I have a time-series data containing 16 values (of no. of Vehicles) from 2001 to 2016. I wanted to predict - based on the underlying trend - the values upto 2050 (which is a long shot I agree).
Upon doing some research, I found that it can be done by methods like HoltWinters or TBATS which, even though, did not go with my own plan of using some Machine Learning algorithm.
I am using R for all my work. Now, after using HoltWinters() and then forecast() methods, I did get an extrapolated curve uptil 2050 but it is a simple exponential curve from 2017 to 2050 which I think I could have obtained through meager calculations.
My question is twofold:
1) What would be the best approach to obtain a meaningful extrapolation?
2) Does my current approach be modified to give me a more meaningful extrapolation?
By meaningful I want to express that a curve with the details more closer to actuality.
Thanks a lot.