If you've been tracking with our automotive articles, you probably remember that less people are getting their licenses, and those that are driving are driving significantly less, not to mention the impact the rise of the sharing economy has had on cars ownership, with an influx of car sharing services like Uber and Lyft.*
Well John Edson, the president of global design and development company Lunar, has a few predictions of what this ever evolving world will mean for the future of cars, and it's not your fathers automobile. Edson believes more companies will follow suit with Tesla and Apple, and aim to deliver experiences, delivering a seamless buying experience that breathes new life into the car buying process. Social will also have a profound impact, as our cars become extensions of our smart phones, making todays voice activated calling look like child-play. This could also further the pursuit for driverless cars, creating a drive where being in the car is more like being immersed in a private and personalized transport, with low driver involvement.
Following the sharing economy trend and the ZipCar model of wheels when you need them, some manufacturers may respond to the idea of the right car when you need it rather than being tethered to one model. Take for example, subscribing to a membership of a rotating vehicle roster--a van or truck or carpooling service when you need it could replace owning one model of car. Edson certainly has some interesting ideas of the future of cars, and every day with advancements in tech and changes in society, they are looking more and more like the present than the future.
ARTICLE: Fast Company, January 2014
SITE: http://www.fastcodesign.com/3025453/the-car-as-you-know-it-is-dead
* Wow, look at how it's all related!
