Report on Emerging Technology Applications for Intelligent Vehicles, 2024-2025: Advancements in Smart Cockpits, Driving, Chassis, and Energy Systems
The “Report on Emerging Technology Applications for Intelligent Vehicles, 2024-2025,” available through ResearchAndMarkets.com, offers a comprehensive analysis of the latest technological innovations that are transforming the automotive industry. This report delves into emerging trends and new product developments across four key areas: smart cockpits, smart driving, body & chassis, and energy & power. With a focus on over 50 industry characteristics, this document highlights the most significant technological advancements expected to shape the automotive landscape in the coming years.
1. Application of Emerging Technologies in Smart Cockpits
The smart cockpit is one of the most rapidly evolving areas in the automotive sector, integrating advanced display and interaction technologies to enhance the driver and passenger experience. In 2024-2025, several emerging display technologies are poised to revolutionize interiors:
Smart Glass Displays Smart glass technology is being increasingly integrated into cockpits. These include dimming glass, which uses electrochromic and suspended ion technologies to adjust light transmission, and photovoltaic glass that incorporates solar cells for energy generation. For instance, NIO’s new dimmable canopy, with color options like black and gray, represents a major step forward in automotive glass innovation.
Invisible Displays Invisible displays are an innovative solution that enables displays to blend seamlessly with the interior. These displays use light-transmitting materials attached to the glass surface, making information visible only when needed. This technology is being employed for cockpit information displays (CIDs) and door displays, providing a sleek, minimalistic design without compromising functionality.
3D and Panoramic Displays Innovative technologies like 3D displays and panoramic displays are enhancing the immersive experience for occupants. Naked-eye 3D technology eliminates the need for glasses while offering a fully interactive display for navigation, entertainment, and other information. Additionally, light field display systems, such as aerial 3D imaging, are expected to further elevate user interaction with real-time, dynamic content.
AR HUDs and AI Assistants Augmented Reality (AR) head-up displays (HUDs) are improving the user experience by overlaying essential information on the windshield, enhancing safety and navigation. Moreover, automotive AI assistants are evolving to offer more personalized interaction with the vehicle, including health monitoring features like voice recognition and proactive driver assistance.
2. Application of Emerging Technologies in Smart Driving
The field of smart driving has seen significant innovations in sensors and computing technologies, making autonomous and semi-autonomous driving a closer reality. In 2024-2025, several advancements in sensor technologies are expected to improve vehicle perception and decision-making capabilities:
Thousand-Line LiDAR At CES 2025, companies like Hesai and RoboSense introduced thousand-line LiDAR systems, offering clearer point clouds for enhanced environmental perception. These systems are set to become a critical component in the sensor suite of higher-level autonomous vehicles, improving the detection of objects such as vehicles, traffic signs, and road hazards, even in challenging weather conditions.
Bionic Cameras and 5D Imaging Radar Inspired by biological vision systems, bionic cameras are designed to offer a wider field of view and deeper perception capabilities. These cameras are expected to play a pivotal role in autonomous driving, UAVs, and robotics. Additionally, 5D imaging radar and 4D LiDAR technologies are set to enhance vehicle perception, offering better performance in adverse conditions like fog and rain.
Fusion Sensors and AI for Autonomous Vehicles The fusion of sensors—such as RGB-IR cameras, 5D radar, and bionic cameras—into a cohesive system is expected to improve the accuracy and reliability of autonomous driving systems. Moreover, end-to-end AI models are enabling the development of advanced autonomous systems capable of mapless navigation, decision-making, and improved obstacle avoidance.
3. Application of Emerging Technologies in Body and Chassis
The body and chassis of vehicles are undergoing substantial transformation, driven by new manufacturing techniques and materials aimed at improving vehicle safety, performance, and sustainability.
3D Printing in Vehicle Design 3D printing technology is playing a vital role in vehicle styling and design, especially in the prototype and small-batch production stages. This technology eliminates the need for traditional molds and allows for rapid prototyping and customization, enabling OEMs to push the boundaries of design and functionality.
Digital Chassis and Integration Digital chassis technology is revolutionizing vehicle control systems by digitizing traditional mechanical subsystems like suspension, steering, and braking. By integrating these subsystems into a single digital platform, manufacturers can achieve better system coordination, leading to improved vehicle handling and safety. For example, SAIC’s Lizard Digital Chassis integrates systems like four-wheel steering and electronic shock absorbers for enhanced vehicle dynamics and performance.
Lightweight Materials and Environmental Impact The use of lightweight materials such as carbon fiber-reinforced plastics (CFRP) and aluminum alloys is growing in automotive design, helping to reduce vehicle weight and improve energy efficiency. Additionally, the automotive industry is embracing environmentally friendly materials for vehicle bodies and interiors, contributing to sustainability goals. CFRP, in particular, is being used in high-performance vehicles for its strength-to-weight ratio, further enhancing both safety and fuel efficiency.
4. Application of Emerging Technologies in Energy and Power
Advances in energy storage, charging, and propulsion systems are transforming how vehicles are powered and how energy is managed within the vehicle ecosystem.
Solid-State Batteries Solid-state batteries, which are expected to be commercially viable by 2026, promise significant improvements over traditional lithium-ion batteries in terms of energy density, safety, and longevity. These batteries are expected to drive the next generation of electric vehicles (EVs), offering longer driving ranges and faster charging times.
Supercharging and Range Extension Technologies High-power supercharging systems are emerging as a critical technology for EV adoption. These systems can charge a battery from 20% to 80% in just 10 minutes, reducing charging times significantly. Additionally, super-range extension technologies, such as hybrid powertrains, are expected to enable vehicles to achieve a driving range of over 1,000 kilometers, making EVs more practical for long-distance travel.
Hydrogen Fuel Cells and Smart Batteries The industrialization of hydrogen fuel cells is accelerating, with several OEMs working on integrating fuel cell technology into their product offerings. Additionally, the development of smart batteries that can optimize energy consumption and charging cycles will improve the overall efficiency and performance of electric vehicles.
5. Application of Emerging Technologies in Other Fields
In addition to the core automotive technologies, several other fields are contributing to the evolution of intelligent vehicles. Notably, technologies like eye-tracking, humanoid robots, and low-altitude flight are gaining momentum:
Low-Altitude Flight and Humanoid Robots The burgeoning market for low-altitude flight vehicles, such as drones and flying cars, is expected to impact urban mobility solutions. Meanwhile, the commercialization of humanoid robots is advancing, offering new possibilities for automotive production and maintenance.
Phone-IVI Integration and eSIM Technologies As automotive manufacturers increasingly integrate smartphones with in-vehicle infotainment (IVI) systems, Phone-IVI integration is becoming a key focus. This technology allows for seamless communication and entertainment between mobile devices and the vehicle. Additionally, eSIM cards are enhancing vehicle connectivity, enabling automakers to offer global roaming and more robust internet of things (IoT) capabilities.
