Predicted automotive trends in 2020

It’s sometimes hard to believe that we’re now in 2020. What always seemed like a year that was “way in the future” is now here, and technology is trying to keep up with the various predictions that have been made about this era over the years.  Considering all the technological changes that we encountered during the previous decade, it is no wonder that this year produce even more sophisticated, technological wonders.

And this trend goes for the automotive sector, which is expected to ramp up the technology on existing innovations. Check out a sample of some of the expected automotive trends for 2020.

Electric cars

 Ok, so this technology has been around for a while – all the way back to the 1800s. But for a long time, electric cars remained unviable and essentially dormant, until the emergence of modern electric cars in the 1990s.  Now, electric cars have been identified as the wave of the automotive future, particularly in light of CO2 emissions and climate change concerns, as well as dwindling fossil fuel resources.

Electric cars don’t pollute and are friendlier to the environment than cars powered by fossil fuels electric vehicle drivers are essentially playing their part in lowering CO2 emissions.  What’s more, these vehicles are more economical and practical to drive; there is less wear and tear compared to a fuel-powered car, and with less servicing needs and maintenance costs, they might actually be a more affordable option.

In 2020, you can expect a larger number of automotive players and their clients to embrace electric vehicles.

Self-driving cars

Whether you love self-driving cars or not, you can’t deny that these cars represent the future of the automotive industry, especially considering that most vehicle accidents are caused by human error.  And, some reckon that the future is now, thanks to cutting-edge technology such as GPS, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and 5G. Self-driving cars, also known as autonomous vehicles, use Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology to achieve the effect of driverless cars. Major advancements are expected in the coming months, with self-driving technology development company Waymo already possessing a host of self-driving cars in its portfolio.  South African- born Elon Musk is also proudly representing Africa within this industry, with his company Tesla ranked in 2018 as the world’s best-selling plug-in passenger car manufacturer.

Increased use of automotive software management tools

 Digital software has unsurprisingly become an important part of the automotive industry, with automotive software management tools playing an important role in helping companies run more successful operations. Some of these tools include:

• A customer interface – customers can access a complete database from some automotive manufacturers, which allows them to access their invoices and schedule maintenance appointments.
• A main desktop app – companies are given access to their entire database, whether that be technical information or client data. All authorised users can then access, update or delete information.
• Technical app – all technical information that is relevant to the business is available and can be managed from this interface, including invoice generation, employee scheduling features and inspection reports.

Bring in Cartrack and telematics here

In 2020, we should see a move towards next-generation technology such as cloud computing and big data, with most automotive business owners having adopted online accounting software tools such as QuickBooks Hosting, NetSuite and Xero to help manage their finances and accounting more efficiently.

 Usage-based insurance packages

 The emergence of sensors in and on vehicles means that you can learn a lot more about a driver, including their driving behaviour, patterns and accidents. This information is being used by the insurance industry, with usage-based insurance packages becoming more commonplace. AI (Artificial Intelligence) and sensors enable insurance companies to determine driving behaviour and vehicle information such as the distance a vehicle has driven in a certain period of time, airbag deployment and harsh braking frequency.

If insurers have information at hand that a driver is well-behaved, that client is more likely to get a more favourable rate.

 Tracking and monitoring tools

Worried about the health of your car? In 2020, you can always know how your “loved one” is doing thanks to vehicle health tracking tools. Once again, the sensors incorporated in the vehicle allow you to accurately monitor your vehicle and take better care of it thanks to monitoring and tracking apps and tools. These systems are fully equipped to help out in any emergency a driver may have, including accidents, with exact coordinates of locations provided, ultimately saving lives.

Ride into 2020 with Cartrack

 As a leading stolen vehicle recovery, fleet management and innovator in mobility solutions, Cartrack is always on the cutting -edge of the latest technological developments.  We have a range of tracking and monitoring solutions that will give you total peace of mind and allow you to benefit from all the latest automotive trends in 2020.

Contact us today to find out how we can make your vehicle more secure, improve the efficiency of your business and put you in control.