Auto manufacturers have no option other than to realign their strategies in order to accommodate the looming revolution. Connected and electric cars are already on our roads. And the reality of fully-autonomous cars is coming closer and closer. Technology is helping auto companies to not only modernize their manufacturing processes but also to gather, manage, and analyze data. There’s also tons of data being generated by vehicles themselves All of this data will soon be the guiding factor for the automotive industry going forward.

Here are five trends that will be playing a key role in making rides smoother, safer, and more efficient.

1.) Vehicle VPNs and automotive cybersecurity

We might not quite be there yet, but we are for sure on the verge of completely adopting autonomous vehicles. There has been a lot of talk surrounding self-driven vehicles, especially in regard to their safety and security. But the promise of connected and autonomous vehilces, and vehicle-to-everything (V2X) communcation, also opens up new avenues for hackers to attack our cars.

Virtual Private Networks (VPNs), which allow users to create secure and private connections across even public networks, have been around for some time now. They even allow you to appear online as if you’re in another country. They have been successfully deployed by consumers and businesses as well as in many high-risk cybersecurity situations, including safeguarding government data.

With the rise of connected vehicles, it is now clear that car owners and manufacturers are going to be adopting VPNs and other cybersecurity solutions to protect their connected and autonomous cars from cybersecurity threats.

(Image source: Microchip Technology)

2.) Multimodal mobility

New options like ridesharing, e-scooters, and electric bikes are transforming the way we think about transportation. Powerful tools have made Big Data collection and analysis seamless. When this data is harnessed under a public-private partnership, it starts to bring flexible, multimodal mobility solutions to life. We are already witnessing this partnership change the travel and tourism industry through white-label journey planning apps. Going forward, urban transportation will get more efficient, streamlined, and, in the long run, sustainable thanks to the adoption of multimodal mobility.

(Image source: VeoRide)

3.) AI that understands drivers and passengers

Real-time Big Data analysis enables vehicles to recognize user preferences and automatically adjust their settings in order to make rides more comfortable and customized. Image recognition and processing technologies are also being integrated into cars as a way of training vehicles to identify their owners and users without the need of car keys. Systems like the one being developed by Affectiva can even recognize the emotional states of drivers and passengers. Deep learning is already helping fleet operators monitor drivers remotely. Farther into the future, AI and brain-to-vehicle technologies will also be instrumental in the actualization of driverless car technology.

(Image source: Affectiva)

4.) Vehicle-to-everything (V2X) communication

Decision making in our roads is now based on real-time, accurate, and well-analyzed data thanks to the Internet of Things (IoT). V2X technology is bringing connected cars to our roads that will have the ability to capture and digest data from other vehicles and infrastructure, and then act upon that data in order to make our roads safer and more efficient. IoT connectivity will allow vehicles to assess the effectiveness of different features such as their braking and steering systems, perform predictive maintenance, and even update a their firmware and software without human intervention. Experts agree, V2X will get a big boost from the emergence of 5G as well.

(Image source: NXP Semiconductors

5.) More sensors on the road

Cars are already packed with sensors, and more and more advanced sensors such as LiDAR and even thermal are implemented into autonomous cars. But more sensors will also be coming to our roads. Road scanning will be using sensors and cameras to scan the road ahead, identifying any possible imperfections or hitches. Smart vehicles will then use that information to adjust their routes accordingly.WaveSense, a Boston-based sensor company, for example, is using ground-penetrating radar to help vehicles map topography.

(Image source: WaveSense)