6 Auto Industry Trends for 2021
Some of the new things coming to 2021 were originally planned for 2020. However, 2020 hasn’t exactly been a normal year and many plans were changed. Despite that, the fact that some things were delayed doesn’t make what’s coming any less exciting.
COVID-19 has not only caused a lot of disruption, but has also inspired many changes, or driven change to happen faster. It forced firms to adapt, and some of that meant serious adoption of remote working and online sales approaches.
Now 2021 is almost here and people are hoping it will be a significant improvement in 2020. As far as the auto industry is concerned, consumers can expect some significant and interesting new trends to become mainstream.
New Car Model Releases and Great Deals
2020 saw a reduction in car purchases for a significant period. It forced manufacturers to adapt to the situation and reassess. The result was that many new models weren’t released in 2020 and will now be released in 2021.
This was because car sales took a significant dip, particularly during the early stages of the Coronavirus. The economy was also hit hard and purchases slowed as people held onto their cash for other things.
However, as things continue, people are adapting and many countries are already opening up more for internal and international business. The result is that not only should there be a significant number of new models for 2021, but those buyers may also have the option to get some great deals on cars released in 2020 that didn’t sell.
Of course, if there are significant changes or second waves that cause social panic and reduced spending, it is always possible that some of these new models may be postponed even longer.
5G Should Become Established and Common
While 5G was on its way regardless of COVID-19, the virus created a demand for fast internet like there hasn’t been before. As people became stuck at home, internet usages increased significantly.
However, it wasn’t all Facebook use. Instead, the business need for remote conferencing, collaboration and remote working soared in demand. All those off work needed content streaming services like Netflix to provide them with entertainment during this stressful time. As all of these things collide, the pressure and demands on internet providers jumped.
As far as the automobile sector is concerned, there are some quite significant changes that will become possible with the technology of 5G being commonly accessible. For a start, true 5G coverage will make fully automated vehicles a possibility. Not only that, but vehicles and machinery could be controlled virtually from your home, or anywhere, and 5G would make the responses and remote visuals almost instantaneous.
Manufacturers are also looking to include or incorporate virtual reality and augmented reality entertainment systems. The idea is to make journeys less boring. The effects could help with things like travel sickness, or to entertain the family on a long trip. Augmented reality could even mean that travelers could work from ‘virtual’ devices on the move or have the passing world around them augmented into a game or fun and responsive scenery.
Options for Two-Tone Paint
Two-tone colors are back in fashion. As the demand is there, carmakers are bringing back and reinventing two-tone paint designs for newly released cars. The mixed color option helps to make cars more interesting than a single color and can highlight design features.
What makes this even better is that manufactures are truly listening to buyers. Not only are two-tone colors available, but they are also fully customizable. This means that car buyers can play around with virtual car models until they find a color combo that they love.
It provides desired personalization, without the need for after-market modifications. While it might mean more on the car loan initially, it is sure to make buyers happy.
Buying Cars Online
As people have been forced to stay home, or simply don’t want to be in places with lots of people, online shopping has increased as COVID-19 swept the world.
However, when making major purchases, buyers generally want to do more research. To help regain lost traction with car sales, manufacturers needed to up their online game. This not only meant that there needed to be significant information online but also reviews and some way for buyers to fully check out the cars they’re buying.
Enter virtual reality showrooms and even virtual test drive options. With the ability to see cars to scale in a virtual environment and from the comfort of their own homes, buyers get a much more personal experience.
Some of the most preferred services wanted by buyers include virtual showrooms, virtual test-drives, at-home (delivered) test drives, quality, and honest reviews, and online vehicle configuration. This way, they can see exactly how a car will look, know its flaws, features, and test-drive without having to enter a showroom.
3D Printing for Production
3D printing is becoming not only more affordable but more adaptable. Large printers can now print entire houses in one go, providing affordable housing that can also be recycled and reprinted.
3D printing can not only help with prototyping car models but also with developing difficult to machine parts. They are a good option for real-world testing of design ideas. Virtual reality is also good for this, but some prefer to have a real-world model that is tested – and 3D printing provides a cost-effective method to make this happen.
Tooling metals can also be slow and intensive for complex designs. These designs can often be 3D printed almost effortlessly, reducing waste and resource usage (including energy consumption in some cases). Moreover, 3D printers can be used to create the machinery and accessories required for car production, allowing for in-house development and reduced costs.
AI in Cars
Driver-assist technologies and AI systems are helping to make devices and processes around the world more automated. From car sale chat-bots to AI-driven cars, this tech is certainly promising.
Complex machine learning algorithms will continue to integrate with aspects such as augmented reality, process line management, the Internet of Things, and more. It is likely to lead to more convenience as far as production, purchasing, and travel are concerned. However, some of this won’t be on the road in 2021, although many tests are underway.
To Wrap Up
While 2020 hasn’t been the best year, 2021 has a lot of interesting and fun aspects coming to the auto industry. Keep an eye on the development of these technologies, as things we currently know them could change significantly.
Convenience and personalized experiences seem to be the underlying trends, from at-home vehicle shopping to customizable paint jobs, it is all about keeping consumers happy and spending.
