electric cars are much more efficient than traditional vehicles. Even though they require a lot more material to manufacture, all but the rarest of them have much smaller engines, so they need less fuel per mile and can go longer without recharging.
Electric vehicles do not produce any emissions while driving. This is an advantage over petrol cars that still emit carbon dioxide and other gases despite recent advances in engine technology.
Finally, electric vehicles are much quieter than conventional cars. This is because they don’t have noisy, vibration-producing internal combustion engines.
Conclusion
Cars have gone from being a symbol of wealth to one of independence and freedom, and the way people use their vehicles has evolved as well. The future is sure to hold even more changes, and it will be interesting to see what innovations become mainstream as time goes on.
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