Cars today are packed with modern technologies designed to make driving safer and more pleasurable, here are five trends which will shape the industry in 2023.
Many car brands now provide consumers with the option to purchase vehicles online through e-commerce sales models, revolutionizing the automotive industry.
1. Self-driving vehicles
Modern vehicles now feature semi-autonomous features like lane assist and speed controls, but full autonomous cars remain the goal of many automakers. Autonomous features are powered by advanced artificial intelligence (AI) technologies such as deep learning and computer vision that use hard-coded rules, predictive models, object recognition to guide vehicles through traffic without encountering obstacles or risks.
Driverless car technology is still being evaluated by government agencies and private entities for testing and safety evaluation purposes. A primary challenge faced by self-driving vehicles lies in how they should respond in situations that require moral judgment; for example, two people crossing a street at once and only being able to assist one, so software would need to assess which person poses immediate threat or not – this requires moral machine learning algorithms which mimic real world decisions to help solve this problem. Researchers have developed algorithms designed specifically to do just this job.
Autonomous vehicles could make life simpler for people who have difficulty driving, such as seniors and the disabled. A self-driving vehicle could also serve as an alternative form of public transport – giving city dwellers access to jobs and services without worrying about parking or finding the appropriate bus stop.
Luxury automakers have already introduced some models with autonomous driving features, such as BMW’s Active Driving Assistant Pro system which enables the driver to keep hands off during heavy traffic while speeding or missing turns; Google subsidiary Waymo is testing fully autonomous ride-hailing services in Phoenix, San Francisco and Los Angeles.
2. Connected vehicles
Autotech trends for 2023 could involve our cars becoming even more like computers we keep at home, including connected vehicles talking to each other, city infrastructure and our smartphones.
Vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) connections provide many safety functions, including collision warnings and the ability to relay traffic data directly from cars onto nearby roads. Vehicles may also connect to local infrastructure to locate things such as open parking spaces; and can communicate with cloud servers for over-the-air (OTA) software updates and remote diagnostics.
Connected cars offer passengers numerous infotainment and concierge services. Passengers can use their smartphones to access entertainment options like streaming music and movies; additionally, connected cars may provide their own hotspot to enable continued connectivity on lengthy road trips.
Some companies are even offering subscription-based vehicle services. BMW made headlines when they announced that electric vehicles could be purchased on a subscription plan similar to cell phone plans; as more electric cars hit the roads, this type of subscription model could become more prevalent and help promote shared mobility initiatives.
3. Electric vehicles
2023 is predicted to be an exciting year in terms of car technology trends, as demand for electric vehicles (EVs) continues to surge alongside increasing awareness around environmental concerns like climate change, depleted natural resources and pollution levels.
Battery electric cars are more energy-efficient than their conventional counterparts and operate solely using electricity, making them an eco-friendly solution. Their single charge can last hundreds of miles while maintenance requirements are drastically lower compared to traditional vehicles and greenhouse gas emissions are significantly decreased over their lifecycle.
With battery technology becoming ever cheaper and automakers committing to fully electric vehicles in the near future, many automakers have pledged to become fully electric. Meanwhile, new business models that focus on shared mobility have arisen to enable companies and cities to meet transportation requirements without using fleets of vehicles.
At present, more affordable EVs are making their debut onto the market, including SUVs and trucks with impressive range. Ford E-Tourneo Custom has proven an extremely popular pick, as have Rivian R1T and Mercedes’ E-Transit Custom models.
Hydrogen fuel cell vehicles, which operate using a combination of gasoline and hydrogen, have also become part of the trend towards electric vehicle usage. While they do not offer as long of a driving range than battery electric cars, their refueling time is fast, producing no direct exhaust, and their environmental footprint is low. Companies such as Plug Power are pioneering this market segment by creating charging infrastructure to enable drivers to fill up quickly.
4. Shared mobility
As consumers become more willing to let someone else drive them around, shared mobility will continue its rapid rise. This includes services such as Uber and Lyft as well as car sharing options that enable customers to book a vehicle using an app; shuttle services; robo-taxis can offer consumers more affordable alternatives than owning their own car while helping reduce traffic and pollution levels.
Automakers will respond to this trend by producing vehicles tailored specifically for specific uses, such as e-hailing cars equipped with features that maximize mileage and passenger comfort, or truck models equipped with autonomous technology to enhance safety, decrease downtime and expand last mile delivery capabilities.
Some automotive technology trends will impact both car dealers and OEMs, including an increase in virtual reality (VR). VR allows customers to virtually experience a car before buying it – an effect which has the power to boost sales by building customer confidence in it. VR’s key application lies within marketing; brands using it as part of their strategies will increase brand recognition among potential buyers while also customizing vehicle showrooms or even using it for customer support services.