The global automobile industry is entering a period of change and innovation, driven by greener policies and tech advances, with two US events in recent days highlighting just how consumer habits are evolving.

In California, authorities banned the sale of petrol-powered vehicles beyond 2035. And in Arizona, a giant coin-operated vending machine that dispenses cars opened for business.

The Golden State is the world’s fifth-largest economy behind Germany and an important global trendsetter, so its decision to pull the plug on the combustion engine is expected to further turbocharge the already rapidly growing electric vehicle market.

In 2012, just 120,000 electric vehicles were sold worldwide. Today that number is sold every week, and the US has set itself a goal of making half of all new passenger vehicle sales battery-powered by 2030.

Meanwhile, the opening of a new eight-storey ‘car vending machine’ highlights another rapidly accelerating car industry trend – customers receive a commemorative coin to activate the automated vending process, but they are in fact collecting vehicles they have purchased online.

While some buyers might still brake at the thought of buying a vehicle without first sitting in it, online car sales have now hit the fast lane worldwide and are forecast to exceed $US500 billion within five years.

Customers can browse huge inventories from the comfort of their couches and then arrange finance, insurance and delivery or pick-up in minutes, with some dealers offering returns policies of up to seven days to ease that nagging fear of buying a lemon unseen.

This step into the future, into how customers are buying cars, has seen a number of innovative companies ride the wave of change sweeping the market.

Sources:

• newyorktimes, What to Know About California’s Ban on New Gasoline-Powered Cars
• theguardian, World EV road trip reveals an Australian market in the slow lane
• reuters.com, Biden seeks to make half of new U.S. auto fleet electric by 2030
• globenewswire.com, Global Online Car Buying Marketplace to 2027: Trends, Opportunities, and Strategic Imperatives
• businesswire.com, Carvana Opens Newest Car Vending Machine in Phoenix Area