Injection Moulding Asia Automotive Industry
Navigating the future with concept cars The automotive industry is going through a period of
BCG suggests that OEMs will need to expand their R&D capabilities in electronics and software. For instance, the demand these days is for vehicles to be fitted with mobile devices. This demand is being met, BCG says, adding that it is fortunate that mobile devices are now cheaper, and thus do not add too much to production costs. Moreover, heightened regulatory compliance (lower carbon emissions, and therefore the use of renewable energy to power cars), and also the need for lightweight materials are pushing the development of concept cars.
decline – a phase that could also be a wake-up call for car makers, OEMs and parts suppliers to devise novel ways to uplift the industry. A good starting point would be to tap the emerging breed of tech-savvy consumers who are eager to get behind the wheels of concept cars featuring e-mobility and connectivity, says Angelica Buan in this report.
Taking into consideration the needs of the young o cater to customers in emerging markets, who are much younger, car makers are making a play on technology. French firm Renault, through its subsidiary in India, has built its first concept car outside Europe, which will be marketed to young customers in India. The Kwid concept has its very own unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), which Renault’s Kwid features seats that are suspended could help the over a solid base in white, with a two-tone driver scout elastomer material, inspired by a bird’s nest ahead for traffic, take aerial photos of the surrounding landscape and detect obstacles on the road. Said to be the first of its kind in the automotive world, the Flying Companion is stored in a rotating rear portion of the Kwid’s roof when not in use. When activated, the panel slides open and the quadrocopter - named after the device’s four motors - can be operated in one of two modes. Though the Kwid resembles an off-road buggy thanks to the oversized wings, mud guards and wheel arches, Renault says the car will come in a two-wheel drive instead of four.
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hen Google recently showed a novel computerised and self-driving concept car, without a steering wheel, brake or accelerator and only functional buttons to manipulate the movement of the car and a computer screen to show the route, the industry had gotten the signal that we are indeed ushering in a bolder and more advanced phase of technology-driven cars. However, consumer markets seek practicality and functionality in cars rather than merely a showcase of the almost infiniteness of technology. According to US consultant McKinsey & Co, consumers want more connectivity, active safety and ease of use. Another research firm, Boston Consulting Group (BCG), also says that global automotive companies are exploring solutions to provide connectivity, active safety and assisted driving. These features, combined with fuel economy and cost competitiveness, are challenging automotive makers, OEMs and parts suppliers.
Lightweighting still a heavy factor hile hybrids and electrics may hog the headlines, the real frontier in fuel economy is the switch to lightweight materials. According to financial services firm Morgan Stanley, by shaving off 50 kg in each of the 1 billion cars on the roads, US$40 billion in fuel could be saved a year.
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Google, which has been demonstrating its driverless technology for several years by retrofitting Toyotas, Lexuses and other cars with cameras and sensors, has unveiled a prototype of its own. The company plans to build about 100 prototype vehicles and begin testing them. It says it eventually hopes to partner with a vehicle maker to produce the self-driving vehicles instead of building them itself
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