ADVANCED TECHNOLOGIES AND THE FUTURE OF TRANSPORTATION; A ROAD TO INNOVATION

Investorideas.com, a global investor news source covering the tech sector, looks at the future of transportation as autonomous vehicles, electric cars, smart cars and advanced tracking technology all become the new norm, thanks to  innovation from AI, blockchain and other technologies.
 
You can’t talk about the future of transportation without naming Tesla Inc. founded in 2003 by visionary Elon Musk, who is also looking at a whole new level of transportation with SpaceX.
 
Not satisfied with being the leader in electric cars, the company also says, “All Tesla vehicles produced in our factory, including Model 3, have the hardware needed for full self-driving capability at a safety level substantially greater than that of a human driver.”

In the Tesla Fourth Quarter & Full Year 2018 Update in January they reported, ”In the past two years, Tesla vehicles have accounted for all of the electric vehicle (EV) volume growth in the US. Even with the radical EV growth in the second half of 2018, EVs still account for just 2% of the total US market, and there remains a substantial opportunity for EVs to continue to gain marketshare in the US and globally. Consumer purchases have demonstrated that EVs are becoming a preferred option, as EVs in Q4 2018 outsold hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) in the US for the first time in history.”
 
But there are still some issues to work out for Tesla, including logistics as Forbes reported, “Tesla Confronts 'Logistic Nightmares' For Model 3 Says Musk.” Tesla is to deliver up to 400,000 vehicles world-wide this year, so it’s a problem that needs to be resolved.

Litelink Technologies Inc. a key player in technology and artificial intelligence within the logistics sector, is hoping to bring new technology solutions to the transportation industry. The company uses artificial intelligence and predictive analytics to solve the logistics industry’s fragmented and outdated technology problems. The company recently released an update on its 1SHIFT Logistics platform. The 1SHIFT trials were planned with the objectives of delivering the capability for a shipper to select amongst a preferred set of carriers, and then track the shipment until successfully delivered.  A trucker will provide trip status and flag any issues via the 1SHIFT mobile app to minimize the communications with all parties and quickly resolve any obstacles for on-time delivery. “We have received positive market feedback both on our web and mobile solutions to date.  By getting our mobile app in the hands of real truckers, we were able to make improvements that will significantly improve user experience, reduce mobile data usage, and at the same time verify our solution scalability and security.  This is exactly the type of product feedback we were looking for prior to large-scale commercial launch,” states COO, Kent Churn.  “Investing in an early alpha trial only helps us improve what is not working, and validates what is working well.”
 
Magna International Inc. one of the world's largest automotive suppliers, has industry roots going back to 1957 when it began working with General Motors. Now the company says it’s racing to the future with new technology. AT CES 2019, Magna introduced the company's future vision of how electrification, autonomy and smart mobility intersect: "At CES 2019, ‘Welcome to Mobility' is Magna's vision of the future where electrification, autonomy and smart mobility are all intertwined," said Magna CTO, Swamy Kotagiri. "Leveraging more than 60 years of experience designing and developing new technology, Magna helps customers striving to change the entire vehicle experience, not just a few components. We are excited to demonstrate this holistic advantage at CES." Talking about electrification technology, Magna says, “Global automotive trends serve as our signposts - and we have reached many milestones on our way to powertrain electrification.”
 
Electrameccanica Vehicles Corp. a designer and manufacturer of electric vehicles with deep attachments in the automotive sector, recently said in an update to shareholders, “Our timing in entering this exciting new market could not have been better. The automotive industry is undergoing transformational changes throughout, with legacy automakers being disrupted by new EV entrants who are uniquely providing aspirational electric vehicles that consumers actually want to purchase.” They also recently reported: ”Vehicle production and delivery from the Zongshen factory will ramp up throughout 2019 and the Company remains on track to commence deliveries of vehicles to customers.”
 
So what does the future hold?  Experts predict that “A person in almost any major city for example, could by 2040 be able to step out their front door to find waiting the autonomous pod they ordered from a nearby multi- storey charging station only minutes earlier.”