Every industry is prone to trends. New technology influences how businesses operate, customer preferences will constantly change, and plenty of other factors will all influence how things will proceed both in the short and long term going forward. When it comes to the auto industry, trends are extremely important, and thus every manufacturer is always trying to keep up with them to the best of their ability.

Radical Designs Will Become the Norm

If you’ve paid any attention to the auto industry for the last few months, you’ve probably become aware of the launch of two particular vehicles: the Tesla Cybertruck and the all-electric Ford Mustang. Elon Musk’s luxury brand designed and debuted its first utility vehicle, the Cybertruck, to a reaction that was, shall we say… mixed. Looking an awful lot like a young child’s drawing of a car rather than a real one, the Cybertruck actually boasts some tremendous technology at an extremely affordable price tag. Combined with the firestorm of media coverage the vehicle received, the Cybertruck received more than 250,000 pre-orders for the vehicle. Like it or not, it’s coming soon to the roads near you.

The Ford Motor Company took a step that may have been even more controversial when they announced the 2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E, an all-electric entry into the long and historic line of Mustang sports cars. The new model boasts attractive technology, a zero-to-60 time of around three and a half seconds, and an advertised maximum range of an incredible 300 miles in full-time rear-wheel-drive mode.

However, this car shares almost nothing with the others in its family. The vehicle is the first in the line to come without a gas engine, have four doors, and seat five people. The body styling is more in line with that of a family crossover SUV than a gritty, two-door sports coupe. Automotive geeks and Mustang enthusiasts have panned the decision to put the iconic pony badge on the vehicle as a stain on one of the most iconic names in American motoring history. However, under the same principle of “bad press is better than no press,” Ford still expects the vehicle to entice a number of new customers to the line.

Self-Driving Technology

Self-driving technology is continuing to advance and progress. This decade, we have seen Uber, Tesla, and a number of other companies introduce technology that has made driving possible with various degrees of autonomy. Largely, the results have been tremendous so far, and the safety record has been exceptional. However, no company claims that their self-driving technology is truly complete and dependable just yet.

Even when that does happen, it’s going to take quite a bit of time before the average consumer is ready to accept fully autonomous driving technology as a normal part of day-to-day life. Nearly everyone knows that technology can and does malfunction, and even a small failure could have catastrophic consequences when it concerns a vehicle traveling at high speeds while carrying passengers. However, when operating properly autonomous vehicles completely remove arguably the largest risk factor of driving: the human element. By removing human decision making from the equation, driving could become exponentially safer, faster, and more efficient in the future. Will we see the first fully autonomous car come out over the next decade? It’s possible. However, the mission to get the public to begin to accept this technology will be an even longer and more difficult one.

Colors Will Make a Comeback

The next time you drive by a car dealership, take a quick look at the vehicles on the lot and notice something about their colors. Sure you do still see the occasional red, blue, green, yellow, or some other color, but the overwhelming majority of the inventory comes in one of three colors: black, white, or grey. These colors have been the most popular over the last ten years or so, largely due to two factors: they blend in with traffic and don’t draw attention, they’re generally easy to take care of (for white and gray at least).

However, colors are one aspect of design that changes frequently. We predict that over the next decade, consumers will begin to demand more and more colors once again. You’ll start seeing more blues, greens, yellows, and reds on car lots across the country and more and more of them rolling around on the road as well.

About Christian Brothers Automotive

For more than three decades, Christian Brothers Automotive has been the name car owners have turned to for dependable repairs and maintenance services. Whatever make or model your vehicle may be, our certified technicians have the skill, tools, and equipment to offer you world-class car care and friendly customer service. Whatever the trends may be, we keep up with them so you can keep your vehicle on the road and moving smoothly.

Contact your local Christian Brothers Automotive and schedule your service appointment now.

Posted by, Christian Brothers Automotive