Top automotive trends in 2021
**As written for The Safe Driver.
The automotive industry is making exciting moves, yet we are still in for plenty of surprises. From autonomous cars to 3D technology, it is clear that human beings will keep innovating ways to make cars move faster while still managing their safety. I cannot wait to see what 2021 will be like for the industry, as I continue to anticipate the impact of the following trends.
Autonomous Vehicles
Innovators are seeking to find accident solutions when using self-driving vehicles. The concept is not new, but since 2020 and 2021 are the leading years of a new century, there is a high chance that we will see actual fruition of these solutions. Intvo, a US startup, has already created a 3D behavior prediction technology that is more accurate in predicting passenger behavior than its initial 2D counterpart.
The technology allows vehicles to read even slight movements, such as pedestrians’ hesitation when crossing the road. This means that autonomous cars will enhance safety by reducing false positives.
Electric Vehicles
As we wait for more autonomous innovations, electric vehicles will continue to increase in demand in 2021 going forward. With a loud outcry to manage or reduce global warming, governments call for us to prioritize owning EVs instead of the traditional gas-powered vehicles. With the latest EV charging technology being far more environmentally friendly than gas-powered vehicles, it’s no surprise that EVs are becoming increasingly popular with governments and everyday citizens.
One of my biggest concerns about EVs is how sure am I that the vehicle won’t give up on me. If ChargeX’s technology takes off in 2021, then such a problem will be long gone. The company is offering an EV charging solution to turn parking spaces into charging stations.
According to the startup, using Aqueduct provides four charging modules that use type2 charging systems, boosting road time. Installing the system is easy, and it will provide reports monthly. Such technology seeks to cater to EV power requirements, which will make it easier for us to adapt to these vehicles sooner rather than later.
Vehicle Connectivity
Thanks to their unique digital identities, it is now easy to track vehicles. Such tamper-proof identities will continue to become popular in 2021. Insurance companies and fleet management groups will also seek more ways to keep track of customers and inventory.
Going deeper into connectivity, I came across a vehicle-to-everything platform (V2X). The system combines caching and geo-networking to create real-time and low latency communication. With such technology, vehicle owners are assured of user control in security and privacy, especially when it comes to their data.
Data Analysis and AI
It’s always challenging to try to get from one place to another in big cities, especially during peak hours. This has led to the demand for smart navigation, and Israel is already leading in implementing such trends in 2021. A startup, NoTraffic, has developed an AI-powered system using traffic signals to digitize road commuter management.
The system collects data from drivers along all roadways and uses it to solve traffic-related woes. Drivers get real-time smart navigation solutions as the system processes the data instantly.
Artificial Intelligence is also a primary concept in building autonomous cars. Given the technology’s reliability, cars can communicate with each other, allowing them to perform safely on the road and be entirely accurate with parking.
Blockchain in 2021 Automotive Trends
With the significant amount of data sharing I am witnessing in the current era, network security has always been a concern. However, blockchain uses decentralized systems to improve data security. The automotive industry will be a significant beneficiary of the same.
Cube intelligence is a startup in Europe that uses blockchain to create autonomous vehicles’ security systems. These systems safeguard the vehicles from malicious activities.
Blockchain technology also plays a vital role in perfecting supply chain transitions, making it easy to track spare parts and other raw materials that vehicles need. I can now always ensure all spare parts I purchase come from a trusted source.
Conclusion
We are looking forward to a thoroughly technologized automotive industry with big data influencing designs, AI automated inspections, and human machines’ reinvention. Although I have waited for some of these predictions for a long time, it is a good thing that we are starting to see these ideas turning into realities. Existing companies should aim to go deeper into relative technologies to find even more secure solutions for the autonomous vehicle, even as many startups come on board with bold solutions.