Auto Industry: 7 Emerging Trends

The automotive industry is operating in an acute transition mode, thanks to the economic, technological, political,.etc influences. And while car manufacturers administer their own tweaks to their products, OEM's and auto part manufacturers would have to deal with their own set of challenges to adapt.

Several, emerging trends in the automotive engineering are evident as highlighted at PR Web.

1. Turbocharging will be popular again:

As a consequence of skyrocketing fuel prices smaller engines that generate more power would need to be built. Turbocharging already prevails in Europe, it would be in the US too by as early as 2010.

2. Internal combustion engine will evolve.

While the internal combustion engine stays, it will take on newer avatars owing to alternative fuel technologies used to drive the engines. For instance, plug-in vehicles, battery- powered cars and fuel cells powered automobiles. At the same time requiring, that the engines are ever more efficient.

3. Emergence of Biofuels

Biofeuls are likely to become popular in many parts of the world. For OEMs this means that they must rely on fail-safe materials due to a lack of standards for biodiesel. In Brazil use of biofuels has already achieved independence from petroleum fuel sources.

4. Consolidation of automotive fluids within assembly plants

Systems and processes for assembly plants meant to achieve less complex inventory management of fluids would be needed. And that this trend has already led to consolidation efforts that rely on multiple-use fluids.

5. Continuing vehicle electrification

Today as a result of advancements in electronics, most advanced electronic items can be added within the confines of 14-volt electrical systems. Consequently, most automobiles can be steered or braked electronically without voltage architecture beyond 14 volts. More systems will come under the electrical system reach.

6. The need to manufacture environment friendly refrigerants

A 2011 EU standard aims to eliminate the use of R-134a, the A/C system refrigerant currently used worldwide. The following are three options for OEMs based on their location:

7. Emergence of Round-the-Globe Engineering

Major OEMs are setting up development centers around the globe. While Asian OEMs prefer satellite centers that take principal direction from a larger parent center, the North American model seems to allow these centers a given specific platform (and powertrain) development responsibility. And this necessitates local sourcing as well as local engineering and materials decision-making.

And BTW, see if you can afford to miss the 2008 Paris Motor Show.