How Motoring Evolved in 2024: The Year in Review
Celebrities protesting potholes, driverless cars green-lit in ground-breaking legislation, cars that are electrifying the motor industry itself, and cultural shifts forcing us to re-examine our century-old love affair with the automobile. These were just a few of the headlines from 2024. It's not all doom and gloom, but here’s how the UK's motoring landscape has transformed over the past year.
Rod Stewart's Pothole Protests
With potholes costing motorists over £1.5 billion in damage to vehicles, the issue has been highlighted by none other than the iconic rock star, Rod Stewart. Last year, he attempted to repair potholes outside his home himself (for which he incurred the wrath of his council), and this year, he threatened to sell off his entire fleet of luxury supercars, blaming the dire state of local roads riddled with potholes.
The Asphalt Industry Alliance estimated that £16.3 billion is needed just to catch up with the backlog of road repairs in the country. In response, Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced an additional £500 million to fix the roads – £180 million more than the manifesto promised - pledging a total of £8.3 billion over the next 11 years for road repairs.
Robocars are Go!
How close are we to driverless cars? Realistically, any hope of having a fully autonomous Knight Rider-style car able to pick you up and drop you off wherever you like, exchanging witty repartee along the way, is probably still a few years away. However, conversing with your car could happen within 2025 as generative artificial intelligence systems are being introduced into cars even now.
Nonetheless, in landmark legislation, the UK government officially green-lit driverless cars via the enactment of the Automated Vehicles Act, paving the way for robot cars to be legally used on UK roads in 2026. Are you ready to relinquish the steering wheel, though?
Youth Deem Driving Dated
Well actually, it seems young people might be okay about giving up driving duties. According to one survey by the RAC, the high cost of learning to drive; buying, owning, and running a car; especially when it comes to prohibitively expensive insurance, is putting them off.
The cost-of-living crisis, improvements in public transport, the ease of using Uber, and prioritising online communication and digital engagement over the need to meet in person have swung young people's opinion when it comes to the need to have a car.
Rather than being the coolest kid in college if you had your own car, now it's perceived as anti-social, particularly with an increasing focus on environmental concerns that have led some young people to view car ownership as unfavourable.
Car Industry in Confusion
More and more people are starting to view cars as merely a transportation "service" rather than a "possession" to be cherished and to take pride in.
This has left traditional car companies a little in the lurch, confounded further by rocketing costs, and draconian policies forcing them to make electric cars that consumers and car buyers don't appear ready to accept and run at this stage.
The economic turbulence, an onslaught of more affordable and innovative Chinese cars (especially EVs - the newcomer to the auto industry now accounts for 70% of all EVs sold globally) plus a drop-off in car sales, has left some in dire straits.
Ford has slashed production, and jobs, across Europe, Stellantis has shut factories and led an emergency meeting with ministers, while Nissan let it be known it could actually be defunct in a year if something doesn't change. According to some reports, Nissan is now in talks with Honda for a possible merger.
The EV Revolution
There is no question that electric car sales are on the rise - it's estimated that they will account for 20% of global sales this year. However, the UK trade has fallen short of the 22% as stipulated by the government's ZEV mandate, expected to reach only 18% by the close of 2024. Not hitting targets could mean big fines for car companies, putting further pressure on them.
The problem is that high energy costs, the slow pace of charging infrastructure deployment, and common myths and misconceptions around EVs, have stayed the hand of motorists making the transition as they've either stuck with the car they have or gone the petrol or hybrid route instead. EV demand needs to meet supply to avoid decimating the car industry.
Gadget Expectations
On the other hand, those in the market for new cars have higher expectations and demands than ever before, particularly when it comes to onboard innovation and tech. Buyers want cars that can brake, swerve and avoid crashing into obstacles and pedestrians. Manufacturers have obliged with cameras, radars, lidars, and GPS systems that mean cars can not only sense potential dangers but take evasive action.
Driver monitoring systems in motors range from alerting motorists to take a break, to pulling over and calling the emergency services should the driver not respond. Autopilot-style smart cruise control systems can be the closest thing to driverless cars we currently have. Plus, connectivity and compatibility with our beloved phones; superior performance, braking and safety; as well as comfortable climate control systems and thumping audio are also a must.
The Evolution of the Driver
Perhaps it's not so much the cars that evolved in 2024, but drivers and chiefly their requirements and desires. Convenience and cost factor as highly in their decision-making process as they ever did. However, the gathering momentum in concern for pollution and the environment further influenced the evolution of motoring in 2024.
The changes witnessed were not just about innovation; they were about preparing for a future where mobility is safer, smarter, and more sustainable. The journey ahead is exciting and promises to reshape the UK's motoring scene for generations to come. As we look forward to 2025, the roads we travel on and the cars we drive (or that drive us) are set to be very different from those we've known before.
