FUTURE TECH
Changes happen at warp-speed when it comes to vehicles, the materials used in constructing them, their design, colour and the technology going into them for safety as well as infotainment purposes. Future Tech keeps you up-to-date with some of the up-coming trends and the latest solutions.
EUROPEAN VEHICLE MANUFACTURING – A WARNING?
European vehicle manufacturers face challenges with excess capacity, high labour costs, and the shift to electric vehicles. Despite efforts to cut costs, they struggle with profit margins and rising job losses. For collision repairers, the end of mass production could increase parts scarcity, but a shift toward repair and refurbishment may help.
MAJOR DIE CAST BODY PARTS – HURDLES AND OPPORTUNITIES
Vehicle design involves balancing vision, engineering constraints, and production simplicity. Tesla’s use of large-scale die casting, like the rear module on Model Y, reduces complexity and weight. However, these innovations require strict repair protocols, with specific limits on welding and straightening to preserve the structural integrity of advanced castings.
ADAS ROCKS UP IN SOUTH AFRICA
As ADAS systems become mandatory, collision repairers must ensure proper calibration of cameras, RADAR, and sensors. Systems like autonomous braking, lane-keeping, and road sign recognition require dynamic or static calibration processes, often using diagnostic tools. With growing system complexity, repairers need training and accurate information to stay competitive in vehicle repairs.
EUROPEAN AUTOMOTIVE BUSINESS – LIGHTS OUT?
The European automotive industry faces ongoing challenges from emissions regulations, especially with Euro V, VI, and VII, leading to complex and costly systems. The shift to electric vehicles (EVs) has created a conflict, with manufacturers pressured by quotas and fines. Lobby groups like T&E influence policy, complicating the industry’s future and economic health.
THE CURIOUS CASE OF A DISAPPEARING JAGUAR
Jaguar built its iconic brand through stunning cars, wartime vision, five Le Mans wins, and daring high-speed European journeys. Achieving this over fifty years with a fraction of Mercedes-Benz’s resources, Jaguar’s success relied on a small team and a modest budget, yet left a lasting legacy.
TAKING STOCK – TIME TO LOOK AT ELECTRIFICATION SAFETY
On 10th December 1997 Toyota introduced the first generation of Prius that went on sale in Japan. The primary objective was to build a vehicle with improved fuel economy, like Honda did.
DISAPPEARING CARS – RELIABILITY AND REPAIRABILITY
Globally the vehicle manufacturing industry has undergone a revolution – hybrids during the early part of this century, and then in the past decade, full electric drive. The upshot is while some markets are driven towards a political electric only “Utopia”, others are dealing with far more practical matters.
VEHICLE MANUFACTURER POWER PLAY
The wonderful world of vehicle manufacturers is under massive pressure to change, driven by legislation, consumer choices and international trading. The collision repairers are down stream of this, and the increasing chaos will have quite an effect, eventually.
AUTONOMOUS VEHICLES – FACT OR FANTASY?
Andrew Marsh delves into the evolution of ADAS to full autonomy The engineering that is going on across the autonomous vehicle community is astounding, but all of the systems are prototypes.
He also questions how the manufacturers and repairers feature in this, as well as the flow of data needed for these vehicles.
TRADE BARRIERS FOR EUROPE OR FIGHT BACK ON THE CARDS
Andrew takes us through the move towards even better vehicle design, which usually takes years but promises a future of longer life parts. The object is to reduce energy use in both the original manufactured ‘new’ vehicle as well as parts for service or repair, in order to survive today.
MANUFACTURERS RUNNING HARD TO GO NOWHERE FAST
With loads of product variation, leading to more difficult-to-get special parts due to lower production volumes – as well in Europe – product support ceasing five years after the last production of a model. The issues show up in trim items, unique panels, and all the parts typically used in collision repair.
AI CERTAINTY AND THE FUTURE
Those who seek profit and only see everyone else as a route to that profit, will invest in ever more complex ‘machines. The investors won’t care what the machine does as long as profit is delivered. Is this AI at its best? See what Andrew Marsh has to say.
GREY, BLUE, GREEN; THE COLOURS OF HYDROGEN
There are few economic ways to allow a wind turbine or solar farm to produce energy and store it. One route is batteries, which are expensive or another way is to use the otherwise wasted power to create pure hydrogen – ‘green’ hydrogen, to indicate it is made with renewable power.
DISTRESS AT RENAULT-NISSAN ALLIANCE AND AT FORD IN EUROPE
South Africa is in a better place, given most of the world is not following the European ‘BEV or else’ path to oblivion. Parts supply situation remains relatively strong due to domestic manufacturing. Literally the European losses will be gains for South Africa.