Ways Technology is Changing and Better Transforming the Automotive Industry

Mark Alfred
6 min readNov 29, 2021

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Since the introduction of automobiles in the world’s markets, technological innovations have always been a part of that industry. There has been the arrival of the engines that work on electrical power.

In this article, you will learn how autonomous driving and the growth of technology make it possible for automobiles to implement innovations and accident prevention, among other features. So, let’s start with the discussion regarding the ways technology is changing the automotive industry.

Let us highlight the technological innovations in the automotive sector.

1. Self-driving systems

Self-driving systems are the core features of the modern automobile. Autonomous driving has been set for changing the automobile industry. The elimination of the need for the human behind the wheel turned out to be a boon.

For example, let us have a look at the Audi. The cruise control system, alongside the control sensors all over the vehicle, provides information regarding the vehicle’s surroundings to the processor. Around 55 percent of small businesses planned to go fully autonomous with cars in the next two decades. Technology impacted and changed automotive design. The cruise control system can detect the vehicle traveling ahead of the automobile and exceed the speed from 0 to 155 mph.

Also, there is an updated system in BMW. Autonomous driving ensures driving the performance of the automatic parking of the vehicle without the driver’s interventions. Such a system uses sensors to detect the space available, and it shows a calculation of the exact way for parking the automobile. You can get the universal roof rack for carrying the luggage without compromising with autonomous driving.

The automotive industry is innovating on technology. The technology determines the vehicle’s parameters, including the number of passengers, weight, and the facilitation of precise driving. Technology has been offering solutions for driving without the constant feedback of the driver, thus automating the entire system.

2. Personalised driving experiences

When it comes to the point of personalization, the vehicles have not changed much. Over the past few decades, there have been plenty of vehicles that are personalizing the users’ experience. For example, the 1987 Chevrolet truck lets you customize the truck parts and stylistic changes, including changing the seat covers and customizing the steering wheel cover.

The rise of artificial intelligence has also made it easier to foster vehicle personalization to a whole new level — the navigation technology in automotive assists operations to a considerable extent. Virtual assistants, chatbots, and driving apps allow the vehicles to collect the driver status to provide personalized and safe driving experiences. The connected car apps also learn regarding the owner’s needs, mistakes, or preferences and the problems for adapting to them.

3. Lowered emissions and pollution

Lowered emissions and pollution is based on how technology advances the auto industry. The mass production as well as outsourcing of the parts lower the rates of automobiles. The increase in the per capita income of the world population has been the primary reason behind the decreased cost of automobiles. With the utilization of electric vehicles, automobile owners can get the opportunity to cut down on the transportation cost by one-third.

There has been a human impact on the climate, causing harmful effects on the environment. The automobile industry has been turning towards more than eco-friendly technology. The burning of fossil fuels turns out to be a significant contributor towards degrading the environment, and in this regard, the government is also implementing strict laws on emissions. There has been a change to the lifestyle and the way we are using modern automobiles.

4. Enhancement of the connectivity

Enhancement of connectivity is one of the top ways technologies are changing the automotive industry. The digital transformation has been shaping different sectors, including the automobile industry. Connected cars now utilize the internet connection service, allowing them to connect to the other devices inside and outside the vehicle.

Connectivity makes sharing the data, downloading the automotive software updates, and interacting with the other IoT devices pretty straightforward. There is a great sense of security navigation and diagnostic options. Integration of technological advances lets drivers get the opportunity of connecting the smart car with the smartphone app for finding the parking spot faster or even starting the engine. By 2030, 95% of new vehicles will be connected. The sophisticated cyber security tools serve as modern technology in the automotive industry and are helping the drivers get the guarantee of the privacy of the data. So, there won’t be a need to worry about anything anymore.

5. Augmented reality dashboard

Technology is transforming automotive. When it comes to augmented reality, you can transform the windshield into a screen for displaying information to the user.

The system also can show the relevant information through the screen, including the current weather, speed, mileage, RPM, and more than that. Several cars manufactured by BMW, Mazda, Mercedes-Bez, MINI, Chevrolet, Jaguar, Lexus, Toyota, and Volvo possess augmented reality features. The navigation technology with the use of the holographic symbols ensures guiding the drivers for following the directions without the need for taking the eyes off the road.

6. Improved safety

The growth of digital automotive technology is guaranteeing safety standards. Utilizing the tiny cameras all over the vehicle will allow the driver to check for the hidden objects that are usually difficult to see from the driver from the driving seat. The tire pressure sensors, collision control sensors ensure the prevention of accidents.

Also, the anti-lock braking system and traction control can help the driver drive the vehicle to everything else. The vehicles are equipped with systems that pass the information back and forth between the vehicle and the road entity. This can be the traffic light, crosswalk, or any other sign. The impact of technology in shaping automobiles is immense.

There are other forms of the technology, including connecting the vehicle to the cloud, vehicle to the pedestrian, and vehicle to grid, and some others. This is the way technology has been improving safety on the road as well as driving efficiency. The driver-assisted truck platooning technology has been famous for keeping away the strain off the driver shortage by enabling the driver to drive several vehicles.

7. Electrification

How is technology changing the automotive industry? Though it turns out to be a surprise, it can be said that the first successful electric vehicle in the United States came to the road in 1890. The vehicle has too much potential over that of the fossil fuel vehicles. Two decades later, however, electric vehicles have become more common, and some hybrid models have been capable of using traditional fuel sources and electricity.

At the same time, some others have been working on electricity, wind, and solar energy. Together these technologies are also making electric vehicles completely sustainable, and once it is purchased, it will become very economical. The manufacturers are investing in electrification that can ensure cost savings through reduced fuel consumption.

What other advanced technology is used in the automotive industry?

With the upcoming revolution, these cars are equipped with the most updated technology in the industry. This includes AI for autonomous or driverless cars, collaborative robots, and machine vision. In addition to that, there is cognitive computing in IoT, automatic high beam control, modern-day backup cameras, and predictive technology in the auto sector, to name a few.

Key Takeaways

The impact of technology has been shaping automobiles over the years. The automotive industry gets the opportunity now to achieve better passenger safety, improved control over emissions, and enhanced vehicle design to meet more customer demands.

In this regard, there is a prime need to understand how technology is changing and better transforming the automobile industry.

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Mark Alfred

Mark Alfred is the Founder & CEO of 5iQ, cloud-based automotive software for the auto industry. We at 5iQ, love sharing and discussing mechanical industry news.