If Henry Ford could see the new Ford Mustang, he would probably have trouble believing that it’s inspired by him. When he created the Model A over a century ago, Ford had no way of knowing where his automobile company, or automobiles in general, would be headed. Over 100 years and two industrial revolutions later, automobiles are still surpassing the wildest imaginations of car enthusiasts all over the world.
Industry 4.0 has truly revolutionized the auto industry, and there are no signs that the innovations will stop coming. Every year, the top automakers duke it out for technological and mechanical supremacy, and we, the buyers, are the ultimate winners. Continue reading to learn some of the ways Industry 4.0 has changed the auto industry forever.
1. Automobiles are connected to the net.
Do you remember the old days when going out of town to a part of the country to which you’ve never been meant you had to stock up on atlases? How many road trips went sour all because Dad was too prideful to pull over and ask for directions? How many people had car accidents and were stranded on the side of the road with no modes of communication? How much time did you spend tinkering with the radio dials trying to get reception as you rolled through town after town?
Because of the connectivity of today’s automobiles, these problems are in the past. For instance, some vehicles can report accidents to authorities in real-time in case the driver of the vehicle is incapacitated.
Furthermore, some cars come with On Star which allows drivers to speak with a customer service rep who can provide drivers with everything from troubleshooting assistance to calling for roadside assistance. Not to mention that most cars today also have hands-free smartphone features that allow people to use their smartphones through their car, truck, or SUV. With an API solution like GPS or On Star, you never have to worry about being lost or stranded again.
2. Cars are smarter.
Smart technology has been all the rave lately, so it only makes sense that we would start seeing smart technology making its way into our automobiles. By using diagnostic analytics and sensors, automobiles can help drivers with maintenance and even driving in real-time.
One of the most prevalent uses of smart technology is sensors that can let you know when your tires are going flat. It’s hard to tell with the naked eye when your tires are losing air pressure, and sometimes, even the old “kick test” isn’t good enough. However, many manufacturers have started putting sensors on cars that can tell the driver exactly what their tire pressure is for all four tires while they’re on the road.
3. You can buy a car without even leaving your house.
The COVID-19 pandemic has placed a premium on being able to do things from the comfort of your own home. Thanks to industry 4.0, you can even buy your next car without “passing Go.”
If you’re in the market for a used car, you can find an auction simply by Googling “public car auctions near me,” but it’s worth knowing that there are auction sites like Auto Auction Mall that allow you to do your bidding online. It used to be that public auto auctions were the best place to find the used car, SUV, or motorcycle of your dreams, and now home might be the best place to find your next vehicle at wholesale prices, thanks to Industry 4.0.
4. There’s electricity in the air…and our automobiles.
For decades, environmentalists have been warning about the dangers fossil fuels pose to our planet, and now we’re closer than ever to moving away from fossil fuels for good. By using historical data, auto manufacturers are developing ways to make electric automobiles more powerful and travel farther before needing a charge. Things are going so well that Tesla has outgrown GM and Ford in market size, and GM has made a commitment to having a completely electric line of vehicles in the next couple of decades.
5. Driverless cars are next.
Once an aberration, self-driving cars are now considered practical and possibly even safer than human-driven cars. Amazon is already using them in some cities for deliveries, Uber is planning to launch their own self-driving vehicles soon, and driverless cars can also be seen taking passengers across the campus at Google. One can only guess when we’ll start seeing these in people’s driveways!
