First Monday Post Lockdown

Today everyone at Bristol Coachworks is super excited. Everyone has a smile on their face. Everyone is looking forward to the week after a long time. After all, it is the first Monday post lockdown. The Bristol facility is a little more enthusiastic today. Today it seems like our stars have aligned. It’s a Monday. First Day of the week. First-day post lockdown. Then, it started to rain. Just look at the weather outside. It has already tempted some of us to open the shutter the full way and enjoy the chilled morning breeze. The atmosphere in the shop today is just something else. People have suddenly become more energetic. I guess this also has to do with the newfound enthusiasm because of Ontario re-opening today!

Our customers can also be seen smiling and enjoying the beautiful day today. Lockdown had made things so worse that even a simple visit to their body shop is very exciting for them. We can also see the difference of approach in our customers. Lockdown had affected everyone in a very bad way. Now customers’ seem to be more involved and enthusiastic. A lot of people were waiting for this opportunity. They want to go down to the lake or a campsite and spend quality time with their loved ones. They just want to put this whole thing behind them for once, and enjoy what they have. Without having to worry about the virus. This has also put up a huge responsibility on our shoulders. Our customers expect the finest work from us, and we know they want it done soon. Trust me when I say this, we at Bristol want you to enjoy your time and we are working relentlessly to get your job done. We will make sure that you get to spend more time with your loved ones doing what you love. One of our goals is to maintain out quality during this busy season. We take pride in pur work, and even the smallest job that we do is done with perfection. We believe in utilizing the customers’ hard earned money and giving them something worth their money. We want ut customers to always feel they got more than they paid for. That is our satisfaction.

So, no matter how much busy it gets. We are standing by you in helping you get ready for the post lockdown season. You can not come to shop? Not a problem, we will send someone and pick your vehicle up. You need your Rv serviced before going out on the road this year? We will do everything that needs to be done in your RV from body to engine. Whatever your rewuirement are. we will get it done for you.

The New Era of Motorhomes

COVID 19 has challenged us at every step for the last 2 years. It has changed the world for sure. It so hard to believe that the modern-day world has come to a full halt. It is getting difficult for people to survive amid this pandemic. The economy has taken a huge hit. Busines are going down. The business’ that are able to sustain themselves are trying new and innovative ways to carry on effective operations. One such way is to work from home. Work from home was a very alien concept before COVID. Companies did not trust this work environment. However, with time it has proven to be a path-breaking change. Companies are not only achieving results but also save a lot of office costs like rent and utilities, which have significant stress on the revenue generated. Established organizations like Amazon have made it permanent for several employees like customer service representatives and Content managers.

This has given people the perfect opportunity to be away and still work. As the stay-at-home order lifts from the province people would want to go out. With the virus still being a concern and safety being the priority, a lot of people are inclined towards going out on the road in the privacy of their RVs. The advantage of being able to work from home gives them the opportunity to get out of the mundane life at home these days. The significant change in trends is clearly visible. The RV sale has gone up in the last year. Mostly because of the ability to be in a personal space and still travel without the risk of the virus. The change is so significant that the latest 2021 models of various companies have various upgrades with the workstations being accommodated in the RVs. The younger generation is not the one afraid to try something different or take risks. Especially after almost 2 years of being constrained out of normal life, people are desperate to try new things to break the monotony.

Any which way, this certainly good news for the automotive industry which had taken a hit during the pandemic. Even though the sale of cars went up significantly, the sales for heavy-duty vehicles had gone down in the last year. This is a fresh breath of air for the industry which they are looking to fully capitalize.

The Great American Car Culture

Cars have been the heart of America since World War II. With innovation and technology, things are not exactly the same they used to be. A lot of changes have come through once the US restarted the production of consumer cars again post the war in 1946. People were eager to get back on the road. Companies capitalized on the post-war trends. the captured the essence of war vehicles into consumer vehicles. Much of it was integrated into the design like new shiny chrome grills and turn key ignition. Here we are today, with cars that drive themselves in a matter of 75 years.

The car culture has also gone through those changes and adapted to them. Today even the toughest of cars like Jeep, which was introduced as a military jeep prototype in November 1940., are selling luxury trucks and SUVs. Gone are the days of elegant and basic chrome finishes. Technology has taken over the next big thing among car collectors. Automation is what the next generation seeks the most in the vehicle. Everything has to be done with the touch of a button. However, one thing that has remained the same is their love for cars. Not just their car but all the cars. No matter what change comes through, some things remain constant. Perhaps that is what forms a culture. The love for cars unites Americans on lots of levels. This phenomenon soon traveled the world. When Europe was considered as the manufacturers’ world, America became the consumers' world. Soon people around the world also got easy to access cars and they joined the culture. So much so that UAE is the biggest automobile collectors market in the world. Cars have also become a symbol of change in various parts of the world. Recently, women were allowed to drive in Saudi Arabia, which was considered one of their biggest victories towards gender equality.

America has grown and embraced all these changes. That is visible in terms of the quality and quantity of cars in modern times. Americans have larger access to ideas, technologies, and technicians today than before. Car meet-ups are proof of that. Today people can travel up to thousands of miles for a car meet up. This availability and access have helped the family to grow despite inflation, war, pandemic. Car Culture in America only seems to grow. With the world moving towards renewable energy, America and Americans are the first to adapt. With the domestic conglomerate, Tesla, leading and paving the way for mass production of consumer electric cars. The only thing to watch is how soon it becomes the norm.

In the lap of luxury.

The American ideal car till the early 2000s was rough, strong, and heavy. However, the drastic change in the Asian market forced the world to look at design in a whole different way. It would not be far from the truth to say that vehicular consumerism in Asia took a leap in the late ’90s and early 2000s. However, there was something different in this market that the American companies were not able to capitalize on. The sales of major companies like Ford and Chevrolet were on a constant low. on the other hand, the European and Asian manufacturers were breaking records year after year. People were more inclined towards buying Toyota, Honda, or Volkswagen.

The main reason behind this was the look and feel of the car. The Asian market believed in getting the comfort that they are paying for. American brands had the image of being trustworthy and tough. Unfortunately, for the Asian market, this was not enough. The Asian market focuses more on the quality of luxury they get when they buy a car. Honda, Hyundai, and Toyota were doing exactly this. Their cars were cheaper and provided more comfort and luxury. The market forced to change the American companies and the way they look at automobile designs. They were competing straight with European and Asian companies which were designing some of the most astonishing vehicles. their interior design allowed them to provide a premium experience at low costs. Something, the American companies were having a hard time doing. Hyundai launched several cars in the last 10 years in Asia. many of those cars cost less than $20,000, but still were more luxuries than many vehicles in America costing more than $40,000. This forced a lot of companies to change their outlook towards automobile designing. Nowadays, the car is not just a vehicle or mode of transportation. For an average user, it has become a part of their life. If they spend a certain amount, they want luxury and comfort. They want the material to be top of the line as they spend a lot of time in their car.

Slowly but steadily this concept also came into America. Companies here realized in the early 2010s that their European counterparts have started manufacturing some mind-bending designs. Ford started focusing more on interior quality. the main focus became providing the customer with an experience. They still have a long way to go. The European companies are doing some outstanding work like the latest Volkswagen Passat or the 2021 Hyundai Elantra. Both are middle segment vehicles but their interior is not less than a luxury car.

The future of automobiles

The innovations in the automotive industry are very rapid. However, innovations in the automobile industry have been born out of necessity. Over the last 30 years, there have been many such path-breaking innovations. It is hard to imagine that it was only 20 years ago that GPS Satellite Navigations were introduced to the public in the late ’90s. Today, we have mass-produced self-driving cars, all thanks to Tesla. These innovations are not the only factor in the rise of the automobile industry. People, in general, have become more associated with automobiles. Despite the younger generations being apprehensive of getting into the car culture, especially during the hard economic time we live in, the sales are going up every year. This is because of the consumer shift from owning personal vehicles to public transport.

The industry is adapting rapidly to these new changes. The perception of owning a vehicle has changed drastically. It is no longer about necessity and longevity. An average customer does not mind shelling a few thousand dollars to get the vehicle customized. People today look at automobiles as an extension of their personality. People look to add a little themselves to the car. With Tesla being in the market, things have escalated pretty quickly. Now, not only can you customize how your vehicle looks, but also how it behaves. Tesla has to be given the credit for changing the game. Now the biggest value generator in the market is customer experience and digital initiatives. New brands are a rare occurrence in this industry. Still, the emergence of Tesla and its meteoric rise in the market is proof that the definition of luxury vehicles has changed. Tesla has already become a future novelty brand. Vision Zero is the most trending topic in the industry right now. Vision Zero means, zero accidents, zero contamination, zero security breach, and zero error. This can be achieved with level 5 automation. Another major shift has come in the form of ownership. The latest trends suggest that people value their vehicles differently. People are moving from ownership to usership. Automation has a huge role to play in this. In the future, ride services are going to be provided by self-driven cars.

This might take another 5 years to achieve this goal, but the industry is already preparing itself for that. The industry has been working closely with governments around the world, to provide adequate infrastructure to make this possible. They are constantly working to manifest luxury vehicles into digital.

The art of Automotive Designing.

Automotive Designing is for sure one of the most sought-after professions. However, the modern-day challenges have also forced the new designers to think out of the box. The increasing global warming and the depleting oil and gas resources have led to a more sustainable form of development. The automotive industry has changed drastically in the last 20 years. The world is quickly moving over to electric vehicles. The innovation of new technology plays a huge role in this.

At the beginning of the century, the idea of a self-driving car was perceived to be fulfilled by 2035. Then, Tesla took charge, and here we are in 2021. Not only driving futuristic cars but mass producing them. Surely, automotive designs have also changed during this time. The biggest challenge that designers face today is to combine aerodynamics, aesthetics, and ergonomics principle while still meeting all the safety regulations. Aerodynamics and low air resistance are very important for electric cars. Electric vehicles have significantly less energy available than combustion engines. Aerodynamics plays an important part in deciding the range for an electric vehicle. The energy used in overcoming air resistance can not be recovered, unlike vehicle acceleration. However, designing an electric vehicle also gives a huge advantage. Due to their large batteries, electric vehicles have smooth underfloors. Apple, another tech giant, plans to launch its first electric car in 2024. The company is planning to equip the car with its own battery design. This is supposed to radically reduce cost and increase vehicle range. This technology uses larger cells and compact battery designs which are more effective than multi-cell batteries. This is called a mono-cell battery design.

It is safe to say that the industry is moving at a very fast pace. Everything is changing very quickly. The automotive industry has to adapt to the new changes for its survival and also, keep innovating to stay ahead of the competition. It is a tough but exciting time for the industry. The future holds a lot of exciting things for us.

The Getaway Marina

Time on the water is time well spent. Whether you own a large vessel or just a small aluminum boat, being out on the water with family and friends can be a wonderful experience to let you unwind and relax after a week at work or on vacation. With COVID essentially preventing people from socializing. Small getaway trips have become the family favorite around the country.

More and more people are turning to outdoor pleasure during the Covid 19 pandemic as a means to escape the daily restrictions and feelings of being couped up. Fishing or just the drive to the lake can be relaxing and an opportune time to improve your mental state. The water sports industry has seen a significant boom during COVID. It is because you can ensure the safety of isolation while still enjoying outdoor activities. This gives some relief to those families trying to sneak a weekend of fun. the recent data shows that 50% of the new buyers are below the age of 50. This is a good sign for the businesses. This is mainly due to international travel restrictions. People are looking at new things to explore and do during COVID. It is good to seek opportunities to treat yourself with the luxury of recreation. However, it is equally important to ensure your safety and the safety of the people around you. This sudden increase in travelers has increased concerns for lifeguards and first responders. take the necessary precautions during your visit to the marina. Before you head out to your local marina or boat launch, it is always best to ensure that your boat, trailer, and boat canvas is in top working order and firmly secured. Driving with a slightly damaged boat cover can turn a small rip into a major one as the wind tugs and pulls on the thread and material. If you spot damage before your drive, find a way to prevent further damage by temporarily sewing or shall we say it, taping it securely. Make note of the damage and don't let it become a major replacement cost that ruins your summer fun. Once back on dry land, bring it into a boat upholstery repair shop and have it taken care of quickly, so that you can get back out there on the lake for another trip, more memories, and that big fishing story.

Enjoy your time and ensure safety at all times. Visit https://tc.canada.ca/en/initiatives/covid-19-measures-updates-guidance-issued-transport-canada/guidelines-pleasure-craft-during-covid-19-pandemic for more information.

The Future of Autonomous Cars.

Autonomous Cars or self-driving cars are capable of sensing their environment and driving without human involvement. The Guardian predicted in 2015 that self-driving cars would be a norm in 2020. However, fully autonomous cars are still in the prototype stage. The industry is still confused about the future of these cars. On one hand, the development of technology makes one believe that it is possible. On the other hand, there are issues that are more complex.

The concept of a self-driving car is to equip it with cameras, and when it senses a collision, a need to stop or divert it will. This simple concept is more complex than it sounds. Driving is a complex activity. Humans are interactive drivers, we use gestures and eye contact to figure out the right of way, react to situations and conditions, and make judgments that are difficult to take in split seconds. For Canadians, the matter is worse with heavy snowfalls. However, the main reason why fully autonomous cars are not fully functional is their own limitations. They need to make AI solve real-world problems. Autonomous cars need to navigate our streets with a high degree of reliability. For that, we need a lot of training data. the best way to train a self-driving car is to show it billions of hours of footage. Collecting that data is very expensive. Since some events are rare in occurrence or to capture, like accidents, it is possible for the car to have a lack of knowledge. This creates a dangerous situation.

The companies are investing in this heavily. This was a good decade for AI, and it reached a very high potential. This concept, whenever available, is going the change the face of transportation completely. There has already been an initial success. Waymo is driving around in Arizona without a driver behind the wheel. Recently Waymo announced that their vehicles have covered 20 million miles on public roads, which is a huge boost for the technology. In the near future, there is a possibility that your car can drive you to work and then drive back home, only to pick you back in the evening. All this in one command!

Traveling in the midst of COVID.

More than a year ago the world came to a halt. We were officially in a pandemic. Life surely has taken a 360-degree turn since then. We have seen the face of a new world. The world has become more digital. Many physical experiences have also found a way to go digital. But what about traveling? With the recent restrictions on international travel by the government domestic travel has increased significantly over the past year. Being in the automotive industry we have found that people are more comfortable travel in their own personal vehicle. This gives them the ability to be socially distanced and at the same time experience the beauty outside.

With summers just around the corner, people might have already started planning for their season trips. The safest way to travel is through the comfort of your own vehicle and personal space. Businesses’ are also feeling confident that once the current stay-at-home order is lifted, life is going back to normal. Many provinces are looking to implement measured reopening plans. It is highly advised to be self-sufficient as local services in the community might be closed. With so many restrictions in place make sure that you plan your trip well in advance. Many provinces and territories have limited access to inbound visitors, and some may ask you to self-isolate upon arrival. For all the RV enthusiasts, it is highly stressed that Quarantining is not allowed on campsites. So, if you are planning to take a road trip make sure to go through the travel guidelines and make necessary adjustments.

It is a different world out there. We need to make sure to deal with it accordingly. Make sure to stay safe and keep everyone around you safe. For more information on Travel guidelines to you can visit https://travel.gc.ca/travel-covid