GENERATION Z : TECH-DRIVEN DRIVING By 2004 , the world was celebrating the Nobel Peace Prize win of Wangari Maathai , while American drivers were enamoured with the rugged Ford F-Series pickup . Across the Atlantic , the 5 th Generation Volkswagen Golf still won over European drivers . By this time , airbags were standard for front seats across North America , with many vehicles featuring multiple airbags , including side impact protection . Anti-lock Braking Systems were in nearly every vehicle and features like Side Impact Protection Systems and Whiplash Protection Systems were increasingly standard in higher-end models ,” John elaborates . “ Emergency Brake Assist , the LATCH system for child seats and Tyre Pressure Monitoring Systems were gaining momentum ,” John Lewis continues . Meanwhile , those old , dog-eared street map books were starting to collect dust in the glove compartment as GPS-based navigation systems – complete with DVD or hard drive storage – took the wheel .
And in the shadows , a little-known startup called Tesla was quietly dreaming up the future of motoring , preparing to shake up the industry in ways no one could have predicted . It was a time of change , with the seeds of a technological revolution beginning to sprout . Gen Y marked integrating technology into every facet of the driving experience . Safety features and digital innovations transformed driving from a simple task into a high-tech experience , setting the stage for an even more connected future .
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