2015 is proving to be a year of record auto sales for the Canadian automotive industry. A surprising amount of cars were sold during the cold winter months, leading into an impressive spring, with sales of light vehicles rising almost 6% in April compared to last year.
There’s no doubt that as cars become more advanced, our desire to buy new models increases. What are some of the industry trends that will be driving customers into showrooms over the rest of the year?
Here’s a look at some of the major developments coming our way in 2015.
The Slimmed-Down F-Series Pickup Line from Ford
With a growing focus on fuel economy in recent years, students looking to become an automotive technician know that automakers are focusing on building lighter, more aerodynamic vehicles. Ford switched to aluminum for the body and bed of their popular 2015 F-series pickup, cutting the weight by 700 pounds on one of North America’s best-selling vehicles.
The new model with an aluminum frame was tested for more than 10 million miles in its prototype phase, including customers who agreed to use the trucks in construction, mining and electric utility work. Customers who may be concerned about the toughness of the new aluminum frame can rest assured that the pickups are able to carry more and tow more than previous models – holding true to the brand’s slogan “Built Ford Tough”.
Ford’s not alone, however, in the performance and fuel economy pickup game; other major US automakers are competing to take the #1 spot, such as Toyota and Nissan who both released new pickup models this year.
Subcompact SUVs Taking a Portion of the Automotive Market
Compact SUVs like the Honda CR-V and the Toyota RAV 4 have remained popular, but a few new models were introduced this year that are making their mark. Tiny crossovers like the Jeep Renegade, Chevrolet Trax and Honda HR-V are cheaper than their slightly larger siblings, and also feature improved safety features and better fuel efficiency.
Aimed at young urban adventurers, students hoping to pursue a career in auto should know that these compact vehicles are predicted to make an explosion on the market in the next few years.
The Evolution of In-Car Technology
Now that more automakers are building cars with lighter bodies and better powertrains to tackle fuel efficiency, vehicle’s infotainment systems are the next piece of technology to iron out. Brands are designing their in-car technology to become safer and more easy to use.
Ford was one of the early leaders with their MyFordTouch system, for example, but is going for a complete redesign in favor of a system that is more user-friendly. Companies like GM and Audi are introducing 4G LTE into their new technology, and with cars becoming moving Wi-Fi hotspots, the ability to send and receive data quickly can one day lead to the remote fixing of problems. Mechanics being trained to perform remote diagnostics sounds like an exciting possibility for students attending mechanic college!
What auto trends do you think will hit it big in 2015?
