The automotive industry affects more people than you may think— including everyone who drives a car. With that being said, it’s important to understand the current technological trends that are happening in this industry, whether you manufacture cars, are a mechanic, or work at a car dealership because these tech trends could affect you in some way (negatively or positively). Here are seven technology trends that everyone should be aware of when it comes to the automotive industry.
#1: 3D Printing
Three-dimensional printing is the process of creating a physical object from a two-dimensional image. 3D printing involves thin layers of material being placed on top of one another to create a physical object, as opposed to personal and commercial printing— which prints a 2D image with ink. When it comes to car manufacturing, 3D printing allows manufacturers to create prototypes quicker, which saves time in the manufacturing process.
3D printing can also be used to make actual car parts in some cases, not just prototypes. This also saves time and money, although not all car parts are manufactured using 3D printing.
#2: Autonomous Vehicles
Also known as self-driving cars, autonomous vehicles can drive themselves, as the name suggests. Autonomous vehicles rely on sensors, artificial intelligence (AI), complex algorithms, and machine learning (mL) to work properly. Their presence can reduce the number of human drivers on the road, which has the potential to reduce the number of accidents related to human negligence.
These types of vehicles aren’t widely used on roadways yet, since there are still some things that have to be worked out to ensure safety. Advanced technologies such as pedestrian behavior prediction help autonomous vehicles keep both pedestrians and other drivers safe.
#3: Connectivity
Connectivity is another type of technology that helps autonomous vehicles function properly. It’s the state of being interconnected, allowing vehicles and other machines with this technology to exchange information. Connectivity is a component of IoT or the internet of things. It’s what allows our IoT devices (including our smartphones) to connect to other IoT devices— cars included.
#4: Electric Vehicles
Electric vehicles have been around for some time now, but the all-electric car company Tesla has made them more popular in recent years. This is one of the biggest trends in the automotive industry, as more and more people are switching over to electric vehicles. EVs, as they’re often abbreviated, run completely on electricity rather than gas, making them a much more environmentally friendly way of driving. Many car companies have announced that they are going to stop selling gas-powered cars within the next decade, and even Exxon Mobil is predicting that no new gas-powered cars will be sold after 2040.
#5: Human-Machine Interface
Human-machine interface (HMI) is a technology that allows humans to better interact with machines, as the name suggests. When it comes to the automotive industry, HMI improves how drivers interact with their cars. It is mainly seen in the use of smart cameras on cars (including backup cameras), which helps drivers stay safe by maintaining lanes and giving them the ability to see in their blind spots. Car mirrors only allow drivers to see so much, so these smart cameras have greatly improved safety.
#6: Plasma, Heat Staking, and Dispensing
Plasma cleaning solutions, heat staking processes, and dispensing media, materials, and techniques are all helpful when it comes to a variety of applications in the automotive industry. These solutions are necessary when it comes to cleaning and assembling parts, and can be used in autonomous driving, electronics and electromobility, infotainment, interiors, and lighting.
#7: Shared Mobility
Shared mobility is the shared use of a vehicle (including bikes and scooters) by individuals. Like EVs, it’s a way to reduce the amount of pollution given off by gas-powered vehicles by reducing the number of vehicles on the road. Shuttle services, rideshare (e.g., Uber and Lyft), and renting electric bikes and scooters are examples of shared mobility. While this is great for the environment, it has the potential to decrease vehicle sales— both electric and gas-powered.
Most of these trends are having a positive impact on the automotive industry. The goal is to promote convenience for automobile drivers and manufacturers, while also being conscious of the environment. Altogether, these seven trends are aiming to make vehicle production quicker, vehicles safer and more convenient, and cut down on the number of carbon emissions from gas-powered cars. These trends are going to continue as the years go on, with more improvements being made.