How Did New Technologies Change The Automotive Industry?
One of the industries that had a major transformation due to the new technologies in the automotive industry. Since the 20th century, technology has revised the manufacture, operation, and maintenance of cars. These days we have cars that are designed to run on electricity, solar energy, etc. Right now, the automotive industry is amidst a technological revolution with the entry of new digital technologies. Many big names are investing in new technologies and designers who have done industrial design course in Chennai to manufacture connected, electric, and autonomous cars.
New Car Trends In The Automotive Industry
Here are some of the new product designs that have made the automotive industry quite exciting and challenging.
Autonomous Vehicle Product Design
One of the major product designs happening in the automotive industry is the entry of autonomous vehicles. They are designed as self-driving vehicles, and it aims to reduce the requirement of human drivers. Fleets of autonomous vehicles reduce downtime and make public transportation relatively easier and safer. For example, most accidents happen due to driver negligence or fatigue. However, with autonomous vehicles, the accident rates can be reduced as the vehicle runs on artificial intelligence and can identify obstacles in the route.
Electronic Car Product Design
We know that fuel-driven vehicles cause environmental pollution. To reduce pollution, new technology has come into the automotive industry, which is electric vehicles. Electric vehicles should address problems like poor battery, high price, fleet electrification, and inadequate charging infrastructure for better adoption.
Recent Trends And Designs In Automotive Industry
Here are some of the major design trends that are happening in the automotive industry.
The Car Body Designs
For many years, most vehicles had steel bodies because steel is relatively low-cost, offers good strength and malleability. However, new vehicles use aluminium, high-strength steels, magnesium, titanium, carbon-fibre composites, different types of plastic, and natural materials like cotton, flax, hemp, linen, etc. For example, the body of the new Audi A8 has steel, aluminium, carbon fibre reinforced polymer, and magnesium alloys. Carbon fibre or CFRP is one of the best lightweight materials available for new body structures. However, the cost of carbon fibre is on the higher side compared to the cost of steel. There are many challenges in recycling this particular material, which makes it likely to be limited soon. As per product design courses in Chennai, there will be three different lightweight packages in the future.
- The first package will be for medium and small cars with hybrid or conventional powertrains, mainly high-strength steel.
- The next one will be used for electronic vehicles and premium vehicles, and the body will be made of high-strength steel, aluminium, and carbon fibre. The carbon fibre will be used only in those parts of the body where it needs to be stiff.
- The last material package will be used for luxury electronic vehicles, and a high proportion of CFRP will be used.
Car Design Trends- Interior
These days, the car interiors are usually made of plastic. In 2018, the automotive plastics market value was USD 38.80 Billion. Studies say that this will go up to USD 59.95 billion in the coming years. Even though plastic usage is limited, the car interiors use mainly automotive plastics. Polymer combinations are widely used in door panels, instrument panels, seats, and upholstery applications because of their aesthetic appeal, durability, chemical resistance, and low density. Although plastics will continue as a major component of a car’s material strategy, many manufacturers are trying to mix natural fibres in their material strategy.
Car Design Trends- Chassis
The Chassis is the motor vehicle’s main supporting structure. Steel is the most commonly used component for the vehicle chassis. However, many cars have revealed that using a combination of aluminium chassis with carbon fibre or any other separate body shell minimizes the structure’s mass. Different strategies to make the chassis lightweight includes using the combination of aluminium and CFRP.
The automotive industry is currently experiencing a major transformation by autonomous driving, electrification, etc. With these new product designs, the automotive industry will become more challenging and exciting. Continue reading