New Year, New Technology, New Risks.

Only weeks into 2015 and technology is already at the forefront of manufacturer’s minds. Automotive manufacturers in particular, will be working to implement and introduce new technologies into their vehicles.

An article from NY Daily News titled, Tech trends 2015: What’s coming to your next set of wheels, walks through some of the top vehicle technologies we can expect in the coming year. The list included a range of new features and functions including:

1. Lane Change Assist. Designed to monitor approaching traffic when changing lanes to the driver if a vehicle is approaching too quickly or is in a blind spot.

2. Autonomous Parking. Through a combination of cameras and sensors, more and more vehicles will be equipped with the ability to park themselves.

3. Wi-Fi Hotspots. Already offered in select models for some brands, this feature is going to be substantial in 2015 as manufacturers like GM implement Wi-Fi technology into several models.

4. Smartphone Integration. As a fast follow to Microsoft Sync, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto Technology will allow drivers to stay connected to their smartphones with dashboard touch screens and features like voice recognition to allow for hands free texting.

Manufacturers have the opportunity to transform the way we drive, ride and interact with our cars. Some of the technologies coming out in 2015 even have the potential to reduce the number accidents on the road. Along with this opportunity, comes new challenges and risks that require automakers to adapt their processes.

3 potholes to be aware of in 2015

1. The Millennial Consumer. The newest generation of car buyers want the latest in connected tech, but they don’t want to pay for it. Automotive manufacturers will have to manage their cost of quality more tightly than ever before to stay within the profitability expectations.

2. Efficiency. Integrating new technologies into cars correctly will add time to the production process. Losing efficiency can often mean losing revenue. For manufacturers to maintain, and increase profitability, quality assurance will need to be addressed as early on as the design phase.

3. Exponential Risk. The driver is expecting the car to be intelligent and not fail. With drivers relying on safety features like lane change assist and automatic breaking to keep them safe, there is no room for error. Now, more than ever, vehicles and all of their connected technology need to work correctly.

In order to avoid these potholes, manufacturers will need more visibility than ever before. It is through a 360-degree view of quality that manufacturers will be able to navigate their production to quality and drive revenue at a time when technology and risk are both growing rapidly.

To view the entire article from NY Daily News, click here.