The Future Of Technology In The Automotive Industry

Back in the early 2000s, we were only using our phones to call and send messages. Fast forward to the present, we use it for almost everything - from working and studying to shopping, streaming videos, even switching the lights on and off at our homes.

Now we see the same trend happening with our cars.

They were just in movies - talking cars, self-driving cars, even flying cars!

But now, these cars are up for grabs in the market.

The Future Is Bright For The Automotive Industry

The automotive industry has made gigantic progress over the years. Thanks to technology. This year onward, people can expect so much more from car manufacturers.

Let’s take a look at the technological breakthroughs that will shape the future of the automotive industry.

These innovations are said to make the car driving experience a lot safer and comfortable, with less impact on the environment.

Autonomous Cars As The “new face” Of The Transportation Industry

The quest for self-driving cars has been around for decades.

Giant companies like Tesla, Google, and Honda have all announced releasing autonomous vehicles that will change the way people drive.

These cars are jam-packed with sensors, cameras, high-performance custom wheels, and intelligent computers that promise mechanical precision.

Google’s Waymo cars have gone a long way to proving that self-driving vehicles work. Currently, these cars are being tested and have limited capabilities. So far, what they can do for humans is automatically brake if the car anticipates a collision, keep the vehicle in the lane, and handle highway driving.

Good enough.

The road is long and winding for self-driving cars. But who knows? They can revolutionize the transportation industry. With a forecast of $87 billion worth of opportunities by 2030, there are no stopping car manufacturers from developing fully capable vehicles that will get us to and from our destinations, safe and sound, even with our eyes closed.

“Social” Cars To Mitigate Traffic and Collisions

What if one car can notify another that an accident is about to happen? Sounds weird. But very helpful in every sense.

In 2016, the U.S. government proposed the integration of vehicle-to-vehicle systems that can lower the number of non-impaired crashes by 80%.

Four years have gone by, and we’re starting to see its amazing outcome.

V2V communications systems utilize a wireless network where vehicles can send messages to each other by gathering information like speed, location, car direction, stability issues, braking, etc. Data can be sent and received within a range of up to 300 meters, at a speed of 10 seconds.

The vehicular communication market will reach $18.3 billion worldwide, experts estimate. The rising demand for better traffic management and passenger safety are among the major drivers for this growth.

Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) Will Help Save Lives

Globally, there are about 1.35 million casualties caused by car collisions each year. Road traffic accidents are also the leading cause of death among younger people.

The demand for road safety is increasing. Thankfully, car manufacturers are investing time and resources to develop vehicles that can lessen human lapses that often lead to tragic accidents.

ADAS technologies are among the fastest-growing segments in the automotive industry. Once a virtual futuristic idea, ADAS is becoming a reality.

ADAS systems use artificial intelligence to alert drivers of potential hazards, such as vehicles in blind spots. Primarily, they can detect certain objects and send warnings. Now, with the integration of a telematics system, cars with ADAS can capture vehicle events within a fleet system. They can also be used to implement driver monitoring programs.

Other features of ADAS systems include automated lighting, pedestrian crash avoidance mitigation, and adaptive cruise control.

Like self-driving cars, vehicles fitted with ADAS systems still have a long way to go as challenges in implementation, training, and funding come to the surface.

Drivers Will Get In Sync With Their Cars Through AI and ML

Artificial intelligence is making a big impact across various industries, from entertainment and hospitality to healthcare, travel, and education.

And now, it’s starting to rule the automotive industry.

Soon, cars will have more predictive capabilities.

Car manufacturers are using algorithms that enable drivers to "personalize" their driving experience. Technological advancements will make automobiles work like IoT devices that can connect to smartphones and take voice commands.

The integration of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) will give birth to “smart vehicles”. These are cars that can predict travel time, traffic congestion, and even mechanical failures.

These vehicles will even be able to provide drivers route recommendations based on factors like fuel consumption and parking availability.

Self-Parking Cars Will Make Parking Anxiety A Thing Of The Past

Equipped with proximity sensors, automatic-braking sensors, mapping technology, and other machine-learning features, riders will not have to worry about parking anymore. Not even the dreaded parallel parking.

Many car manufacturers like BMW, Hyundai, Volkswagen, and Toyota have released self-parking vehicles that boast of additional functionality.

For instance, the Hyundai Sonata allows the driver to pull the car into or out of a tight parking space with a tap on their key fob. Meanwhile, Tesla’s Smart Summon can self-drive from a parking space to another location so long as the distance does not exceed 200 feet.

Electric Cars Will Make Up 31% Of All Cars By 2030

Talk about fuel efficiency and environmental concerns. More and more people are opting to drive electric cars despite their limited capabilities.

Each year, we see car manufacturers add electric cars to their lineup. That’s because the benefits seem to outweigh the disadvantages.

EVs are cheaper to run and maintain. The electricity cost needed to drive an EV will cost 40% lower than traditional cars that use petrol.

Hybrid models have hit the market recently. These are cars that also have petrol or diesel engines.

More importantly, EV cars offer environmental advantages over fuel-operated cars. That’s because they generate a lesser amount of greenhouse gases and air pollutants.

AR Dashboards, Hand-Gesture Commands, and More Make Driving More Fun

Hand-gesture inputs are not just meant for video games. Like magic, car owners will be able to manipulate features in their cars by simply waving their hands. These are things we’ve seen only in sci-fi movies. But today, they are happening for real.

In 2019, a hybrid EV released by Mitsubishi was dubbed the “fantasy car” because it can display augmented reality warnings on a heads-up-display across the vehicle windshield. This feature is meant to help drivers avoid possible collisions.

Another car that is capable of real-time hand gesture recognition is the Navion, released by the Swiss technology company WayRay.

Cars As A Service (CaaS) Will Empower Car Owners and Bring More Opportunities

We can’t get enough of self-driving cars. And that’s because they present a host of opportunities.

By 2025, people will see more of these intelligent cars on the road. But most of these vehicles will be dedicated to services.

Cars as a Service (CaaS) provides opportunities for urban transportation. They are similar to ride-sharing services using driverless vehicles. But this time around, people will be able to summon a car via an app to take them to their destinations or have their items delivered.

This technology also presents opportunities for car owners to earn. Those who don’t use their car often or those who have 9-5 jobs can offer rental services during idle hours, and summon their vehicles back when it’s time for them to go home.

Wrapping It Up!

The future of technology in the automotive industry gets bigger each day. Technology will play a substantial role in the development of new cars that will empower drivers and keep them safe as they hit the road.

It may take a few more years for some of these technological advances to take shape but when they do, people will never look at their cars the same way again.

About the Author:

Nathan Barnes is a managing editor at BlaqueDiamond. He became a car enthusiast at the age of four, when his father taught him the difference between Chevy and Ford. In 2012 Nathan put his knowledge in practice and started reporting on cars, races, and the auto industry on different social media platforms. Currently, he’s a happy owner of a 1967 Alfa Romeo and a Lancer GSR and a person who still has lots of topics to cover.