Beyond the Buzz: Applied Innovations Are Driving the Vehicles of the Future, Today

What an exciting start to the new year! Next-generation mobility was on full display at CES 2023, and it was so energizing to be there in person to join the world’s leading companies in reimagining a software-led future.

Now that the dust has settled on CES, what’s next? How can our industry carry that spirit of innovation forward? The future of cars is clearly electric, autonomous, and connected. But I believe this evolution isn't just about new technologies—it's also about making sure those technologies improve people's lives while reducing our impact on the environment. This means that making mobility safer, cleaner, and more enjoyable for everyone must be top of mind in all that we do.

Technology can delight modern commuters

Everyday life is increasingly digital and personalized, and drivers don’t lower their expectations when they open the car door.

Manufacturers will need to keep embedding software that can deliver a more pleasurable user experience on the road.

Steer-by-wire technology provides an interesting example of forward-thinking innovation. While we build toward an autonomous future, in the short term most people will still actively drive their vehicles. Steer-by-wire improves today’s driver’s experience by making it easy to maneuver at low speeds and delivering a tight, sporty feel at higher speeds. Yet it also lays a crucial foundation for the passengers of tomorrow. By removing the physical steering connections and hardware, steer-by-wire makes it possible to stow away a steering wheel during autonomous driving, which gives the occupant more room to read, relax, or maneuver in their seat. It’s one of numerous enabling technologies, including brake-by-wire, required for automated and fully autonomous vehicles to deliver an excellent user experience.

Smart innovations can also delight drivers in unexpected ways.

Though I can’t entirely agree with Road & Track’s recent headline —“ZF's Heat Belt Is the Only New Car Tech That Matters”—I certainly appreciate its enthusiasm! Modern consumers quickly grow accustomed to new features and technologies (remember when heated seats were exciting?), which means modern product designers will need to constantly ask themselves “what’s next?” when it comes to improving the customer experience. ?

Safety is paramount

The automotive industry is increasingly focused on developing hardware and software that can handle itself in complex, real-world driving environments. Lane awareness, automatic braking, blind spot detection, and more are already commonplace features on new vehicles. But as the EV market accelerates and autonomous vehicles start taking to the roads, safety is being put to the test in new ways. It’s one thing to know your vehicle can prevent you from hitting a pedestrian if you take your eyes off the road; it's another to feel safe crossing the street with your child in front of a driverless, fully autonomous vehicle.

To earn consumers’ trust, manufacturers will need to be confident that their vehicles are equipped with the best safety-focused sensors and software available.

At ZF, our engineers are fully committed to creating a safer world for commuters, pedestrians, and communities. Our next-gen Smart Camera 6 is scalable for ADAS and autonomous systems and provides fusion with radar, as well as image processing modules for multiple camera and radar inputs. As the world’s leading supplier of automotive cameras (we recently broke the industry record with 50 million sold), we also offer multi-sensor environmental monitoring through image processing module systems that deliver 3D surround view, interior monitoring systems, and more. We know that no matter how advanced, sleek, or comfortable a vehicle is, its first and foremost function must always be to protect its occupants and fellow travelers. That’s a promise that every mobility company must pledge to keep.

Sustainable solutions matter TODAY

The mobility market passed a major milestone in 2022 , with more than half of global consumers saying they want to purchase an EV. They're putting their money behind that mindset: 88% of consumers are willing to pay more for an EV, and one in three are willing to pay a premium of 20% or more to lessen their environmental impact. OEMs are listening. We’re seeing a considerable rise in demand for ZF’s electrified solutions as EV momentum builds. OEMs will need to continually improve vehicle range and charging options while delivering on the promise of sustainable vehicles that meet modern commuters’ needs.?

At ZF, we aren’t limiting our sustainability efforts to electrification alone.

We are considering all aspects of #NextGenMobility , including the shift toward greener mobility models such as vehicle sharing, enhanced public transportation, and more.

The level 4 autonomous and electric shuttle we debuted at CES 2023 is one such example. It offers a full system of mobility to help urban areas, universities, airports, and “last mile” applications reduce their carbon footprint, which without intervention will increase by 30% by 2030. We’re proud that this shuttle draws from nearly all areas of ZF’s expertise, and we’re excited to be launching production in 2025/26. We’re also constantly pursuing innovative options for improving range in EVs. For example, the new ZF Heat Belt is not only a comfort feature for occupants; it can also reduce the need to warm the entire cabin of a vehicle, improving EV range by up to 15 percent when used with heated seats and steering wheels.

There’s no question it's an exciting time to be in the mobility industry. Innovative software and high-tech products are drawing us closer to a future vision of safe, sustainable, enjoyable transportation for all. I couldn’t be prouder of all the ZF teams who continue to pour their talent into bringing the functionalities of the future to life, TODAY. The sky (quite literally) is the limit!?