Monthly Archives: December 2019

The Automotive Industry in Transition for 2020

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Automotive is the second most data-driven industry in the world. Growing IoT and mobile technology manufacturers are able collect tons of information about drivers, their destinations, the routes they’re taking, traffic patterns, and even predict when maintenance will be required.

Now more than ever, customers are always connected and want a seamless experience. In 2020 and beyond, that means not just connection via mobile phone, home, and office, but in their vehicles, as well.  Drivers want to be connected to their apps, music and entertainment while kids are connected to games or homework. We’ve seen car-equipped WiFi in the past, but moving into the 2020s, we’ll see it become a staple of every new car purchase, rather than an upgrade.

Level 4 fully autonomous vehicles have continued to be the holy grail and with the likes of Waymo, Uber, Tesla and plenty of other companies showing off their capabilities in the space, there is still a ways to go before the average consumer is going to buy their own fully autonomous vehicle and sip a latte while plugging away on their laptop on their way to work. However, many expect a bigger dose of autonomous technology coming post CES.

In the navigation, most cars have voice control systems.  Many companies are improving the customer experience by using systems like Apple Car Play that will mirror what’s on your iPhone creating a seamless transition between phone and car. The pressure to digitize is about more than adding new digital features to every vehicle. It also means that the average car lifecycle will be modeling technology’s lifecycle, with drivers trading up when new technology becomes available.

Imagine if you didn’t need to stop into your local mechanic shop every time the check-engine light in your car turned on. Moving forward, you won’t have to, thanks to always-on connectivity. Using remote access, manufacturers will be able to provide technology updates, safety updates, recall information, etc., like magic—without you ever needing to set foot in a repair location.

Today, cars are able to pull multitudes of data and send it up to the cloud for processing, alerting drivers of potential issues they may be about to experience in the future, from engine trouble to faulty brakes, or a taillight that’s about to burn out.

As in all industries, digital transformation trend in automotive are shaking things up moving into 2020 and beyond. By and large, these changes will be huge improvements for drivers, making time in the car safer and more enjoyable for the long haul.

Detroit Auto Show Debuts Several SUVs, American SUV Sales Continue to Strengthen

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The Detroit Auto Show debut several SUVs and hybrids with little room for cars. SUVs are more popular than ever before, with several automakers at the North American International Auto Show showing their latest models. Many automakers are addressing their impact on industry transformation, the rise of electric propulsion and shared ownership models.

According to Wired, there were very few cars on the show floor this year. Of the cars that were on the floor, most were high-performance luxury sports cars and a few electric vehicles. One show attendee notes “The Detroit show is all about business as usual for global car builders. And these days, that means catering to the tastes of American buyers with SUVs.”

Of several notable mentions, Ford showed off its update to the Explorer earlier this year, but chose the Detroit Show for its official debut. Kia brought a much larger, boxier SUV called the “Telluride,” which is being manufactured in Georgia. “The latest Cadillac isn’t a classic sedan, but a three-row land yacht from General Motor’s luxury brand,” says one attendee. The vehicle is similar to the XT5 Crossover, but longer.

The show also featured an electric SUV from Infiniti and Cadillac.

Turning Coffee into Car Parts

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It’s the most unlikely pair you can imagine, Ford and McDonald’s are teaming up to make vehicle parts lighter and more sustainable. In an effort to reduce waste, the automaker is using old residue from coffee beans to make light housing for the Lincoln Continental.

So… how does this work exactly? Well, it begins with McDonald’s saving the remnants of coffee beans, then the old beans are sent to Ford where they are then turned into composite material that is used for the light housing on headlights and/or taillights on their new vehicles. According to McDonald’s, a “big portion” of it’s used coffee beans will be donated to Ford. In an effort to increase sustainability and reduce their carbon footprint, both Ford and McDonald’s are committed to the cause. 

This level of innovation has the potential to significantly reduce waste and may also inspire other automotive manufacturers to do the same. According to Debbie Mielewski Ford’s senior technical leader in sustainability and emerging materials research, “This has been a priority for Ford for over 20 years, and this is an example of jump-starting the closed-loop economy, where different industries work together and exchange materials that otherwise would be side or waste products.”

 

Ford is notorious for using sustainable products to build and produce automobiles (plants, shredded money, and even tomatoes! Their deal with McDonald’s is surely one of their greatest strides yet. In the future, there is expected to me many more innovations in sustainability with Ford and many other automotive companies.

The 2021 Electric Ford Mustang Mach-E Sells Out

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The highly anticipated 2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E is the first ever zero-emissions mustang to ever be introduced to the automotive market. Ford revolutionized the AV market with the introduction of their new EV mustang at the 2019 Los Angeles Auto Show. The First Edition, retailed for $61,000 has already sold out in only nine days. Ford has not said how many vehicles they will be making, but according to a Ford press release, there are a “limited quantity” of Mustangs to be released.

Although the new Mustang Mach-E is branded with the classic Mustang logo,  the car has been revolutionized from the inside out. The Mach-E has two available battery sizes and rear or all-wheel drive. The Mach-E boasts a 300-mile driving range and seats up to five people. The car also features an impressive array of technology including an infotainment system for all your driving needs. The MachE premium includes ultra fast charging capabilities, 19-inch heels, a panoramic sunroof, a power liftgate, and a Band & Olufsen sound system.

When it comes to the powerhorse behind the car, Ford went above and beyond to provide the most impressive motor yet. The 2021 Mustang Mach-E is available in two different battery power options: standard-range (75.7 kWh) or an extended range (98.8kWh). Ford claims that the new Mach-E will go from zero to 60 mph in less than four seconds. This extreme engine power sounds a lot like that of Tesla. The GT model features 459 Horsepower and 612 1b-ft torque. 

 

The Mustang Mach-E is Ford’s first crossover to be completely electric. The name “Mach-E” pays homage to the classic “Mach 1” moniker often seen on vintage high-performance Mustangs. According to Ford, they chose the name “Mach-E” because they wanted the car to sound electrified. Speaking of electrification, the Ford Mach-E comes out of the box with a Ford mobile charger that can add up to 30 miles of range per night with a 120-volt outlet and up to 80 percent of battery life overnight with a 240-volt outlet. A Ford charge station can also be ordered online and installed by certified electricians, with the ability to replenish 32 miles per hour and recharge the battery overnight.

Although the 2021 Mach-E has not yet been crash-tested by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration or the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, the SUV is available with driver assistance technology including forward-collision warning and automated emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert, lane-departure warning and lane-keeping assist. The vehicle also comes with different warranty packages including Limited (covers 3 years of 36,000 miles) Powertrain (covers 5 years or 60,000 miles).

All in all, the 2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E is looking to be a great success for Ford. The Mach-E is just one of the many new Electric Vehicles hitting the automotive market in the near future.

Electric Pickup Trucks Dominate the 2020 Market

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We’ve all heard (and seen) the buzz around the Tesla Cybertruck. But Tesla isn’t the only automaker taking the industry by storm. Automakers like Rivan, Bollinger Motors and Hercules Electric Vehicles also plan on launching their on electric pickup trucks in the near future.

Perhaps the most (or second most) highly-anticipated electric trucks to hit the market is the Rivian R1T. Rivian is a Michigan-Based startup company that is currently in the process of ordstown Motors has a licensing deal with Ohio-based automotive company Workhorse to build an EV pickup called the Endurance at GM’s former assembly plant in Lordstown, Ohio.  Production is expected to start in late 2020.

With investors such as Amazon and Ford Motor co., Rivian is expected to be big competition for Tesla and their new Cybertruck.

In addition to Rivian, GM and Ford are also planning to roll out their own premium electric pickups beginning in late 2021. With all these electric vehicles hitting the market, the automotive market is expected to change drastically. Seemingly everyday, there’s a new electric vehicle hitting the market. Even “rugged” off-road vehicles such as the Jeep Wrangler are offering hybrid options as part of their 2020 vehicle lineup. This “rugged yet eco-friendly” message automakers are sending is very new for the automotive industry. For years, rugged vehicles and pickup trucks were notorious for being gas guzzling diesel machines. 

 

Originally, the Toyota Prius was the first mid-range electric vehicle to gain popularity in the United States automotive market. Since then, dozens of hybrid/electric vehicles have hit the automotive market, but pickup trucks were late to join the party. Once Rivian announced their R1T fully-electric pickup truck, the automotive industry changed forever. 

While most electric vehicles are still sedans, electric sports cars and pickup trucks are gradually being introduced to the market. Between the Rivian R1T and the brand new Tesla Cybertruck, there is surely plenty to be excited about for the future of the automotive industry.