Trends of the automotive industry in Australia
The auto industry is an industry that registers massive technological transformations at an alarming rate. Trends in this sector keep emerging due to the constant developments in technology and science. Australia has had its fair share of these trends and while some are gradual, others are drastic and cause transformation over a short period. But nonetheless, automotive trends come and go, so here are 5 Trends of the automotive industry in Australia
3D printing
Saving money as well as enhancing safety through 3.D printing is one among the emerging trends. From car parts to entire automotive concepts, 3D printing is the next big thing.
3D printing has begun to emerge areas, such as the basic car-construction done by mainstream car makers as well as the new entrants such as Local Motors, which is a low-volume open-source car manufacturer. 3D printing is especially liked for its cost-effectiveness, enabling manufacturers to build car parts, challenging today’s basic approach to car-design.
Driverless Cars and autonomous cars
The driverless car concept is rapidly shifting from sci-fi to reality. Just recently, Ford announced it intends to produce an autonomous vehicle by 2021, and Tesla & Google are challenging legal restrictions to driverless cars. 2017 will see various new autonomous functionality coming up in nearly every new car.
These capabilities, such as self-parking as well as adaptive cruise-control will be made available from nearly every auto OEM (original equipment manufacturer,) in new vehicles.
Shrinking Cars
Micro-cars are set to invade the Australian market. Suzuki started the trend last year with the tiny 1.0-litre Alto and now Mitsubishi has confirmed it will import a city runabout to sit beneath the smallest car in its current line-up, the Colt.
In 2016 the average car was three inches smaller than the same model in 2005, and six inches smaller than 1995. Cars, trucks and SUVs, of all makes and models, have been put on a diet and it isn’t because people are shrinking.
Manufacturers tell us it’s because engines no longer need the same space to perform the same function. Today’s engines can deliver the same amount of horsepower in fewer cubic inches.
Car And Ride Sharing
The explosion of car and ride sharing services in Australia such as Uber, GoGet and Flexicar are changing the way people view car ownership. The young city dwellers are more likely to go in for a ride share instead of owning a car. The benefits for them are obvious: no maintenance and no storage are two examples.
Using car and ride sharing as one of the ways of creating new residual value in these cars in a bid to engaging with a new consumer demographic.
More auto OEMs are making moves such as creating dealer networks and lease organisations that can deal with partial ownership and vehicle servicing
Electric Cars
I’m sure you know by now that the price of petrol is rising, therefore, the auto industry is in a race to create affordable, attractive and user-friendly electric vehicles. It hasn’t been easy. That’s mostly because the current electric cars have a small range of motion, expensive batteries and limited places to recharge them. The number hybrid and electric are rising everyday in Australia, companies like Telsa and Honda are one of the most popular ones in Australia.
One question that we all face when we want to buy a car is, should I get a new car or a used car?
New cars or Used cars
There are a lot of benefits of purchasing new cars. You can get the latest technology. Most new cars come with Bluetooth phone connectivity, so you can use your phone legally while driving, without having to purchase an aftermarket Bluetooth interface.
Fuel efficiency has been steadily improving as new models are introduced. You’ll know that there’s no wear and tear on your new ride. Automobiles come from the factory with warranty coverage for at least the first three years or 36,000 miles, whichever comes first.
If the car is more than three to five years old, it is unlikely that you will have any warranty coverage and it is recommended to get cash for car. If you buy an extended warranty yourself, you’ll be financially exposed if any major repairs are needed. In some cases you might receive more directly from a yard for cash for junk car or car disposal.
When you buy a Preowned car, you won’t be able to be as picky about features or colours as you would be if you were ordering a new car from a dealership.