automotive trends digital technology mobility 2020 industry

A Glimpse into the Future of Automotive Technology Trends in 2020Digital disruption in the mobility industry is transforming the landscape fortraditional automotive developers and the tech companies that have joined therace in this sector. Learn more about the technology trends that are expectedto shape 2020 in automotive product development!In the past few years, experts and analysts have been talking about adisruptive change in the mobility industry. Innovation (both “homegrown”automotive technologies and those borrowed from other industries) has enabledrevolutionary changes in the sector, while shifting customer behaviour and atightening regulatory landscape in the auto industry have affected thedirection its evolution takes.Let’s take a look at the most important industry trends and pieces of techinnovation that impact the rapidly shifting mobility landscape!Read our previous annual automotive reports:The Road Ahead: 2019 Trends in Automotive TechnologyAn Outlook on Automotive Tech Trends in 2018Automotive Industry Development Trends 20172016 Automotive Industry Trends and Challenges ## Electrification still growingFirst on the list of these fundamental changes is, of course, electrification.The proliferation of electric vehicles (EVs) certainly didn’t start in 2019,but it was the biggest year so far for cars with electric and hybriddrivetrains. EVs accounted for 2.2% of the global market this year, andautomakers continue to further their commitments to move away from combustionengines. With climate change gaining momentum as the primary factor shapingregulators’ decisions around the world, the market is set to acceleratefurther towards electrification.From a tech perspective, this means growing focus on (and investment in)innovating battery technologies and updating charging infrastructure in 2020.## Mobility-as-a-service on the riseIn the meantime, the way consumers approach mobility has also been changingfor several years. Carmakers are reacting to declining car ownership rates andthe emergence of shared & micromobility solutions. New auto startups aredesigning models with sharing in mind, while Toyota, the world’s largestautomaker, launched its own car sharing service in Japan in 2019.Like all other sectors, digital transformation has hugely affected the autoindustry. The never-before seen importance (and complexity) of softwaresolutions built into modern vehicles is just one result. Carmakers are nowincreasingly challenged by non-traditional players in the market. The digitalcapabilities of these technology companies put them at a comparativeadvantage. One way traditional players are engaging with these newcomers isthrough partnerships to help them deliver fundamentally new mobility solutionsand business models – but good old-fashioned competition is, naturally, stillan alternative.Related reading:New Alliances Shaping the Future of Self-driving Cars ## Converging digital ecosystemFrom a consumer’s perspective, one of the major effects of digitaltransformation in the automotive industry has been the convergence of the techecosystem surrounding the user. Overshadowing simple Apple CarPlay and AndroidAuto (both already considered passé), connectivity capabilities embedded inmodern cars will unlock new services in 2020 and going forward.To mention just a few examples: the integration of emails and calendars withsatellite navigation in vehicles provides obvious benefits. In-car deliverysounds a tad more futuristic but technologically-speaking, relativelystraightforward: once your smart fridge has analyzed its contents at home, itcan easily manage the ordering of missing items, with your car providingaccess (based on biometric identification) to the delivery person to the boothof the car parked outside your office building.A reverse example of this would be car-to-home automation, another area oftechnology expected to grow rapidly. Through integrating across personaldigital devices and elements of a smart home, your car can easily sync allsystems to operate heating, lighting, garage door opening, and other aspectsof your ride home for a comfortable, seamless experience.Carmakers are also adding smartphone connectivity capabilities to enable usersto remotely access certain features of their vehicles. Vehicle-to-everythingconnectivity is also key for OTA (over-the-air updates) and predictivemaintenance, both key auto tech trends forecast for 2020 and onwards. Based onsensors collecting performance data and sharing that data over IoT, theservicing of modern cars can be rendered more efficient and convenient.A connected supply chain offers various benefits for car manufacturers.Digitizing the manufacturing process helps align human and automated work(facilitated by robots & algorithms) more efficiently, promising increasedproductivity and less defects in the production process.## Digital safety featuresWhile earlier promises of realizing full vehicle autonomy by 2020 seem to havebeen a little bold, carmakers are certainly making headway. Some ADAS(Advanced Driver Assistance Systems) solutions have begun to trickle down tolower-tier models, and new technologies are being devised to ensure safety inthe future of mobility as required by tightening regulations. Active healthtracking and driver monitoring systems help bridge the transition periodleading up to Level 5 autonomy. Smart ADAS takes over more and more of theactual driving for us, and systems that monitor user alertness ensure oursafety until cars really become self-driving.In the meantime, biometric identification provides a layer of security andopens up opportunities for further convenience services in modern cars.## In-car entertainmentFor passengers (and, as vehicle autonomy expands, perhaps for drivers too),automakers are adding new technology-based entertainment and infotainmentoptions. Virtual Reality seems to be making its way into future cars. Audi andDisney’s partnership promises technology that augments reality with cartooncharacters and imaginary worlds for passengers in the back seat as soon as in2020 or 2021.