The global automotive industry is on the brink of some major transformations forced by factors like technology and customer expectations. But with the automotive industry struggling due to global supply chain issues and economic pressures, it has a lot on its hands.
However, one thing is certain. Technology has a big role to play in helping the automotive industry combat its challenges. This confluence of technology and the automotive industry makes the landscape somewhat more exciting to look at. Not only will this change the core concept of vehicles, but it will also make automobiles more convenient for us.
The current and future tech trends ruling the automotive industry are shaped by making the industry more customer-centric. Let us see which of them will rule the automotive industry in 2025.
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Software-Defined Vehicles (SDV)
In a world now run by software, we can expect to see SDVs hit the roads. SDVs are vehicles controlled by software functionality.
These are alternate versions of the usual vehicles that run on a mechanical framework. SDVs are considered legendary because they do not need to be manufactured like ordinary vehicles. This means SDVs bypass the automotive supply chain issues that plague the industry.
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Due to their software-based framework, SDVs can constantly evolve in their functionality and features through software updates. This is so much more cost-effective than ordinary cars that would need to upgrade their mechanical framework. Furthermore, SDVs have many other benefits as well:
- They are safer: They can be programmed with features like anti-collision and driver assistance to react quicker in dangerous situations, saving us from critical injuries.
- They can personalize the driving experience: These can also be programmed to cater to individual preferences, like in-car lighting.
- They are more efficient: SDVs can monitor their own performance parameters and improve feats like energy efficiency, battery performance, etc.
- They have predictive maintenance: Most SDVs can have built-in programs that monitor vehicle health and predict any upcoming issues in advance.
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Level 3 Autonomous Vehicles
Considering the automotive industry is currently at level 2 of autonomy, we can expect 2025 to be the year when we see level 3 autonomous cars materialize. The driver-vehicle trend is already turning heads, both in a good and bad way. While some are awed by this level of innovation, others think it impossible for this concept to become a reality. But that is not what the stats says.
Around 40% of vehicles are expected to have Level 2 Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) in 2025. But that is not just it. We can also expect to see some commercial development on Level 3 ADAS as well since it is a part of the roadmap for Mercedes Benz and BMW.
Level 3 ADAS or autonomy is also called Conditional Driving Automation. It has the following features:
- The vehicles will be fully autonomous
- Drivers can take their hands and eyes off the road
- It will have advanced sensors and AI capabilities.
- Such cars still need approval to be on the roads.
With level 3 autonomous vehicles hitting the roads, we can also expect to see advancements in the level 4 autonomous category.
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Alternative Fuel Vehicles
We are living in a time when the depletion of natural resources is a dark reality. Oil is an important part of the automotive industry, but it is also depleting very quickly. As a result, oil and gas prices have gone up, proving to be a big challenge for the automotive industry.
This is why we can expect to see the alternative fuel vehicles (AFV) trend gain traction. AFVs are vehicles that have internal combustion engines that can process synthetic or renewable fuels like ethanol, biodiesel, or biogasoline. Moreover, EVs or electric vehicles are also considered AFVs, even though they do not run on ‘fuel’.
AFVs are a priority for many countries because of their obvious benefits:
- Lower carbon emissions
- Reduced costs
- Tax incentives
However, AFVs, apart from EVs, are not very common yet because governments want to ensure that they will not pose any serious risks to the environment. As soon as AFV companies prove that, we can expect to see more advancements in this sector of the automotive industry.
Overall, all these automotive trends are aimed at simplifying the challenges commonly faced by the automotive industry and improving automotive experiences for the everyday consumer.
