What Auto Makers Are Working On

Automobiles in the tech age are just getting started on features, and different auto manufacturers are bringing something new to us every passing year. With improved braking systems, electrification, motion sensor and auto pilot systems.

Autos in the tech age are getting us to that point where we can say driving a car today is an experience somewhat straight out of a futuristic movie from the 90's or there about. And it's techage-alicious!

Just think about it, a car system that detects the possibility of a collision with another car ahead and applies the brakes, in a situation where the driver doesn't do so quick enough. It's amazing!

Well, this and more is what auto manufacturers are doing or should I say, working on.

Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB) system as the name implies, is a system that engages the brakes of a car at any slight detection of a possible collision with another car, in case the driver isn't really quick to do so.

Toyota is among the companies doing so and both Toyota and Lexus have said that they are working on getting nearly every Toyota and Lexus model, a standard AEB system by 2017.

Many models of both brands have the AEB system offered to customers but only on extra payment packages.
The company says that by the end of next year, majority of its models will have the AEB installed at no extra cost, except for the Lexus GS, Toyota 4Runner and Toyota 86.

This move by Toyota, is one that is ahead of Honda which is making Honda sensing system that includes AEB technology which comes as an opt-in feature. Cool!

And speaking of Honda, the company has announced that it is going to expand its "Honda Clarity" line to include an all-electric version as well as a plug-in hybrid next year. It says that the latest Honda Clarity version would be available later this year and yes, it's a fuel-cell automobile. Other versions will be ready next year.

The company's goal is that by the year 2030, it would have sold about two-thirds of its electrified autos, including plug-in hybrids and fuel cells. Interesting!

Volvo also announced that it will have two hybrid versions of every vehicle in its fleet. The company said it intends to do this and also release its first fully electric vehicle by the year 2019. The company's President Hakan Samuelsson, in a press release last month said that the company looks to be at the forefront of the shift to electrification as many other manufacturers already have some hybrid model or the other.

Volvo says that the first vehicle to get electrification will be the XC90 T8 Twin Engine SUV, which will be available soon. The company's goal is to have a million electrified vehicles on the road by the year 2025. Good work Volvo. keep it up!

Now unto the Tesla Model X. Hmmm! You know the Tesla brand right? And you should know about the Tesla Model X with falcon-wing doors, a 200-plus-mile battery range and proximity sensors necessary for safety by prevention of contact with other cars and other features.

Well, owners of the $138,000 sport utility auto, have been complaining about some unexpected malfunctions in the car's system. Owners have been saying that the car's falcon-wing doors wouldn't open, and in some cases, wouldn't shut, the huge infotainment screen in the car repeatedly, had frozen and even windows that wouldn't shut.

It's disturbing! Not like it can't be fixed but imagine having to drive your car with one hand holding the door of your car that wouldn't latch, or you having taking a Uber cab while you have a Tesla X parked in your garage. Hell no! Not exactly a pleasant scenario.

But Tesla Motors says it's working on it and will rectify the issues for every one customer.
And yes, we know they'll come through because, hello, it's Tesla we're talking about here. Like "The Tesla"? Uh uhn! It's a Sure Fix!

Buy A Car Online. Drive Motors Helps You Do A Bit More Than Just That.

About four months ago I bought an item online from an online store and had it delivered to me by courier. It was my first time and it felt really nice. The feeling of acquiring something new with no stress at all, and having it brought to your doorstep without lifting a finger, but for to click on a mouse or a tab. The feeling is one of poise and peace and fulfillment, and just "knowing" that you've got the best deal there is, or in more rational terms, "feeling" that you've got the best deal there is. Does this mean I could be a potential shopaholic in future? I doubt it! Shopping online is just exciting and is really gaining ground in these parts. But for certain other things like autos, it's rather a more delicate, stressful, intricate and haggle-full process to handle in the Online Marketplace. Drive Motors helps you do this without stress. Now this is a technology-based company located in, you know where, - the tech Hub - San Francisco, California, US of A. They are into Automotive and payment Technologies and are backed by some of the most prestigious technology investors in the world including Y combinator and khosla Ventures. How do they do what they do? They make software for car dealerships to offer their entire buying process directly online. In other words, if I were a dealer, (and I am considering it because of them) and want to sell online, Drive Motors enables me to offer my entire process of buying directly online to customers looking to buy a car. E-commerce just got cooler. Hey someone here in Naija better start this kinda thing, or some big well-known dealer in autos should make use of such auto payment processing method *just saying*. Certain other sites like TrueCar and Cars.com had come up with something similar but some only help you search for cars and car deals, and still require a consumer to fill out a contact form and talk to a broker. In Nigeria, we know jiji.com and the likes, nice, great work, but they only are like mediators or something like that for the purchase of cars and don't necessarily sell new cars, l mean tear-rubber as we know it. But Drive Motors lets you buy brand new cars from dealerships, from the comfort of your living room sofa and have it delivered to you at home or office for free without wasting time. Amazing! You can even trade in your old car and get the fair market value applied to your new car order, and have the dealership prepare all the paperwork for you. Drive Motors is really a plug-in for car dealer websites. You pick a call you like, and Drive lets you configure options, set up a financing plan and you pay the dealer right there then all you do is pick up your new car. Come to think of it, the Tesla brand has a similar service. Drive Motors simply brings the Tesla experience to every other car brand. Score! Now a little bit about the founder. Drive Motors was founded by Aaron Krane. For him, crashing into the idea for Drive Motors was a total accident. He had always had a penchant for cars and even fetishized cars as a young boy. "I grew up in a culture where we fetishized cars" he said "I had the car calendars. Anywhere I went that had magazines, I'd run right to the DuPont Registry and look for photos of Lamborghinis" Krane lived in San Francisco but was an entrepreneur-in-residence at Khosla Ventures in Palo Alto. The bumming rides soon became a concern and so he decided to buy a new car online, but found the experience confusing and obvious that e-commerce had not reached new cars, so voila he decided to do something about it. Just like that and today we can think of buying cars online. I think there's a lesson to be learned here. Find a problem around you and search for a solution to it. You'd be amazed at what you find *winks*.