Cutting-Edge Technology Enhances Automotive Interiors Market Growth

Picture a great car that is spacious, fuel-efficient, attractive, and total value for money. The feeling of lean back in those plush comfortable & adjustable seats, and the intricately metal-rimmed leather armrests, is truly mesmerizing. The virtual dashboard, air ventilation controls designed specifically to cater to different needs, and an ambient lighting theme to add to that special driving experience. This is where the automotive interiors industry comes into play. The rising needs of automobile consumers, and demands for customized interiors focused on comfort, design, safety, and sustainability has triggered major trends in the growth of automotive interiors market. This is due to the rise in income levels of consumer and importance of technologically advanced user systems to be set in place.

Allied Market Research has recently published a report which is an in-depth survey of the automotive interiors market, its driving factors, and market trends. According to this study, the world locomotive interiors industry is expected to attain a market value of over $200 billion by 2022. This will be supported by a CAGR of 6.5% from 2016 to 2022. The industry sees major potential in the way automobile interiors will be perceived in the global market. Trends in architecture, fashion, and science have to be analyzed, since the designing of interiors is an intricate and complex process.

Nissan-NASA collaborate to introduce ‘Zero-gravity’ seats

The interiors of the car are instrumental to the physical as well as mental health of the passengers seated in it. The primary focus of internal elements must be on a comfortable, safe seating arrangement. The seating of the driver and passengers plays a pivotal role on how safe the automobile is for hassle-free driving, and comfortable for long distances. Often, the manufacturers of heavy-weight and light-weight seats in vehicles lay emphasis on air-perforated seat covering, softer fabrics in upholstery, and color coordination with car interiors for added visual appeal. The comfort factor is added with the help of adjustments for convenient height and angles for seats, headrests, and armrests. However, the fact that driving postures differ from normal sitting postures is often ignored. This often leads to lower back pain issues associated with incorrect poses, in the long run. The latest trends in car seating technology have led to new innovation designed for comfort and functionality. Manufacturers are rese
arching and employing new know-hows such as air-perforated seat covers, ventilated covers or faux vinyl fabric & neoprene seats that stay durable in the long run.

Nissan has partnered with NASA and introduced the concept of ‘zero-gravity’ seats. It employs space technology that replicates neutral postures of the driver through long distances. It offers continuous support from the hips to the lower back through a seat simulator, and reduces load on muscular and spinal areas. It was researched ergonomically and verified that it reduced fatigue and optimized comfort. This new development will ensure that the focus of automotive seating shifts more towards well-being and security, while keeping visual aesthetics in mind. Overall, facilitating driver and passenger comfort warrants a more vigilant and safe driving experience.

Virtual Dashboard – Technology that enables smart driving

The concept of traditional dashboards with conventional dials, gauges with fixed grouping and organization are slowly going to be a thing of the past. There have been advancements in telematics, newer designs of cockpit modules, and automotive infotainment systems in place. Given the rate at which technology and smartphone generation has progressed, the idea of virtual dashboards in locomotives has been slow to catch up. However, many companies have already employed the usage of virtual dashboards in recent times. This comes across as a promising development and will be sure to spark off the newer trends of smart driving, thus leading to increased competition in the automotive interiors market.  

Automakers are taking reconfigurable clusters, or digital dashboards to another level, by incorporating innovative infotainment modules in their vehicles. They are integrating elements such as plug-ins for smart devices, navigation tools, one touch capacitive screen controls, camera relays, and voice-recognition tools, all on one big LCD, for a more user-interactive experience. The first to inspire such an era of digital dashboards, and set an example is Audi. Audi has showcased the concept of its new virtual control panel at this year’s Consumer Electronics Show. It consists of 14.1-inch curved AMOLED virtual cockpit in front of the driver and dual-touchscreen MMI in the center console. It has an advanced version of MIB2+, a multi-display HMI, which offers improved voice control capabilities for better accuracy and performance. Audi has recently acquired Nokia’s HERE mapping technology and aims to offer high-precision roadway and infrastructure mapping. Everything on the dashboard can now be customized according to the driver’s preferences.

Ricky Hudi, Audi Executive VP of electronic development, says, "The interior of the future will radically alter the way our customers operate and experience things in the vehicle." This has marked a significant expansion in the technological prospects of automotive interior design. This will certainly appeal to the younger generation of drivers, who believe in extended durability of interiors and smart driving with improved experience.

Believe in the concept of “inner beauty”

Nearly every automaker and consumer now promote the belief that there is more to an automobile’s appeal than engine performance and horsepower. Since internal appearance of a vehicle is one of the critical deciding factors for a customer buying an automobile, the concept of ‘inner beauty’ is widely propagated. The limelight has shifted over to the way a vehicle looks. The automakers are investing into equipping a car interior with digital cockpit modules, separate customizable climate controls, amazing surround sound quality, LED lighting, plush seating, storage compartments in convenient spaces, panoramic roofs, and fully functional doors, all available in beautiful color-coordinated themes. This trend has showcased that even entry-level automobile buyers want a machine that is a cut above the rest. The concept of visual aesthetics is not only restricted to luxury class vehicles, but also extends to budget automobiles as well. “It’s important that great interiors be available in every class of vehicle, not just luxury models that most consumers will never be able to afford,” says WardsAuto World Editor-in-Chief Drew Winter.

The Asia-Pacific is the largest market for automobile interiors, since there is easy availability of raw materials and lower cost of production. Companies like Faurecia S.A., Grupo Antolin, Johnson Controls Inc., Lear Corporation, and Hyundai Mobis Company. Ltd are some of the major companies engaged in the automotive interiors market. The automotive interiors sector is rapidly growing into a diverse market, with a lot of on-going competition between the key players. Each company is devising different strategies and coming up with innovative developments, thus vying for the consumer’s attention. In-vehicle infotainment is all set to be the next big focus of the market, and there is huge potential waiting to be tapped in newer markets. The industry faces a minor setback due to few government regulations, and inflated cost of new raw materials. In spite of it, there are a lot of promising developments in the market, which are testimonial to the fact that the automotive interiors market is geared up to flourish in the near future. 

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