Our second day at Further with Ford 2015 was packed full of information! Seminars about trends, panel discussions, demonstrations and then more seminars! Did I mention this reminded me of those week-long training boot camps? Lots of information crammed into a couple of days but it was fun! Let’s go over some of the main 2015 car trends that is shaping our future.
Further With Ford: Automation
Automation. It’s already all around us and will become an even bigger part of our lives whether we like it or not. Advances in technology it will become a driving force in much of everything we do. You can look at any modern Ford vehicle to see this in effect. The 2016 Ford F150 will come with a feature called Pro Trailer Back-up Assist. Back-up a trailer like a pro without ever having to touch the steering wheel (Click HERE to see it in action).
Genevieve Bell showing a slide from the 50’s and talking about man’s journey with automation.
Fully autonomous technology is not that far away from being implemented. Ford predicts that within five years they can have fully autonomous vehicles on the road in the right areas. You might feel hesitant to give up control but population growth in the world and the predicted congestion increase we may mean we don’t have any choice but to allow autonomous driving.
Ken Washington talking about Ford moving from the Research and Discovery phase into the Advanced Engineering Phase. Next step will be actual Vehicle programs.
Further With Ford: Sustainability
Sustainable thinking is not new but the ways we can obtain sustainability is ever evolving largely due to advances in technology. Not a moment too soon either. Think traffic congestion is bad now? Wait until 2050 when the amount of cars on the road is expected to double to over 2 BILLION! The scenario is a little scary considering we don’t have the space or the resources to have that many cars on the road.
Mike Tinskey speaking on Electrification, Infrastructure and remotely driven vehicles
We’ll also start to see more people move into large cities, changing the way we move around there. Developing new technologies can alleviate some of the negative effects on the environment and natural resources. Simple things like finding a parking spot is being worked on. That’s why Ford has been working on the Parking Spotter program that leverages existing sensors in vehicles to find open parking spots. The information is shared in the cloud and can be accessed by other drivers. This in turn helps reduce fuel consumption, emissions and it saves time.
Remotely driving cars are also being worked on. Someone could one day drive a car into a parking garage and then someone remotely moves your car to a less dense area. It’s a system that is being tested now with golf carts but could very soon find its way into vehicles.
We can’t talk about sustainability without talking about farms. We’re seeing a shift into using the things we grow on farms like corn, tomatoes and soybeans into our vehicles. Plastic-like materials can be produced from corn, which in turn can make things like upholstery, carpets, and interior trim. Environmentally friendly (materials which can be composted in 60-120 days) and it helps produce products that would otherwise be made from oil. Farming, it’s just not just for food.
Further With Ford: Generation X, Y, Z
Would you share your ride with another person? The answer differs depending on which generation you belong, Gen X Y, or Z. The focus is largely on the younger generations, Gen Y and Z. Gen X/Y are 56% more likely to ride share and studies have shown that younger generations don’t look at cars the same way older generations do. Cars are not the status symbols they once were with many not viewing car ownership as being absolutely necessary.
Sheryl Connelly speaking on the ABC’s of Generation XYZ
My generation, Gen Y is 53% likely to buy a new car in the next 18 months. We’re also more open to ride sharing, look for ways to make money with our belongings and stay young forever. I can attest to this as mentally I still feel like I’m 20 and I’m always looking to make a few extra bucks! We’re also very connected, we have embraced technology but Gen Z is doing that to an even greater extent. Gen Z is the first truly global generation.
2015 Car Trends
It’s smart that Ford and other companies have been thinking outside the box by closely examining current trends. By doing this they are looking to prepare for the future and keep us moving safely and efficiently no matter where we are. I can’t wait to see how the automotive scene continues to unfold.
How do you feel about these current trends?
** Thanks to Henry for covering this event for me.
Written By: Henry Lee
I was invited to a media event with all travel expenses covered. All opinions are that of the contributing author.
