The Future of Electric Cars: What’s in Store for the Auto Industry?
Automotive industries are shifting quickly as technological and environmental developments upend business models, giving business leaders only a short window of time to reinvent themselves and their core operations.
One of the auto industry’s most exciting trends is its strong push toward electrification, which has brought lower costs and an increasing selection of EVs on the market. But making this switch will come at a cost.
1. Buick Electra E5
General Motors has been aggressively pushing electric vehicle sales, with plans to surpass Tesla by 2025. But auto industry continues to face various hurdles. One such hurdle is keeping prices affordable for consumers while protecting dealership sales margins.
Consumers increasingly expect more transparency and consistency across channels when making purchasing decisions – whether online or on the lot. OEMs’ growing power threatens dealers’ influence in sales decisions.
Buick has taken an impressive first step into China with their inaugural BEV, the Electra E5. Built on General Motors’ Ultium platform, it provides two and all-wheel drive with single or dual motor powertrain options and multiple trim levels such as their flagship Avenir model with its 68 kWh batteries claiming up to 620 km (375 miles of range.
2. Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio
As the auto industry experiences numerous disruptions, business leaders must decide between maintaining their current status quo or revamping core operations. Companies that take the first path will thrive in the new normal while those who take another will find themselves falling further behind.
For an exciting driving experience, the Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio makes an excellent choice. Its powerful four-cylinder engine, smooth chassis and superb steering make this car one of the most sought-after cars in its class.
Alfa Romeo Giulia cars offer more than power and grip; they also boast advanced safety technologies like Forward Collision Warning with Full Stop, Intelligent Adaptive Cruise Control, and even a rearview camera that alerts drivers about vehicles in their blind spots.
3. Audi A6 E-Tron
The Audi A6 E-Tron concept car is an eye-catching electric Sportback that showcases their design vision for the future. Boasting muscular proportions with short overhangs and smooth transitions between lines, it shows their designers’ vision.
This car is built on Audi’s PPE platform, used for everything from crossovers to sedans such as the A6. The 100kWh battery pack offers 435 miles of range on WLTP tests.
DC fast-charging capability will allow it to rapidly charge its batteries from five percent of capacity up to 80 percent in only 25 minutes, and accelerate from 0-60 mph in only four seconds, an impressive feat for an electric vehicle.
4. Bentley EX30
Bentley, owned by Volkswagen Group, plans to spend 2.5 billion pounds (roughly $3.4 billion) over the next decade to transition into an all-electric luxury carmaker through its Beyond 100 business transformation plan and become carbon neutral by 2030.
Bentley plans to roll out its first EV from production by 2025, with plans to produce at least one annually until 2030. That makes EX30, its small electric crossover vehicle, an integral part of Bentley’s transition towards all-electric vehicles.
Geely’s SEA modular EV platform made its debut last year in the Smart #1 and will likely be used by other automakers going forward. This platform supports rear-drive single-motor powertrains as well as all-wheel-drive twin motor powertrains. Furthermore, it is able to accommodate batteries of various capacities (68kWh for instance).
5. Volvo EX30
Volvo CEO Jim Rowan teased an all-electric small crossover during last November’s unveiling of their EX90 SUV and recently confirmed it will be known as “EX30”. This car will make its debut this June and go into production before 2023 ends.
It will also be the smallest member of their future EV range and thus targeted towards reaching younger demographics and cities more directly.
As for its architecture, the EX30 will likely use Geely’s SEA platform – used by Mercedes-Geely Smart #1 as well as Zeekr 001 and Jidu Robo-01 electric vehicles – as its foundation.