June 3, 2020
Automotive manufacturing is facing its biggest reinvention since Henry Ford’s T-model. Electrification, connectivity and autonomous driving are today’s main areas of innovation, but should not be considered as isolated domains. How will the shift to the new automotive era look like with innovative manufacturing techniques?
Reinventing the automotive industry requires a holistic approach to create new value for customers and professional users. Innovative technologies and renewed purposes for the automotive industry require new digital approaches towards manufacturing.
How to score in the new automotive era
The biggest successes within the automotive industry were new and innovative concepts. Many car lines have literally been facelifted to a point that they have become obsolete. Car manufacturers have the opportunity to rise to the challenge and provide new kinds of products and experiences to keep their businesses profitable.
CASE (Connected, Autonomous, Shared, and Electrified) has been documented extensively in the past few years. But, the development and implementation of these important aspects are often lagging when it comes to incorporating innovative and digitally driven manufacturing methods.
For corporates, it is essential to follow this trend and direct themselves towards these CASE technologies. From a value point of view, there is a need to develop new concepts that generate sustainable and profitable revenue. The most relevant and personal vehicles, that are adjusted to an individual’s lifestyle and purpose, will be instrumental to car manufacturers to leverage their brand in the long term.
Leading by example
Multiple progressive companies have already understood the need for innovation and new manufacturing methods. Bollinger Motors is among those. They created an intelligent and versatile platform chassis concept that allows them to add a variety of body concepts. This way, Bollinger Motors is challenging the classic manufacturing methods and leverages the power of digital manufacturing techniques to support a wide range of utilities.
The customer’s mindset is shifting
Buying or renting a vehicle serves a purpose and is a reflection of a lifestyle. This is important to understand the need for transformation within the automotive industry. The customers’ behavior and their purposes for automotive products are shifting from general products to customizable and personalized products.
Historically, most car manufacturers aimed for a low-complexity manufacturing flow. But this complexity grew with the development of markets and the evolution of the general expectations of what a car should be. A customer-centric automotive concept that is both extremely versatile and deeply personalized requires a new and innovative way of manufacturing. With the extreme diversity in customer experience and utility in mind, the complexity of manufacturing the actual vehicle only rises with all the items that make it truly unique.
It is time to react
The trend of swiftly adapting propositions to different lifestyles and purposes is reaching a global pattern. Can a single-vehicle concept charm a customer with a diverse multi-purpose lifestyle? Is a one concept fits all the right approach? Twikit supports the opportunity to fully tailoring cars to customers’ purposes and styling. Its software and applications leverage the power of digital manufacturing technologies, such as 3D printing, to deliver new and disruptive products.
Are you interested in learning about the latest state of the art technology and opportunities?