Transport minister Robert Goodwill believes a "genuinely new era" for motoring is just around the corner.

He noted that the automotive sector is a highly sophisticated industry, operating at the "cutting edge of modern engineering" and achieving "enormous technological advances". This, he said, has led to cars becoming safer, more reliable and more fuel-efficient.

However, Mr Goodwill believes the advances that have been made in recent years could be "overshadowed by what's to come".

For instance, he said vehicles will soon be equipped with connected infrastructure, vehicle-to-vehicle communications and smart logistics.

"The new technology will give drivers an option, whether they want to be in control, or hand the task to the vehicle itself," the minister commented.

"It will be revolutionary because for the first time, vehicles and roads will be designed to work together."

Mr Goodwill said one significant consequence of this will be that drivers will get much better information about routes and journey options.

As a result, people will be more able to find somewhere to park, avoid getting caught in traffic and fix malfunctions in the event of a breakdown.

"It will save us time, money and inconvenience," he said.

Mr Goodwill went on to state that safety standards should improve as a result of these innovations, while the freedom of the road will be extended to those who cannot currently drive.

Furthermore, he noted that the way traffic is managed could be transformed, with road capacity being used more efficiently.

"No-one currently driving, or working in the motor industry, will have experienced such fundamental change before," Mr Goodwill observed.