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LA Auto Show trends

12/5/17 3:58 AM
 
You may think of auto shows as a place where manufacturers introduce new and updated models of vehicles, but this is only part of what goes on at these shows. Auto manufacturers and other vendors often also use these shows to unveil new technology that has the potential to be transformative to the auto industry as a whole, to an audience of journalists, investors, executives, consumers and others. 
 
 
(Image credit: Mark Ralston/AFP/Getty Images)
 
At this year's 2017 Los Angeles Auto Show, there were cool cars and cool technology being teased - including some synergies of both, like the possibility of a hybrid Porsche 911. NPR highlighted potentially disruptive auto innovations on display at the show:
  • Car-by-subscription. Auto manufacturers like Volvo and Cadillac are now offering subscription services where a monthly payment covers your vehicle, plus insurance. The Cadillac service uses the tagline "Access is the new ownership" - delivering one of their five flagship vehicles to you on demand.
  • The internal combustion engine. Yes, hybrids and all-electric vehicles have been the most buzzworthy innovations for the last several years. But petrol-powered vehicles aren't going away anytime soon, and manufacturers like Infiniti and Mazda are still working on engines that improve fuel economy.
  • GPS. Standard map software still talks about intersections and street names, but autonomous vehicles, and software-driven services like Uber can yield better results with proper latitude/longitude coordinates. (This can resolve issues like having two streets in the same town with the same name, or even whether an Uber driver needs to pick you up from the front or the back of the building.) In addition, new companies like what3words are creating grid-based addressing services.
  • Personal conveyances. This category is broadening - it's currently popular with a younger audience, but there are expectations that small mopeds and other two- or three-wheeled transportation will also help older people keep more mobile. Many companies are starting to offer electric alternatives to gas-powered bikes in this category as well.
At Pickles, we constantly monitor these trends to better help our clients understand the potential impact on future valuations, and to look strategically for ventures that extend the utility of automobiles and other personal conveyances. The future for transportation is an exciting and varied one, and we look forward to it. 
By Pickles Auctions
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