Dec. 12, 2019—As we enter a new decade, Cars.com today revealed its predictions for the trends that will most likely impact the automotive industry.
The Cars.com predictions for the next decade in auto delve into different core areas with additional insight provided by Joe Wiesenfelder, executive editor of Cars.com and a 25-year automotive expert. Topics include the following:
The eCommerce Race – Who will be the Amazon of Auto Retail?
As new competitors are entering and disrupting auto retail, car manufacturers are attempting to sell online, and car dealers are adopting new technology to change the car buying process forever. But due to the expensive, personal and emotional nature of the car purchase, in the next decade most consumers will still want and need to "touch" and "feel" their new vehicle before collecting the keys. By tapping into advanced technology on the market that better connects the online and in-store experience, car dealers are best positioned to dominate this space.
Connected Technology: Detroit Pops the Question to Silicon Valley
The dream of having our cars become a supercomputer or our "mobile command center" of life has been around for years. In the next decade, cars' operating system and hardware could both be updated, allowing older cars to remain as safe and capable as the newest cars on the lot. To meet the needs of the consumer and enable more wireless updating, Detroit will have to adopt the technology, speed and agility of Silicon Valley. In return, Silicon Valley needs to take the time to understand the complexities of Detroit's ripe knowledge of the auto industry.
"I think we will see more high-tech integration into cars to meet the needs of the changing consumer," Wiesenfelder says. "We expect our electronics to be automatically updated and fully connected and it's not a far cry to expect the same from our cars."
The Rise of Electric Vehicles and Autonomous Cars
Electric vehicles will continue to grow but they will not be mainstream in the next decade, while autonomous vehicles can't get out of the test phase. Electric vehicle use is rising in urban centers as costs go down, but overall use in the country will continue to lag due to consistently low gas prices, lack of public infrastructure, the recent EPA/California ruling and pending trade wars. Autonomy is a whole other issue with similar missed expectations. Consumers think it's naptime from the driver's seat, Cars.com wrote, but in reality the current driver-assist features are the extent of autonomy that are as likely to cause frustration as provide relief.
Automotive in a Presidential Election Year
The auto industry has its own development cycle that is not directly affected by the party in the oval office. However, there are policies an administration can enact that directly impact the industry and consumer costs.
"It's a misconception to assume that a presidential election will directly impact auto, but this one is unique," Wiesenfelder says. "While auto sales have peaked, and we anticipate a drop-off in 2020—unrelated to the election cycle—we could see further impact on sales if tariffs on foreign-manufactured vehicles or parts are increased."
