Molex Releases Global Automotive Survey Results on "Future of the Car"

• 91% of respondents said that by 2030, cars will be fully electric or hybrid

  
  

• Autonomous driving technology will focus primarily on driver and passenger safety

  
  

• High-speed WiFi, wireless charging and vehicle-to-vehicle communication become the most important functional features

  
  

• Software-defined vehicles are the most important issue for automakers

Lisle, IL, USA – January 7, 2021 – Molex, a leading global provider of connectivity and electronics solutions , has released the results of a global survey of automotive industry decision makers, looking ahead to the mainstream trends and technologies that will influence the strategy and business decisions of the "future of the car". The survey results fully recognize the key role played by data, software and networks that enable electrification and connectivity – both of which have been identified as the most important areas of innovation.

“It’s an exciting time in the automotive industry, and this survey highlights the accelerating pace of investment and innovation,” said Mike Bloomgren, senior vice president, Transportation and Industrial Solutions, Molex. “The findings also reinforce our mission to design critical electronic solutions that will serve as the central nervous system of tomorrow’s connected cars.”

Molex commissioned Dimensional Research to conduct the  Future of the Car survey in November 2020 , which was conducted for automotive companies with at least 1,000 employees, and solicited opinions from 230 qualified participants in engineering, product, procurement, R&D, supply chain, innovation or strategy functions. The questions asked to respondents were designed to help them imagine what the new car that people generally buy will look like in 2030, including top features, plans and innovations.

Key findings include:

• 91% of respondents said that cars will be fully electric (64%) or hybrid (27%)

  
  

• 97% expect that the “range anxiety” problem will be solved by 2030

  
  

• 94% expect the car to include autonomous driving features; only 28% envision it becoming fully driverless

  
  

• 56% believe that cars in 2030 will be at least half as expensive as they are today

When asked which areas of the ecosystem have the greatest potential to reduce vehicle prices by 2030, savings in battery costs (40%), software integration (34%), and manufacturing processes (32%) dominated the list. In addition, 96% of respondents agreed that future vehicles will require innovation in manufacturing plants.

Top features, technology and innovation

According to survey respondents, the top three features most likely to become standard by 2030 include high-speed WiFi, wireless charging, and vehicle-to-vehicle communications. When selecting the five most important areas of innovation for the next decade, respondents singled out electrification (38%), connectivity (33%), passenger safety (29%), quality and reliability (28%), and software-defined infrastructure (27%).

In addition, 60% of respondents tend to prioritize the ability to innovate through software, including intelligent features required for autonomous driving, advanced algorithms to reduce energy consumption, remote updates of new features, and customized driving experiences. Overall, the customer needs and technological innovations raised by participants will have an impact on future automotive development, especially in accelerating the development of green initiatives or social responsibility programs, ranging from zero-emission vehicles to zero-waste production.

Tech companies and China gain momentum

44% of respondents expect that existing automakers will drive the development of the average car that people buy in 2030, while 32% of respondents mentioned the growing appeal of technology companies. Companies such as Apple, Google and Microsoft are expected to gain great momentum due to their rich experience in user experience and human-machine interface. In addition, it is also important that the industry generally believes that China will be the first to produce representative future cars, followed by the United States, Japan and Germany.

Overcoming obstacles is a priority

Participants overwhelmingly cited the main technical challenges encountered in achieving innovation, with 44% citing insufficient battery life and 36% stating that electronic components and software had problems operating under extreme conditions. In addition, 33% of respondents cited difficulties in obtaining relevant expertise in electrification, 5G, security and other required technologies.

Molex Automotive Business: Experience is of paramount importance

For nearly 30 years, Molex has played a vital role in the automotive industry, especially in meeting the demand for seamless interconnection of mobile devices and data services. During this time, the company has supplied more than 95% of the engine control and powertrain connectivity solutions for a major automotive OEM. In terms of product quality and customer collaboration, Molex brings a long heritage and long-standing reputation across its business network to meet customers' growing needs across the entire automotive ecosystem, spanning electrification, advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), automotive high-speed networks, vehicle antenna systems, connected car solutions, and vehicle-to-everything communications (V2X).

About Molex:

Molex makes the connected world possible by enabling technologies that transform the future and improve life. With operations in more than 40 countries around the world, it provides a full range of connected products, services and solutions, including data communications, medical, industrial, automotive and consumer electronics.