In the vehicle technology world, CASE — connected, autonomous, shared and electrified — interest is the driving force for innovation.

Advances in CASE mobility have and will continue to change the passenger and driver experience, and they are paving the way for the industry to reimagine what cars could be.

Alexandre Marian, managing director in the automotive and industrial practice at AlixPartners, which coined the acronym, said in Consumer Technology Association (CTA)® Digital America that as mobility advances, the weight of interest in each letter’s representative area is changing.

Connected

Connectivity in vehicles is already a reality. Many cars have internet access in their dashboard or can connect to smartphone data. As 5G becomes more widely available, it will enable more and a wider range of services, Marian said, even as automakers and developers work through data security concerns.

The rise of connected vehicle packages and subscriptions also shows the increased interest in infotainment. Especially for automakers, the focus on the passenger experience opens opportunities for new car developments and integrations.

Autonomous

Although self-driving cars have received a lot of attention in the past few years, recently expectations have become more realistic, Marian said.

Self-driving vehicle companies are working to address all factors of the technology, including safety, navigation and ride-sharing. As the industry takes into account what it means for fully autonomous cars to be on roads alongside human drivers, and the potential mistakes or errors that may occur, the road to everyday self-driving cars may get longer.

Shared

Car sharing is on the rise, with consumers seeing financial savings on car ownership as an advantage. As the world population continues to urbanize, ride-sharing will also save space in cities.

When self-driving vehicles become a reality in the future, autonomous taxi services will enable more efficient and error-free transportation options.

Electrified

Much of the excitement and investment in the auto industry has turned to electrification, with some car companies claiming that in the coming years, a large percentage of their fleets will be electric vehicles or hybrid cars.

The promise of cleaner air and lower carbon footprints has made electrification enticing. The industry still has a lot to work through, however, including placing more charging solutions in both cities and more rural areas.

The continued drive toward CASE mobility may produce vehicles that embody all four areas abundant on our roads. In the always improving vehicle tech sector, investment in connectivity, autonomy, sharing and electrification may bring new concept cars that are yet unimagined.

Read more about the future of vehicle technology and other trends in Digital America.