What Are the Best Automotive Technology Innovations of 2021?

Not too long ago, some of the newest innovations in automotive technology were only incorporated in high-end models. Thankfully, this is no longer the case; in 2021, even budget cars include state-of-the-art safety features and top spec adaptations. For those keen to embrace the latest in automotive technology, we look at a range of new features to look out for in 2021.

1. Autonomous Vehicles

With a spate of fatal accidents to their credit, autonomous vehicles (AVs) have made headlines for all the wrong reasons. Nevertheless, the concept of “driverless” cars is here to stay. The United States is currently participating in a global race to make AVs the norm, with virtually all of the country’s major car manufacturers offering vehicles with some level of autonomy.

Experts estimate that the global AV market could be worth more than $556 billion by 2026. Despite the aforementioned bad press, research suggests that there could be up to 4.5 million self-driving cars on American roads by 2035.

Minimizing the need for human drivers creates not only an opportunity to transform our daily lives, but also the potential for a revolutionary transformation of other industries. In addition to being used for deliveries, fleets of AVs could be relied upon to make public transportation safer and reduce accidents caused by driver negligence or fatigue.

2. Advanced Driver-Assistance Systems

Several automobile manufacturers are incorporating innovative technology in new models to make life easier in traffic and protect us from hazards. Some modern vehicles can even park the car for you. These systems often come as a bundle, such as Toyota’s Safety Sense, Subaru’s EyeSight, or Ford’s Co-Pilot360.

Key features to look out for include the following:

- Adaptive cruise control, which keeps your car traveling at a set speed, but accelerating or decelerating autonomously to ensure that it maintains a safe distance from the car ahead.

- Blind-spot alert, which notifies the driver when an object appears in their blind spot.

- Lane-departure warning, which notifies the driver if their car starts to drift out of their lane.

- Lane-keep assist, which involves the vehicle’s intervention by steering to keep itself in a particular lane.

- Cross-traffic alert, which notifies the driver if there is cross traffic when they are backing out of a driveway or parking space, with some systems indicating the direction from which that traffic is coming.

- Reverse-brake assist, which applies the brakes if the driver is reversing and the system detects an object behind the car.

3. Electric Cars

The global shift toward electric vehicles (EVs) is steadily accelerating, albeit not as quickly as conservationists would like. Of the 250 million cars, pickups, SUVs, and vans on American roads today, the vast majority run on gasoline, with less than 1 percent powered by electricity.

Despite a lukewarm initial response, automobile manufacturers are increasingly investing in electric product lines. Analysts predict that by 2035, electric cars could account for up to 25 percent of all car sales. However, with older cars having a lifespan of 10–20 years, experts estimate that even by 2035, just 13 percent of cars on the roads will be electric. Even by 2050, when EVs are predicted to account for up to 60 percent of new sales, most vehicles will continue to run on gasoline, with slow fleet turnover cited as a major sticking point for climate policy.

4. Magic Body Control

Exclusive to Mercedes-Benz, this specially designed system observes, pre-empts, and reacts to irregular road surfaces, helping the driver avoid dips and potholes that could cause serious damage to the vehicle. In milliseconds, the system reacts by adjusting suspension motion, enabling the driver to drive smoothly over the road anomaly without risking damage to the vehicle.

5. Connectivity

Smartphones play an ever-increasing role in our lives. With this in mind, today’s automobile manufacturers are keen to take advantage of smartphone capability. Most manufacturers offer connected smartphone apps. Nevertheless, some are better than others.

The most advanced connected mobile apps incorporate a wide range of features, including the ability to check tire pressure and fuel level, lock and unlock car doors remotely, and start the car remotely, a particularly handy feature on a cold winter’s morning. The digital key incorporates an extra layer of security, ensuring that only the driver’s phone connects with the car.

6. Teen Driver Technology

General Motors’ Teen Driver suite incorporates an impressive range of features. Available in some new GMC, Buick, Cadillac, and Chevrolet car, SUV, and truck models, Teen Drivers puts parents’ minds at ease when handing over the keys to inexperienced new drivers.

The system encompasses a range of safety alerts and interventions, including disabling the audio when seatbelts are not in use, limiting volume on the sound system, and filtering out explicit content. It can also notify parents not only if the car exceeds a certain speed, but also if safety systems like forward collision alert or ABS were triggered while their child was driving.