JULY - AUGUST 2019AUTOTECHOUTLOOK.COM8Since the development of the first automobile at the turn of the twentieth century, people have had big dreams for this revolutionary method of transportation. Ideas spawned from the elaborate to the unattainable--with a generous dose of inspiration from science fiction. And as revolutionary as that first automobile was more than a century ago--today's options just might have tested the limits of our grandparents' and great-grandparents' imaginations. Vehicles have become more affordable, more attainable, and more reliable--and they are built to be smart and connected. In the words of futurist Kevin Kelly: "The future happens slowly...and then all at once." Looking back, this is especially relevant to the automotive industry where, for decades, creatives and engineers alike have offered visions on the future state of the automotive industry and, more broadly, transportation. With the advent of new technologies and innovations, these early visions are now on the cusp of reality."Detroit to Atlantic City...on its own [electric] power" ­ advertisement from The Anderson Carriage Company circa 1910Consumers and gearheads alike might be startled to know that one of today's hottest new technologies--the electric car--isn't so new after all. A hundred years ago, electric engines were serious competitors for combustion engines. In fact, according to the U.S. Department of Energy, electric vehicles made up about a third of all cars driven during the turn of the century. Today, they are better positioned than ever to become mainstream. That's not the only new automotive innovation with deep roots finally going mainstream. New technologies have recently emerged that go beyond a traditional history report to show a holistic view of the vehicle's soundness and quality. For decades, external databases might show a vehicle's ownership and accident history, title status, date of last oil change, and last known mileage. But how many people, over the years, have wished a car could talk and share more color beyond this simple transactional information? The good news is that modern vehicles collect, store, and share reams of information. From how the vehicle is driven to the efficiency of its engine, transmission, brakes and more--vehicles today keep tabs on far more. Data collected directly from vehicles shows far more than what a buyer could see by cracking open the hood and looking up a VIN online. Technologies that translate this raw data into actionable intelligence will shed light on the health, inner-workings, and condition of both the overall vehicle as well as its various systems. This deeper-dive into a vehicle's data has the power to transform the buying and selling process for individual consumers, dealerships, and fleet owners. But as we look to the future, even how we capture, share, and evaluate the simple transactional information about a car is CONNECTED CARS: THE FUTURE OF THE AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRY IS HERE AND NOWBy Don Gottwald, Chief Strategy Officer & President of Digital Data, & Mobility Solutions, KAR Auction Services, Inc.IN MYOPINIONDon Gottwald
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