A new driving world for Generation Alpha

Generation Alpha could be the first generation where many won’t experience driving a traditional petrol or diesel-powered car, as the move towards electric vehicles continues to accelerate, says Volkswagen Financial Services (VWFS) UK.

With over one million EVs now on UK roads, today’s fully electric car is the latest in a long line of automotive technology advances that would have been the stuff of science fiction for past generations.

Here, VWFS looks at the automotive innovation of days gone by and explores what’s on the horizon for the future.

1946 – 1980: Baby Boomers and Generation X – a new world for driving emerges

Following the Second World War, drivers experienced the introduction of alternators, power steering and air conditioning, which ensured cars were more reliable and comfortable.

We also saw the emergence of emission controls, which paved the way to today’s climate-conscious vehicles. 

This era also saw developments grounded in better safety for drivers. Seatbelts (1971), low-speed bumpers (1974) and anti-lock braking systems (1978) protected us, and safety continued to be a key priority, with improved testing and safety-first promotional campaigns hitting TV screens.

1981 – 1996 Millennials – the dawn of an electric future

In the years leading to the turn of the century, Millennials witnessed the origins of today’s electric vehicles.

While the first electric rocket had already travelled into space, inside our cars, electronic chassis enhancements, including sensors, stable control systems and improved computing power, began to transform our vehicles and the ways car makers designed them.

Rear-view parking cameras hit the roads in 1991, and cameras with parking sensors also became popular, providing drivers with helpful aids still in place today.

1997 – 2012 Generation Z – driving experiences on a new level

As the history pages turned to a new millennium, Generation Z motorists continued to find themselves on the right side of technology developments that would have astounded Baby Boomers.

Bluetooth technology came at the start of the millennium (2001) and created the means for an ‘on-the-move’ entertainment centre. Add-on elements, such as massaging seats (2000) and pre-programmed seat positioning, offered drivers an enhanced and personalised experience.
As ever, better safety features were also developed, with the mandatory inclusion of life-saving airbags in 1998.

2010 – 2024 Generation Alpha – an infotainment centre on electric powered wheels

So, what can the current generation, Generation Alpha, expect in the years ahead as they approach driving age? 

Aside from widescale EV adoption, thanks to demands for sustainable motoring options and the future phasing out of petrol and diesel cars, tomorrow’s cars will further build on existing bespoke infotainment solutions, via all-in-one information and entertainment dashboards that drivers can access as they travel on the road. These systems will pool lots of data streams to supply information at a moment’s notice to the driver and power vehicle evolution away from being merely a mode by which to move around.

Improved safety will also remain a focus, especially as self-driving cars become a reality on UK roads. Advanced driver assistance systems will help motorists to avoid collisions and build on the existing safety features every driver now takes for granted.

There is now a multitude of different ways to own and drive new cars, including lease and finance options. This is increasing vehicle choice for drivers, offering an alternative way to access and drive vehicles with the newest technology, which may not be affordable through outright purchase routes.

John Lewis, Head of Product Strategy and Development for VWFS UK, comments: “Since the 1940s, our cars have undergone seismic changes when it comes to design, comfort, safety and reliability. Generation Alpha will see further levels of technology in their car of choice and be part of an electric car era that supports a more sustainable, intuitive, connected and safer vehicle future.

“The speed of technological change we will continue to experience ensures that the coming years and decades are set to be the most exciting ever. And VWFS is well positioned to continue to offer new and innovative ways for drivers to access the latest vehicles and technology.”