Last Updated on April 10, 2024 by Admin
Just a couple of years ago, the safety pitch for a top-end car was all about the number of airbags it had, and how sturdy its frame is. Today, things have changed dramatically, with the emphasis no longer on mitigating the impact of an accident but on preventing it altogether.
This shift from passive to more active safety measures in modern automobiles has done more than just increase the base price of new car models. In fact, entire manufacturing and supply chains at automotive giants have had to be altered to accommodate these new features.
In this article, we uncover the transformations that these changes have brought about to the broader automotive industry, and the many more that still lay ahead.
Table of Contents
Tech-Driven Safety
What truly defines the safety features of today is that it is entirely digitalized and tech-driven. Things such as autonomous emergency braking systems, and adaptive cruise control have since turned cars into complex electronic devices.
On average, a modern automobile today features anywhere between 1,000 to 3,000 semiconductor chips, and the cost of the electronics systems within a car has increased from 18% in 2000 to over 44% in 2024.
These are absolutely staggering numbers, and highlight the magnitude of change that has taken place over the years. This, of course, comes with substantial challenges and threats, such as what was just witnessed during the semiconductor glut in 2022.
Manufacturing: Rising To The Challenge
Automotive manufacturing tech and systems have had to pivot quite significantly to incorporate these new innovations into vehicles.
For many of these new-age gizmos, it isn’t just about fitting extra sensors or tweaking internal software, but rather a top-to-bottom overhaul of the manufacturing system, including how cars are designed and modeled.
The introduction of injection molding giga presses, for example, helped bring down the number of parts in a car substantially, making them a lot more stable. Similarly, novel new tech such as IIOT, drones, and robotic arms are helping deal with the complexities that come with new-age automobiles.
The Ripple Effects
The tech revolution on wheels has far-reaching implications, beyond what even the most consummate industry professionals could have anticipated. To start with, this new tech is setting new benchmarks and compelling changes to safety standards, while pushing regulatory bodies to update their own frameworks.
Beyond this, there have been massive implications for the broader tech industry, alongside automotive vendors and suppliers. The demand for semiconductors, as you can expect, is through the roof, and new technologies such as LIDAR and computer vision are emerging at breakneck speeds.
The biggest implication of all this, however, is in the realm of safety. According to a lawyer from Vaughan and Vaughan, who predominantly deal with semi-truck accident cases, the increasing tech-enabled automation features will soon make major accidents involving loss of life a relic of the past.
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Looking Down The Road
So, what’s next on this journey? The road ahead is promising, with developments like fully autonomous vehicles on the horizon. These cars, equipped with an array of sensors, cameras, and AI, could redefine vehicle safety as we know it, potentially reducing accidents caused by human error to near zero.
But let’s not put the cart before the horse. While fully autonomous cars are still in the testing phase, the focus remains on advancing and integrating current technologies. The challenge for manufacturers is to make these features more accessible, ensuring that safety isn’t just a luxury but a standard accessible to all.
Final Words
To sum things up, the landscape of vehicle safety technology is evolving at an unprecedented pace, fundamentally altering the manufacturing process and setting new standards for safety. As we embrace these advancements, the promise of safer roads becomes more tangible, illustrating a future where driving is not just about mobility but about arriving safely every time.
