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The future of automotive design in manufacturing

Exploring Key Trends and Technologies in Automotive Design

Like many other industries, the automotive industry is also experiencing rapid transformation due to continuous technological advancements. One aspect that’s heavily impacted is automotive design, which has implemented key changes in the past decade, such as autonomous driving, electrification, and digital integration.

Engineering plays a vital role in these advancements and other future changes in automotive design, more specifically, component manufacturing. As cars transition to new technology, smarter engineering, and sustainability, car manufacturers are tasked with innovating to maintain competitiveness.

Signals of Change in the Automotive Industry

Adapting to an industry driven by the need for change means that stakeholders have to become connected enterprises that are data-driven and use digital technologies for innovation and communication. For automakers, component manufacturers, and design engineers to adequately adapt to the fast-paced changes the industry is seeing, focus needs to hone in on the following categories:

  • Vehicle manufacturing: With government endorsement for electric vehicles sure to boost demand, manufacturers must look at new ways of manufacturing their cars using updated components and technologies.
  • Vehicle operation: As consumer demand for electric and hybrid power models increases, manufacturers can invest more into their EV strategies to maintain a competitive advantage. Software-defined vehicles (SDV) are also on the rise, which will help cars retain their market value over time.
  • Vehicle usage: Cars are also increasingly being used on an ‘as-a-service’ basis, with usage models adapting to more ride-sharing functionalities.
  • Vehicle sales: As customers shift their transactions to remote options, operations must reflect their in-store shopping experience online. With advanced technologies becoming a standard feature, many cars will benefit from improving and adapting to the owner’s needs post-sale.
  • Industry regulations: Many countries and states are setting deadlines to end the sale of traditional internal combustion engines, which manufacturers need to note and monitor in their sales territories.

Rethinking Product Design in the Automotive Industry

The supply chain and manufacturing sectors are embracing change, with new trends emerging in the automotive industry. Manufacturing will become modular with the number of technologies incorporated into vehicle functionality. These manufacturing changes can be broken up into three sections that will redefine the automotive industry’s operations over the next two decades:

  • Automotive materials: Aluminum, magnesium, and composite materials are set to replace mild steel in current component manufacturing as the need for lightweight materials grows. The use of strong carbon fibre-reinforced plastic may also reduce costs.
  • Parts manufacturing: Hot forming or hot stamping is set to increase as stronger, lighter, and thinner materials are used to make components. 
  • Assembly processes: As non-metal parts are incorporated into component manufacturing, the need for traditional welding will decline. Assembly will instead use adhesives, bolding, laser spot welding, flow drill screws, and rivets to join parts.

As automotive manufacturers continue to embrace innovative technologies, they can also benefit from exploring business automation strategies to streamline their operations. Implementing automation can enhance efficiency and reduce costs, which is crucial in a competitive industry. Additionally, understanding advanced manufacturing techniques like high-speed stamping can significantly improve production capabilities, allowing for faster turnaround times and better product quality.

Innovative Manufacturing Processes

There are a number of processes that are redefining automotive parts manufacturing to increase parts durability and performance. Manufacturers are starting to adjust their factories and source providers who can provide components made using these techniques: 

  • 3D printing: By utilizing this technology, manufacturers develop more complex full-scale parts and prototypes by printing them with a variety of high-strength aluminum and plastics.
  • Aluminum die casting: Aluminum has high melting and solidifying temperatures, so manufacturers must create manufacturing processes to accommodate this operation.
  • Resin transfer molding: This process can transform a light, preform material into robust automotive components.
  • Hot form steel: Applying high heat to steel improves its malleability, allowing manufacturers to form more complex shapes.

Automotive Concept Design – Vehicles of the Future

Traditional methods of automotive design are somewhat scattered, with a focus on sourcing components from various supply chain vendors. Thanks to a core operation that had to synchronize efforts from a wide variety of suppliers, manufacturers were hard-pressed to incorporate new features into vehicles. 

As the industry progresses, the focus shifts to a software-driven model offering regular, remote updates. This works to simplify hardware design and functionality, moving away from individually designed engine control units and toward continuously improving driver experience. Changes like these will prompt more automotive regulations and standards that include a cybersecurity ecosystem and standard regulations from governing bodies.

Projected Changes in Automobile Technology

Industry 4.0, or the Fourth Industrial Revolution, is the nomenclature for the expansion of digitization and robotics in manufacturing. It paves the way for lean management solutions, and the future of automotive design is ready to relish these new opportunities, such as customer focus, modularization, flexible production operations with real-time capacities and sustainable business practices. The implementation of these becomes increasingly evident when looking at future changes in automobile technology that are already emerging. Some trends that show incredible potential include:

  • Electric and autonomous vehicles: These vehicles offer designers more freedom to add to interior comforts and to create vehicles with innovative design principles. Autonomous cars are also inching closer to their claim to fame, with the use of artificial intelligence (AI), sensors, and machine learning. Projections indicate that 10% of new vehicle sales in 2030 will be partially autonomous or self-driving.
  • Aerodynamics and fuel efficiency: Streamlined designs, advanced engineering, and lighter materials will all contribute to more energy-efficient vehicles.
  • Vehicle connectivity: Automakers are learning to think like software developers as they design vehicles that integrate with consumer devices, including smartphones, smart home technologies, other cars, and traffic control systems.
  • Extended reality: By using a mixture of virtual, mixed, and augmented reality, the tech future of car design reveals teams that are able to create complex design prototypes remotely, saving materials, time, and overheads.
  • Artificial intelligence: Using set parameters, AI might offer new and unique vehicle design concepts that designers can scrutinize and refine to suit consumer needs.

As automotive design evolves, speed, flexibility, and integration are everything. At New Concept Technology, we support cutting-edge programs with in-house design, tooling, stamping, molding, and assembly — all under one roof. That’s how we help companies bring innovative components to market faster.

The Role of Component Manufacturing

Component manufacturing is at the heart of the automotive industry’s transformation. It forms part of the major trends shaping the present and future of product design in the automotive industry. The importance of component manufacturing manifests in several ways, including:

Enabling Innovation

Innovative manufacturing processes, like precision molding, high-speed stamping, and automated assembly, allow automakers to produce more complex designs. They also enable the use of lightweight and high-strength parts for autonomous vehicles, electric vehicles, and connected cars.

Supporting New Materials and Lightweighting

The transition to the use of lighter automotive materials requires specialized manufacturing processes. Carmakers will rely on component manufacturers to develop and refine existing car manufacturing processes to accommodate new materials and effectively reduce weight and improve fuel efficiency.

Accelerating Time-to-Market

Streamlining manufacturing processes through automation, rapid prototyping, and digital twins can help accelerate car brands’ time-to-market. This also facilitates a quick response to emerging auto trends, evolving consumer demands, and changing regulatory requirements.

Modular Automobile Design

As the automotive industry shifts toward modularization, component manufacturers become vital players in automobile design and module production for new components. They are crucial in empowering automakers to upgrade their models with new features or customize vehicles for different markets and customer preferences.

Driving Sustainability

The automotive industry is also seeing a growth in the demand for sustainable manufacturing practices, particularly energy-efficient production, recycling, and waste reduction. The move toward greener processes and materials helps automakers meet environmental goals and customer expectations on sustainability.

Ensuring Quality and Compliance

Design trends and technological innovations may vary frequently, but ensuring quality and compliance with regulatory standards is still a must. As vehicles become more complex, safety becomes more critical. The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and International Automotive Task Force (IATF)-certified component manufacturers are vital for producing precise and reliable components that meet quality and safety standards.

Transform Your Automotive Component Manufacturing

Moving forward, the distinguishing factor between competitors in the automotive design field will depend on product SVD capabilities. With a focus on high-strength materials, technological advancements and sustainability, manufacturers need to reevaluate their in-house and outsourcing strategies to keep up with demand. 

New Concept Technology utilizes a single supply chain and cross-functional design teams to offer you a cost-competitive product line solution. With ISO 9001:2015, IATF 16949:2016 and ISO 13485:2016 certifications, you can be confident in our advanced capabilities to deliver innovation, design and manufacturing of automotive components. Contact us today for a free engineering evaluation or to learn more about our high-speed manufacturing processes.