As we look ahead to 2019, it’s exciting to reflect on this decade as being on the precipice of the biggest evolution in cars since their inception more than a century ago. As autonomous and electric vehicles continue to gain traction, cars in the next decade may look quite different from the cars of the 2010s.
Looking ahead, there are four high-level themes that will drive innovation in the automotive industry in 2019.
Digital cockpit
Vehicle electrification
Connected car
Autonomous driving
Digital cockpit Enhancing the driving experience begins in the driver’s seat where the driver presides over a central command center, an integrated cockpit.
Read the white paper to explore power options: System power architectures in body control modules.
Vehicle electrificationGovernment regulations worldwide are challenging automakers to reconfigure and reimagine the powertrain to reduce emissions. A glimpse ahead in 2019, we can categorize the trends into on a three-part spectrum.
Improvingthe overall efficiency of combustion engines.
Electrifyingmechanical componentsto enable hybrids.
Designingfully electric vehicles.
Within these categories, key trends have emerged:
Read the white paper and see the reference design: Bridging 12 V and 48 V in dual-battery automotive systems.
Autonomous drivingEncompassing more than fully self-driving cars, in 2019, autonomous driving in passenger vehicles will be experienced primarily through driver assistance functionality, features that are designed to mitigate or prevent human error on the road and improve the situational awareness of the driver.
Read the white paper to learn more: Paving the way to self-driving cars with advanced driver assistance systems.
Connected carModern vehicles are as connected to the outside world as the driver is with their smartphone. Smart driving will become the norm with vehicles communicating with the driver, other cars on the road, infrastructure, the cloud and pedestrians—all while giving passengers the constant connection we’ve come to expect.
Learn more about telematics in the blog: Four design considerations for telematics hardware in the connected car.
Now it’s your turn. What are the automotive innovations and insights you expect to see in 2019? Comment below.
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