Self-driving cars are not a new concept. During the 1400s, Leonardo da Vinci sketched out a hypothetical self-driving cart. Nowadays, this idea is an inevitable reality, with companies like Tesla, Google, and Apple all working to develop completely autonomous vehicles. Thanks to technological developments in computing power, digital mapping, global positioning (GPS), and sensor systems, fully self-driving cars are only a few years away.
Self-driving cars can be divided into five different levels of autonomy, with Level 5 being completely self-driving. Level 3 and 4 vehicles with advanced driver assistance features,such as automatic braking, are already on the market.
This kind of technology could be set to disrupt the automotive industry. Read on to find out how!
Unless They Adapt, Automotive Companies Could Lose Profits
Though exciting to think about, self-driving cars could have a negative impact on sales and profits for the automotive industry in the long-term.
Firstly, the convenience of self-driving cars could lead to a reduced need for car ownership. With the touch of a button, a driverless vehicle will be able to pick up and drop off multiple passengers. Rather than owning one car or more, people maybe able to save money by relying on ride-hailing services like Uber and Lyft and their fleets of self-driving cars. This is bad news for the automotive industry, as sales of new and used cars may fall.
Similarly, fewer car owners can mean less service work, which could also be detrimental to auto shops. Having said that, auto service technician course graduates may find that while there are fewer cars, the vehicles that are in circulation spend much more time on the road, necessitating more upkeep and maintenance.
Automotive companies also have the opportunity to benefit from this innovation, should they choose to invest in it. Companies like Google and Apple are currently leading the way in driverless car technology, and it’s important that automakers also innovate in this area to avoid being left behind.
Those with Auto Careers Should Know That Self-Driving Cars Could Save Lives
The majority of car accidents are caused by human error. With the introduction of self-driving cars,incidents involving a driver who is tired, drunk, or distracted by a mobile phone could become a thing of the past.
Autonomous Vehicles Can Even Reduce CO2 Emissions
The auto industry is one of the biggest contributors to greenhouse gases. Although there’s been some debate about their fuel efficiency, self-driving vehicles nonetheless have the potential to significantly reduce CO2 emissions.
They are likely to be more fuel-efficient than regular vehicles thanks to better aerodynamics, lightweight designs, and having no driver to press too hard on the gas. Additionally, many self-driving cars will likely be designed as entirely electric or hybrid vehicles, which will also help to reduce CO2 emissions.
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