At a conference last week, Society of Motor Manufacturers & Traders’ senior technology and innovation manager David Wong described a future where cars can book parking on your behalf and turn on driveway lights shortly before you arrive home.

Connected vehicles may even order and arrange for a pint of milk to be collected at a drive through service area, without the motorist having to step out of their vehicle, he said.

“Vehicles of the future will sync with your diary, know where you are going and book parking for you,” he told the Smart Transportation & Mobility event in west London. “Your car will also know if it is your wedding anniversary tomorrow and ask if you want to book a meal.”

He also said that a connected car might be alerted to the fact that your family is running low on milk and re-programme the sat nav to stop at a nearby supermarket, where a bottle of milk is waiting at a drive through counter. An ‘automatic handshake’ could be performed to authorise payment and the milk is then picked up without the driver even leaving the vehicle.

“A car can become greater if we wrap a suite of services around it,” he commented. “Choice is paramount and the steering wheel will not disappear in a haste. The future will converge around automation, connectivity, electrification and services; it is beyond just making and selling cars.”

David Wong also said that a report published by the SMMT and consultant Frost & Sullivan earlier this month finds that connected and autonomous vehicles in the UK could be worth £62Bn to the economy each year.

Future mobility is the subject of a Transportation Professional special next month.

(Image: Chesky – Shutterstock)