Automobile technology continues to advance dramatically year after year, transforming vehicles from simple machines into sophisticated, connected tech hubs on wheels. This rapid evolution is rooted in manufacturers’ desire to offer the latest engineering advancements, enhance safety, and differentiate their products in a competitive global market. The worlds of technology and cars are now inextricably linked. This dependence will only strengthen as we move toward full autonomy and electrification.
This article delves into modern automotive technology, explaining how car brands collaborate with technological giants and what these deep partnerships deliver to you, the consumer.
The Symbiosis Between Automakers and Tech Giants
Since the early 2000s, vehicles have become exponentially more complex. While a car remains an array of mechanical parts, the electronic complexity is staggering. A single modern vehicle can contain up to 100 electronic control units (ECUs) and an estimated 30,000 components.
This complexity is why technology companies are deeply invested in the automotive industry. They supply far more than just emergency braking systems or car radios. Modern automotive technology encompasses:
- Connectivity: 5G modules and over-the-air (OTA) update capabilities.
- Advanced Driver-Assistance Systems (ADAS): Sophisticated safety features like lane-keeping assist and adaptive cruise control.
- Infotainment Systems: Integrated software platforms for navigation, communication, and media.
- Electrification Components: Battery management systems, inverters, and charging hardware.
The Tiered Ecosystem of Automotive Suppliers
The companies that supply these technological products to automotive brands are classified into tiers. Although the lines are increasingly blurred due to joint ventures and acquisitions. This system dictates who sells to whom:
- Tier 3 Suppliers: These manufacturers handle raw materials, basic parts, or commodity items, such as wiring harnesses, specific microchips, or specialized metals, supplying them to Tier 2 companies.
- Tier 1 Suppliers: These companies, such as Bosch, Continental, and ZF, have direct contracts with car manufacturers (OEMs). They supply major assemblies and systems like braking systems, full infotainment clusters, and powertrain components. You can find this info with window sticker by VIN for any vehicle on US market.
- Tier 2 Suppliers: These companies manufacture subcomponents, modules (like audio processors or sensor parts), and provide them directly to Tier 1 suppliers.
Latest Automotive Trends: Autonomy and AI
The most significant trend is the emergence of fully driverless vehicles. Self-driving cars are no longer a dream; they are currently being tested and deployed in various urban environments.
- Impact on Safety: This technology is primarily driven by safety. Industry experts anticipate a boom for self-driving technology in the upcoming decade. Hopefully, it will drastically decrease human error and the number of traffic fatalities witnessed globally each year.
- The AI Race: Automakers and tech companies have formed intense joint ventures to accelerate the development of autonomous technology.
- Major Players: Technology giants like Waymo (Alphabet/Google) are now operating fully driverless taxi fleets in cities like Phoenix and San Francisco. Meanwhile, Cruise (General Motors) and various partnerships between traditional OEMs and deep-learning companies like NVIDIA are pushing the envelope in hardware and AI software development.
For instance, Google and Apple are working on independent mobility projects and creating new software and hardware for driverless machines. Another technology giant, Waymo, has impressed the automotive community with a driverless fleet of cars. Tech companies go the extra mile to be cautious with such inventions and make them safe for further road usage. ClearVIN expects a boom for self-driving technology in the upcoming decade. We hope it will decrease the number of fatalities American roads witness yearly.
Final Word
The car you buy today is an integration of world-class automotive engineering and cutting-edge software development. To ensure you understand the full history and specifications of this complex machine, an independent check is crucial.
A comprehensive VIN check is your innovative choice for revealing vehicle specifications by VIN. Providers like ClearVIN gather relevant information from databases to grant you access to accurate motor vehicle reports, aiding you in looking into the vehicle’s past.
Understanding the vehicle’s history including any past accident damage, title status, or important recall campaigns is the final step in making a confident and informed purchase decision.
