Top Automotive Predictions for This Year

Since 1908 when Henry Ford industrialized automotive manufacturing, the industry is now undergoing drastic and major change. This revolution is led by digitalization of pretty much every industry. In the past 100 years, the focus was mostly on enhancing manufacturing incrementally to make it more efficient for mass scale. However, the future is now about redefining the role of vehicles for the consumers. But, how far has the industry progressed in this regard? What more could happen? Here are some great predictions made for the automotive industry for 2018:

- Better rhythm in the algorithm

Connected cars are still not being used to their full potential; many of the web-enabled features in these cars cannot be used while driving, which often render them useless. Likewise, a large number of the existing in-vehicle apps are not a match for the software you find on your smartphones because of a choppy user-interface and their lack of ‘smartness’. This is mostly because of how data is being used in the car.

There is connectivity, computing power and data, but they are unable to interact in smart and seamless ways that can enhance driving experience without being a distraction. This is where AI or artificial intelligence will help. AI and algorithm solutions are expected to be brought in vehicles, which will allow the cars to be closely integrated with drivers’ homes and offices.

- Predictive cars

The integration of artificial intelligence with vehicles will bring predictive capabilities and machine learning into them, allowing them to personalize your driving experience. These AIs will learn exactly what the drivers’ need, from setting up their car seat to app preference to in-vehicle infotainment. Various kinds of test fixture kits are already being manufactured and provided by companies like Cortek that help test these new technologies. If there are any other configurations to be made, they can be done through voice command. There is no longer any need to push any levers or buttons so you don’t have to take your hands off the wheel.

- Passwords for cars

As numerous services become available and AIs needing to learn ways about drivers and their needs, a popular digital service will finally become available; digital identity management. This means that a user account and password may be needed for your vehicle. User authentication will be essential here, especially for personalization services such as email, media and most importantly payment.

- Augmented reality

Virtual reality will stay exactly where it is now. This technology is useful, but mixed and augmented reality has proven to be a lot more useful than this. The shift to AR technology will give a rise to another sort-of new technology called virtual 3D representations of physical goods. This will have an impact on the manufacturing of cars as every vehicle will be a digital copy.

- Blockchain to make an entrance

With so much more software and connectivity entering cars as well as manufacturers, both data security and IT will become an even greater concern. Luckily, blockchain technology will help in this regard as this encryption solution could be used for authenticating cars, drivers, data transmission and other aspects of the digitized automotive industry.