Although industry experts forecast that the auto industry will end 2017 with U.S. sales of 17.1 million units (the first sales decline in the past seven years), carmakers and drivers have much to look forward to in the coming year. Here are the biggest trends to pay attention to.
Many automakers are considering going into the subscription service model for 2018. Among those expected to make the move official are Volvo, Cadillac, and Porsche, as they’ve already set up programs that would allow drivers to switch cars weekly for a fixed fee. The idea is to keep customers loyal to the company. This is especially appealing to those who prefer test-driving new vehicles.
Electric cars may just be the next wave. Carmakers are keen on pushing the electric vehicle, with the idea becoming less of a novelty as the cost gets cheaper and the charging faster. Sustainability practices are increasingly being integrated into business systems. While cars that have zero emissions demand more public charging infrastructure established, this is now being addressed. In short, car companies don’t want to be unprepared when electric cars become the norm.
Finally, while autonomous or self-driving vehicles might be more hype than practical for now, automakers understand that improved semi-autonomous safety features need to be added to slowly usher the idea in. People aren’t ready to give up control of their machines, but autonomous technologies like rear park assist and Tesla’s dominance in this race are forcing companies to catch up.
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