The U.S. auto industry ended 2018 with sales of 17.3 million new vehicles, which beat expectations , but the outlook for 2019 is uncertain. Among the twists and turns on the road ahead are the fallout of a slowdown in China and in the U.S., the overhang of tariff wars, the impact of new technologies such as driverless vehicles, and the preferences of millennial and Gen Z consumers, which will drive future demand. If the past year saw plant closures and layoffs at companies such as General Motors, the industry heads into 2019 with more investments, alliances and forays into electric vehicles and other newer technologies. While the industry began the year on a tepid note with an expected sales decline in January, it does not mean auto companies won’t ride out any bumps, according to experts at Wharton and elsewhere. Long and Winding Road Pros and cons exist for each of the factors influencing the U.S.…