A full electric always has this doubt of being stuck without juice. But a hybrid will have the answers.
BHPian Omkar recently shared this with other enthusiasts.
Recently, we had a thread discussing automotive trends that you find unappealing which produced some very interesting answers. Letâs put on our thinking caps once again and predict some of the trends that will be popular in the future. Here are some trends that I would put on my list.
More EV manufacturers will come to India
The recent EV policy has paved the way for Teslaâs entry into the Indian market. This will surely encourage some of the other EV manufacturers to make their debut in India. EVs are currently on the cusp of becoming mainstream, and with the governmentâs push, theyâll become a lot more accessible in the future.
Popularity of hybrids
The benefits of hybrid cars are known to everyone. However, due to the lack of options in the market and the higher entry price point, Hybrids were never accessible. Moreover, the governmentâs taxation hasnât been in the favour of hybrids due to the push towards fully electric. Against all odds, Toyota still focused on Hybrids and the bets paid off. In 2023, Toyota nearly achieved an equal split between conventional and the new option of hybrid (More details). This trend will continue in the future as affordable hybrids will find buyers who are looking for more efficiency and arenât ready to make the switch over to fully electric.
Tata & Mahindra will be even stronger
Given the momentum that both Tata and Mahindra currently have, without a doubt will be even more prominent in the Indian market. The home advantage and the fact that both have focused on making capable cars at affordable prices is the key to their success. Also, looking at the future roadmap of both these companies will be a force to reckon with.
Cars will get even more expensive
Weâre currently in a time where India is a sellerâs market. Car manufacturers have the upper hand and customers are lining up to buy cars. This is also the reason why weâre seeing the car prices soaring and this trend will continue. Also, people are moving away from affordable hatchbacks and cars with heavy cost-cutting. People are preferring SUVs and MPVs in the 15-25 lakh rupee segment. People are willing to pay for a car that is feature-loaded and an all-rounder, so this is where the action will be in the coming years.
Doubling down on safety
For years, safety was an aspect that was ignored on Indian roads. Be it the infrastructure or the cars themselves. Things have changed considerably now and manufacturers are offering 6 airbags as standard on most cars. Hyundai has even made 6 airbags as standard across its lineup of cars. Also with the Bharat NCAP in place, people will be paying more attention towards the safety rating of new cars. Soon, weâll be seeing some safety features like 6 airbags, ESP, traction control, etc. becoming offered as standard across all variants even in the affordable car segment.
Crazy performance figures will be common
Not too long ago, a 0-100 km/h acceleration time of under 10 seconds was considered as quick. Nowadays, with the advent of electric cars, that number is the standard norm. Affordable cars like the Mahindra XUV400, Tata Nexon EV and MG ZS EV have a 0-100 km/h time of under 9 seconds. And these are commuter cars! Wonât be surprised if soon weâll start seeing Rs 20 lakh EVs that have 0-100 km/h acceleration time of 6 seconds.
Artificial Intelligence
With artificial intelligence (AI) infiltrating many aspects of our day-to-day lives, itâs only plausible that manufacturers will start integrating AI in cars. The most important integration would probably be for improving autonomous driving tech. Apart from that, AI could also be used in a user interface to make the interactive experience more seamless.
Minimalist designs
The transition from classic & timeless designs to quirky & outrageous designs is what weâve seen in recent times. People want something that looks different from the crowd and while I believe this will stay the same, people will start preferring simple and clean designs again. Weâve seen a similar trend with the logos of car manufacturers whoâve now started going 2D from 3D. Going forward I do believe weâll be seeing a lot more minimalist designs on cars.
Subscription-based features
Not something that will be popular among car owners, but itâs something that most manufacturers will inevitably adopt. Certain features will be offered on a subscription basis the way Tesla and BMW are doing currently. Although manufacturers will get some flak for this, I feel that this is unavoidable.
Sustainable materials
Going by the current trend of using materials that are recycled or kinder to nature, the automobile industry will also most likely see an influence. There are some hints already. For instance, Tataâs latest EV showrooms focus highly on sustainability. What I predict is that weâll start seeing sustainable materials being used in car cabins.
Physical buttons
Weâre currently in the phase where touch-sensitive buttons are being used everywhere and controls are being integrated into touchscreens. I know itâs far-fetched, but I do have a feeling that weâll see physical buttons return for various car functions. While touch-sensitive buttons look and feel premium, most of us prefer physical buttons just for the functionality and the satisfying feedback you get from using them.
Inbuilt dashcams
Just as most accessories are being offered as standard, the same would most likely happen with dashcams. We all know the importance of dashcams and manufacturers like Hyundai have started offering them in their cars so you donât have to shop for them separately. Mahindra had a clever integration of dashcam and ADAS features in the XUV700. We should see something similar and something better being made mainstream sometime in the future.
Keyless starting procedure
Something thatâs catching on these days and seems like a well-thought-out feature as well. Weâve seen this on the Volvo XC40 Recharge and the MG Comet as well where you donât need to press a push start button, but instead, just press the brake pedal, shift the transmission to D or R and off you go. No need to press the button. It’s most likely that this feature will be exclusive to electric cars.
Online sale of cars
Visiting a dealership and buying a car has always been an experience, and there will always be people who will prefer doing that. But with the overgrowing dependency on buying things online, Iâm sure most car manufacturers will soon give the option of purchasing a car online.
What other trends do you feel will be popular in the future?
Here’s what BHPian Shreyans_Jain had to say on the matter:
My take on the points raisedâ¦
- The new EV policy is a step in the right direction, but who is going to benefit from it? Tesla setting up a factory in India continues to be nothing more than a rumour, just speculation, perhaps even wishful thinking. Which other EV manufacturers are lining up to set up plants in India? The Chinese, and perhaps VinFast.
- Hybrids have been more noise than substance at this point, where the sole success story has been the Innova HyCross, a monopoly vehicle that doesnât really have to worry about price points + forced discouragement of diesel. Nothing game-changing is going to happen in this sphere unless the government makes a major policy U-turn and actually provides tax benefits on strong and plug-in hybrids. That is again speculation at this point. The policy till now has been clear – EVs, not hybrids. The govt has had its fingers burnt by Marutiâs âsmart hybrid gateâ, and the transport minister has a history of making lofty statements. Marutiâs proposed small car series hybrid system also remains mere words as of now. Proof of the pudding will be if and when they come out with an actual vehicle and the performance, efficiency and driving experience vs price curve can be judged. Could very well be another 1.5 DDiS moment.
- There is going to be space for all three powertrains – conventional ICE, hybrid and EV. All the more options for the buyer. Let the market forces prevail.
- I see price rationalisation happening in the short-middle term in the premium segment. It will be a necessity to survive. 50L+ rupee vehicles are terrible value for money, customers are becoming aware that they are being shortcharged and competition from the likes of Hyundai-Kia and the Chinese EVs will only increase.
- At the same time, I expect to see ever-reducing volumes from the sub-10L rupee segment. Margins are wafer-thin, and hardly anyone can compete with Maruti and Tata here. Already, Punch is the new Alto/WagonR.
- EVs are going to democratise performance. Already, Nexon EV LR, XUV400 and ZS EV are quicker than all relevant ICE cars at all legal speeds. 500+ bhp and 0-100 in 3.xx seconds is supercar performance. Available at 55L with the BYD Seal, when BMW wants you to buy a 135bhp 1.5liter for more. Anyone who experiences a good EV drivetrain will be a convert for life. This will mostly affect the mass market cars, your 1.0 and 1.2 decades old and super lame NA engines. The difference is just ridiculous.
- Safety will get more prominence from buyers, which is a great thing. Making a safe mass market is Tata Motorâs single biggest contribution to the Indian market. The other brands are being forced to give up the excuses and shape up, or step out.
- Sustainable materials getting highlighted is more marketing and PR than anything else. Not relevant to any potential buyer. They are just trying to greenwash themselves.
- There is an increasing demand for a return to physical buttons and knobs, especially for the most commonly used features. This entire trend of touching everything was started by Tesla which basically lives in its own universe. Already, manufacturers are starting to revert back based on customer feedback and regulatory hurdles. Only a matter of time before these changes happen in India also, we are just a few years behind the curve.
- I donât see online sales of cars taking off in India. Cars are the second biggest purchase most people make in their lives and are a momentous occasion for the entire family. The showroom visits, test drives, touching and feeling, and deliberations within the house, are all an intrinsic part of the car buying experience and will continue to remain so. Indian market is never going to be detached enough to make such a personal and big-ticket purchase online, without seeing and feeling it. The car purchase is not becoming like an appliance purchase anytime soon.
Here’s what BHPian ampere had to say on the matter:
I really hope we see more strong hybrids making their way to the roads. In my opinion, it’s the best of both worlds. A full electric always has this doubt of being stuck without juice. But a hybrid will have the answers.
But I see strong lobbies for both the camps and India seems tilting to full EV. I do hope the hybrid also finds its foothold in this market.
The 30-50L market in my opinion is a huge bracket where many such products can reside.
Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.
