By Being Aware of New Trends, Auto-Engineers Can Help Manage Risks

A fast-evolving industry always presents great challenges for companies operating within it. With new trends emerging every year, the automotive sector is an exciting but difficult market for manufacturers. Carmakers are often forced to adapt their production processes due to changing demands, governmental regulations and technological innovations. Get a comprehensive outlook on car production in our automotive industry reports.

Therefore, since the profitability of an automotive company is strongly linked to the efficiency of the vehicle manufacturing process, OEMs (Original Equipment Manufacturers) must pay great attention to the latest trends in car production. This also includes manufacturers' new investments to increase production capacity by creating new plants. For instance Volvo intends to invest $500 million in US plant to increase domestic sales.

With the evolution of engineering and production technology, especially in digital modelling and machinery, the time needed to create car prototypes has been drastically reduced.

This has resulted in the ability of manufacturers to quickly design new vehicles, test their safety, and introduce the new models to potential customers. The increasing use of robots has so improved the final production process that new product lines can be brought to market in a much shorter period of time. However, production problems (linked to defectuous parts) still exist and force companies to proceed to numerous recalls (e.g. Fiat Chrysler 26,000 car recall in North America)

This page is meant to introduce two main production trends that car manufacturers must consider in order to stay relevant in an evolving industry: the development of new governmental regulations and the evolution of car design.

Automobile Aesthetics Are Adapting to Consumers’ New Lifestyle

When buying a vehicle, two criteria (other than the price) are usually considered first: how does it look, and how does it feel (both behind the wheel and as a passenger). Industrial designers (who according to Indeed are paid an average salary of $82,000) are hired to make sure that both the outside and the inside of a car are well adapted to the needs of the intended buyer.

Every year, hot trends appear, both in exterior and interior design, and analysts use these trends to predict how automobiles will evolve in the near future.

The disappearance of sharp angles (replaced by elegant curved shapes), the use of lighter materials, larger wheels, more dazzling headlights, and better aerodynamics are some of the up-and-coming characteristics in cars’ exterior aesthetics.

What about the inside? Specialists expect that increased simplifications of dashboard layout, more panoramic roof options, and the domination of the automatic gearbox will shape the future of in-car design.

Governmental Rules and Legislation Controlling and Restricting Auto Engineers

Whether they concern general road safety or the environmental impact of motor engines, restrictions within the industry have always forced automotive engineers to adapt their designs to pre-determined boundaries. PWC mentions as examples: regulations on fuel economy and safety-related features such as backup cameras and autonomous driving systems (that states like Virginia allowed to be tested).

Although a part of their freedom in creating innovative prototypes has been taken away, their creativity is still required to sustain the business as a whole by reducing the number of traffic fatalities (which according to the World Health Organization still represent 1.24 million deaths per year worldwide in 2013) and enhancing the eco-friendliness of vehicles.

You might be interested in:

• New trends in technology are shaping the car of tomorrow. More in-vehicle connectivity and “green” or energy-efficient engines are the hot trends presented in this section.
• The evolution of auto users’ demand offers brand new challenges for car manufacturers. New regions are booming and new opportunities in mature markets represent exciting trends to follow.