"Looking Ahead"

If 2020 has taught us anything, it is that nobody really knows what tomorrow will bring. That being said, it is still important to draw conclusions from current trends to understand new technologies that are most likely to be successful.

The automotive industry is accelerating change with innovative and intelligent technologies. Some of the key drivers include automation, electrification and connectivity. Cars are changing and becoming smart devices just like the ones we keep in our pockets.

There is no doubt that technological advances are having a transformative effect on our vehicles. With in-car Wi-Fi becoming the norm, people have the ability to stay online constantly. Vehicle integration with apps and devices from Google, Apple and other major technology companies have set new standards for convenience. Whilst, using remote access, manufacturers can perform technology updates and send recall information without having to lift a finger.

Vehicles in the future will not only be able to monitor their own health and safety using key telematics, they will also be able to communicate with other vehicles around them. As vehicles become technology driven, the gap between new models will begin to decrease, as keeping those components on the cutting edge will require continual advancement. The possibilities are endless. Whilst we do not know exactly how some of these advancements will play out, they will totally transform the user experience and enhance personalisation.

Getting a vehicle to follow the road ahead, accelerate and brake by itself is easy but something technical going wrong could mean the difference between life and death. There are many cars available with almost autonomous capabilities such as the Tesla Model X, which can essentially drive and park itself, as long as your hands remain on the wheel. If driverless vehicles are going to become a reality they will need better functionality to be more intuitive and react to dangers, just like humans.

The recent technological advancements in artificial intelligence, vehicle sensors and vision systems are enabling manufacturers to increase the capabilities in self-driving cars but they still need to be able to analyse surrounding information and identify moving objects that are hidden from a vehicle's visibility to make accurate and safe decisions on the road.

2021 will continue to be a pivotal year for EVs as many manufacturers are redefining their products in anticipation of rapid growth. With exciting new technologies being developed to reduce charging times, extend range significantly and further enhance automation features, the EV market is growing exponentially. The global sale of EVs accelerated in 2020 with an increase of 43%; that is 3.2 million EVs, and all this despite car sales decreasing 20% during the coronavirus pandemic.