TECHNOLOGY

Decade in Review: Auto Industry Advancements of the 2010s

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The automotive industry has seen unprecedented disruption over the past 10 years. Electric vehicles are on the road, self-driving vehicles test-drive on busy city streets, and our cars and trucks are lighter and cleaner than ever before. Here are 9 things you and your car can do now that weren’t possible in 2010:

  1. Say bye-bye to gas stations. Your car is now capable of skipping the gas station – forever. In 2016, General Motors rolled out its first all-electric car, the Chevrolet Bolt EV. Now with a range of up to 259 miles, many drivers can commute for an entire week on just one charge. For those in need of a mid-week plug-in, EV charging stations are rapidly popping up across the country, and you can even have one installed in your home. 

  2. Get in a car with strangers. Your mom always said never to do it, but then came ridesharing apps like Lyft that allow consumers to virtually hail a car for drop-off at an exact location.
Man opens delivery car door with pizza in his hands.

Maven Gig is a low-risk way to get your side hustle on.

  1. Let’s be honest – safety is the true MVP. Thanks to advancements in technology, consumers now have access to more important safety features than ever before. Many GM vehicles now have available automatic emergency braking, park assist systems, advanced headlighting and collision warnings to protect drivers and the world around them. For parents, Teen Driver Technology helps improve vehicle safety during those tricky teenage driving years. After all, it still takes a village (or a team of dedicated engineers!) to raise a teenager.
Teenage boy buckles his seat belt before starting the car.

Chevrolet’s Buckle to Drive feature is aimed to help new drivers develop safe driving habits from day one.

  1. Move down a weight class. Many automotive companies are using lightweighting techniques, like incorporating advanced software design and materials, to make vehicles lighter and improve fuel economy. By pairing design technology with manufacturing advancements like 3D printing, the auto industry has transformed its approach to vehicle design and development – and it’s paying off for customers and the environment.

  2. Get creative about sustain-a-bee-lity. Reducing the environmental impact of vehicles goes beyond improving fuel economy and reducing emissions. Automotive companies are now finding creative new ways to incorporate recycled materials and dispose of manufacturing waste. GM uses recycled plastic bottles to help insulate the engine of the Chevy Equinox and, through local partnerships with Bees in the D and Honey Bee Squad, spare manufacturing parts are being used to provide insulation in bees’ winter homes and create functional beehives.
Woman in car factory looks at plastic water bottles.

GM turned employees’ empty water bottles into noise-reducing fabric insulation covering the Chevrolet Equinox engine.

  1. Make upgrading your ride as easy as connecting to the internet. Over-the-air updates now allow consumers to get the latest vehicle software uploaded to their vehicle remotely. The new intelligence platform enables GM to update the software on dozens of modules throughout the lifespan of a vehicle. When an update is available, customers receive a notification through their infotainment system and can choose to install, defer or decline the update.

  2. And speaking of the internet. Now, your car can be a hotspot. Passengers can now connect to an available 4G LTE Wi-Fi hotspot to edit documents, stream music and movies, get directions and more, making road trips and work trips a lot easier. Drivers with compatible phones also have the option to go wireless when charging their phone – or turn their phone into a car key! Additionally, OnStar allows drivers to unlock their car from their mobile device.
Children play with cell phones in the back of a car.

Passengers can now stream music and movies by connecting to an available 4G LTE Wi-Fi hotspot.

  1. Go hands-free – behind the wheel. When the decade started, driving a car without your hands seemed like a Jetsons dream. Today, the Super Cruise driver assistance feature enables drivers to go hands-free on 200,000 miles of compatible highway – while also ensuring that drivers are engaged and paying attention with sensors and warnings to stay alert1.

  2. Or lose the wheel and the pedals altogether! The continued development of self-driving vehicles is completely transforming what vehicles are capable of and may look like, accelerating the future of mobility.

A lot has happened in the past 10 years, and GM is excited to see what the next decade and beyond brings as we work toward our vision of a future with Zero Crashes, Zero Emissions and Zero Congestion. 

 

1 Even while using the Super Cruise driver assistance feature, always pay attention while driving and do not use a hand-held device. Visit cadillacsupercruise.com for compatible highways and more information. Requires active OnStar plan, active WiFi Hotspot, working electrical system, cell reception and GPS signal.