Ford forecasts upcoming trends this 2019

Change, although it may sound exciting for many, won’t be always easy to deal with. Technological advancement is no exception to this. With the rapid improvements being introduced nowadays like breakthroughs in electrifications and autonomous driving, people who have limited access to it shares one fear – the fear of change. 

This is observed in the latest Trend Report by Ford, which forecasts the industry shifts for 2019. The report taps into the possible outcomes, as well as the probable drivers of behavioral change this year. If you have been following the news, one of the major topics in the 21st-century car industry are self-driving cars and they are rapidly improving ever since.

Based on a survey Ford conducted in 14 countries, 67% of the subjects would opt for a driverless car, while 87% believes that technology is the biggest driver of change. In addition, the American marque found out that seven out of 10 people say that they are energized by change, while the same ratio of people agreed that everyone should have a mandatory timeout from gadgets and other devices. These insights imply patterns of consumer behavior worldwide, which is believed to influence consumers and corporations starting 2019 and beyond.

While there are those who presume that technology is a force of good, a notable part of the population has reservations regarding change itself, such as the fear of artificial intelligence and its impact on our well-being. Aside from its insights, the Blue Oval also came up with seven trends that will drive the automotive industry and its consumers forward this 2019. Below are seven trends in the automotive industry, as forecasted by Ford:

Technology isn’t accessible by everyone. While you might think it’s easy to play catch-up with the latest additions, a big part of society has limited-to-no access to it. People who have access to technology are said to appreciate its advantages better, while those who don’t are most likely to fear future improvements. Ford tries to eliminate this division by educating its consumers on how to smartly use technology using the available features in its cars, such as the SYNC 3.

Ford continues to look for better ways of making people accountable when it comes to using its available technology. Extensive use of gadgets and even the internet drains us both mentally and emotionally. This can result in stress, and Ford wants to eliminate this challenge by studying high-performance drivers’ brains. The goal is to provide drivers the proper way of controlling stress, which can be observed in the mentioned type of drivers.

Now, with awareness comes the feeling of a need for action. This is one of the main desires of those who have become aware of their device-dependency – regaining control over their lives. In this case, Ford conducted empathy research involving professors, tri-athletes, and everyday citizens to understand their shared needs and habits.

With various forms of social media that are freely accessible to anyone, we all have different personas that we only get to live online. This does not only affect one’s image but also his or her behavior. It impacts the way they buy, wear, and drive, which all involves technology, to begin with. Understanding this, Ford believes that a vehicle is a reflection, or even an extension, of a driver’s sense of self. This is why the brand makes sure that Ford vehicles answer to the needs of its occupants, not only in terms of comfort but variations of functionality that goes along with varying lifestyles.

As the economy booms and falls, people are left to adjust, changing our perception of work. Instead of living to work, employees strive to work hard to be able to live. This is why companies come up with competitive benefits, extended paid leaves, and career perks alike. Ford take this matter in full dedication by offering its employees with its 30 under 30 program, where young employees may take paid time away to experience philanthropic organizations. This enables them, as Ford believes, to give back to the community. 

In able for us to achieve improvements in making our environments clean, it is a known fact that change must begin within ourselves. Individually, shifts in people’s lifelong habits are believed to be the key to making our surroundings safe for future generations. Most toxic gases come from combustion, and cars are among the elements that utilize combustion. CO2 emission rate must be reduced, and Ford’s help in this campaign by investing 16 fully electric vehicles within a global portfolio of 40 green cars through 2022. 

The idea of maximizing productivity while inside the car, may it be off to work or on the way home is indeed a great one to play around. People spend more time inside a confined cabin on wheels than the amount of paid vacation leaves they get throughout a single year. With this, the idea of self-driving vehicles enters the picture – and Ford believes it is the closest to perfect way where commuters and car owners may perform other tasks on the road, outside the office. In August 2017, Ford patents removable steering wheel and pedals, which should be the spark of developing future autonomous vehicles bearing the Blue Oval.