Every year there are new trends that dominate the automotive industry. There are a handful of trends that have emerged so far in 2021 that have had a big impact on the industry and not just COVID-related trends (although this is clearly still a major challenge in the industry). So, lets see what are all the automotive trends in 2021?
Electric Cars
It has been a rough period in terms of car sales since COVID-19 (and even before the pandemic), but electric car sales continue to rise in the UK and elsewhere around the world. Many people are now making the switch as the world becomes more eco-aware, plus there are financial incentives to switching so it is easy to see why people are now going electric. Many brands like Vauxhall are electrifying their range and plan to be 100% electric in the coming years.
Autonomous Vehicles
Automation continues to play a major role in the automotive industry and 2021 will see the deployment of L3 autonomy. L3 vehicles have “environmental detection” capabilities, which means that the car can make decisions without driver input and is a major stride forward towards full automation.
Digitalisation
The auto industry had to adapt during the pandemic and one of the most notable ways that this was done was through the digitalisation of the car purchasing process. These days, online showrooms, digital forms and virtual assistants have transformed the car buying process and made it much easier for motorists.
AI & Machine Learning
AI and machine learning is also finding a greater role in the automotive industry, especially when it comes to connected vehicles. Connectivity can be helpful in terms of delivering safety features like lane-keeping as well as entertainment functions for drivers and passengers.
Cars & Other Private Transport
Another way that COVID has impacted the auto industry is cars and other private transport gaining market share over public transport. This is largely due to fears about transmission on public transport, so more people are driving themselves or using taxis/ride-sharing apps to get around. It is likely that this will continue to be the case for some time as people start to return to normality but COVID-19 remains a threat.
Industry Mergers & Acquisitions
It has been a rough period for many in the auto industry and the recovery process will be long. This is why it is predicted that there will be many mergers and acquisitions moving forward as businesses manage the difficulties of COVID-19.
These are currently the main automotive trends shaping 2021. It is a unique time in the industry, but there are reasons to be optimistic thanks to so many incredible tech developments that have been made in recent times. Many of these trends will be key to recovery in the industry and are likely to extend well beyond 2021.
