Despite initial scepticism, the automotive industry is embracing enhanced connectivity by enabling real-time updates and post-production feature additions. Through our work with automotive innovators, we witness first-hand how rapidly this sector is evolving. From electrification and software integration to new mobility models, the industry faces unprecedented change. AI and ML solutions process multimodal sensor data to power autonomy, predictive maintenance, and personalization. For instance, Qualcomm states that C-V2X allows vehicles to communicate with other vehicles, with infrastructure (V2I), and with vulnerable road users.
💻 Trend 2: The Rise of Software-Defined Vehicles (SDVs) – Cars as Computers
Consumer demand for eco-friendly products is rising, with 80% of US consumers concerned about the environmental impact of their purchases in April 2024, up from 68% in 2023. Toyota intends to power its battery plant in North Carolina with renewable energy by 2025. Its early fusion approach integrates LiDAR and radar data, while neural networks infer road elements and topology to create accurate high-definition maps. Continuous change detection triggers automatic cloud updates to ensure up-to-date navigation information. South Korean startup BOS Semiconductors builds Eagle-N, an AI accelerator for in-vehicle infotainment (IVI) and ADAS. It uses Tenstorrent’s Tensix NPU core to deliver up to 250 tera operations per second (TOPS) for efficient AI processing.
Automotive trends for 2025
Consumers increasingly demand eco-friendly options, influencing market offerings. Expect more biodegradable components, renewable energy-powered factories, and battery recycling programs. The trend is irreversible and will accelerate innovation while challenging legacy ICE-dependent supply chains. 5G connectivity unlocks ultra-low latency communication, enabling real-time vehicle-to-everything (V2X) interactions. This enhances autonomous driving capabilities, traffic management, and safety features. It also supports over-the-air (OTA) updates with larger data payloads and faster speeds, improving software reliability and feature rollout.
Trends in Project Portfolio Management: What’s Next in PPM
However, used electric powertrain vehicles are still few and far between, with the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, in the UK, suggesting EVs make up 2.7% of the total used car market. These solutions decrease fleet wait times and cut pollution from petrol or diesel vehicles. Hungarian startup V2ROADS offers a range of products and services tailored to the V2X ecosystem. They provide V2X applications, services, and communication stacks specifically designed for on-board units (OBUs) and road-side units (RSUs).
Immersive technologies: VR & AR
Most car buyers now consider a vehicle’s environmental impact before purchasing, with many willing to pay a premium of over £2,000 for greener emissions. In the Electric Vehicle Market, 2025 Will Be the Year of More – More Models, More Incentives, More Discounting, More Advertising, and More Sales Muscle. People are shifting to EVs because of their design and their being environmentally friendly. 50% of buyers are willing to opt for EVs, so businesses should surely focus on marketing electric vehicles to make their brands more broader.
Safety and Security in Automobiles
In 2022, the automotive industry’s automotive digital marketing spending increased to $17 billion and is predicted to keep growing in 2025. Experts anticipate a rise in digital advertising spending, driven by the growing mobile and social media usage rates. Increased government focus on charging networks will be needed to support the expanding EV fleet. The autonomous vehicle sector will advance as UN regulators lift their speed limit.
Conclusion – Automotive Industry Trends
It also supports this process by integrating buybacks, residual value calculations, and automated stock analysis. The automotive industry is one of the most severely affected by supply chain disruptions. Currently, its greatest challenge is uncertainty and instability, which are expected to persist this year. Hybrid vehicles are becoming increasingly popular—they combine electric power with the reliability of a combustion engine. Compared to EVs, they don’t require charging, but at the same time reduce carbon emissions. However, it’s estimated that there will be 33 million autonomous vehicles on the road by 2040.
Inside the architecture: How software-defined vehicle (SDV) platforms are built
We explore eight most influential trends expected to define the automotive manufacturing landscape, offering insights into what lies ahead for the industry. The European Commission will start talks in the New Year on the future of the industry in the region as sales of electric vehicles stall. This is not just a European problem with Volkswagen and Stellantis, as Honda and Nissan merge, and Ford and General Motors struggle. Software-defined vehicles (SDVs), where software manages essential functions like steering, braking, and infotainment, will see rapid growth over the next few years.
Sustainable Manufacturing: Michelin Makes Tires with 45% Sustainable Materials
- Environmental consciousness is driving the automotive industry toward more sustainable and eco-friendly solutions.
- Initiatives and support from the Chinese government, such as pilot zones and regulatory frameworks, are further accelerating the process.
- At the same time, BYD, Stellantis, and Volkswagen are focused on designing a stronger PHEV portfolio.
- Recent auto trends show that customers prefer to experience a car or dealership before purchasing.
- By focusing on digital transformation, the company aims to integrate predictive analytics and process automation, creating production systems that are adaptable and resilient.
- The recently proposed 25% tariffs on imports from Mexico and Canada, while temporarily delayed, may also have a drastic impact on the global automotive supply chain.
- This increases the regulatory push toward connected and safety-enhanced vehicles.
Finally, automotive manufacturers are increasingly adopting PMO software to standardize the execution of complex projects with globally distributed teams and ensure compliance with industry standards. In addition, assembling a car involves a massive number of parts (30,000 on average), with materials accounting for a significant portion (40-50 percent) of the manufacturing cost. To maintain cost competitiveness, automotive procurement teams must be critical in managing supplier networks and supply chains for existing and upcoming vehicle models. This includes aligning new technologies and business models with the company’s vision. With consumers increasingly prioritizing environmental performance when purchasing vehicles, automakers must focus on reducing emissions and developing more sustainable transportation options.
b. Charging Infrastructure Expansion
These systems can detect objects, evaluate road environments, and make real-time decisions to further enhance safety and comfort. Consumer trends in the automotive industry highlight that short videos are more effective in converting leads into customers. Dealerships can take advantage of different video formats, like how-to videos, car highlights, and customer testimonials. With more and more customers prioritizing environmental sustainability, the focus should be on promoting environmentally conscious manufacturing processes along with eco-friendly cars like electric vehicles. The truck’s design removes the internal combustion engine, advancing commercial vehicle safety standards, and protecting pedestrians and other road users. Volta Trucks also offers leasing or purchasing options, and integrates services like maintenance, charging infrastructure, and training through its truck-as-a-service model.
According to Globe News Wire, the entire market will grow at a CAGR of 5.5% from 2025 to 2033, logging USD 984 billion. Semiconductor chips are at the heart of almost every automotive trend, from connected technologies to autonomous driving and EVs. Advanced systems that power, control, and optimize automobiles are increasingly being built around tiny chips. Semiconductors ensure energy efficiency, consistent power distribution, and power the battery systems in EVs. They also enable software updates, enhance entertainment, and facilitate smooth communication in connected and software-defined vehicles. Let’s embark on this journey together, where ‘driving the future’ is more than just empty rhetoric.
Innovation Map outlines the Top 10 Automotive Trends & 20 Promising Startups
Below, you get to meet 20 out of these 4859 promising startups & scaleups as well as the solutions they develop. These 20 automotive companies are hand-picked based on criteria such as founding year, location, funding raised & more. As battery technology and charging infrastructure progress, EVs lead the push toward sustainability. Sensor fusion that combines information from various sources improves safety and autonomy by enabling accurate decision-making. Indian startup ThinkSeed develops middleware solutions that enhance smartphone connectivity to vehicles for secure access and infotainment.
Technology Challenges Yield Growth Opportunities
It also works with Ethernet and LIN, enabling integration across passenger engines and action feature for car lovers cars, buses, trucks, and autonomous vehicles. Chinese startup Move-X Autonomous Driving offers Level 4 autonomous driving through integrated vehicle platforms designed for commercial deployment. TeraDAR strengthens sensor fusion by providing high-resolution, all-weather imaging that improves vehicle perception and increases safety. Moreover, the startup leverages patented research and extensive radar expertise to deliver dependable detection in densely populated settings. Radar Reticence strengthens sensor fusion by supplying interference-free radar data that enhances vehicle perception and improves safety.
🚗 Top 7 Automotive Industry Trends Shaping 2026
This communication system is crucial for the safe deployment of autonomous vehicles, as it will enable them to “talk” to other vehicles and infrastructure, reducing the risk of accidents. The integration of Industry 4.0 technologies is revolutionizing automotive manufacturing. IoT, AI, and digital twins are becoming essential tools for improving efficiency, reducing downtime, and optimizing production processes. The push toward electrification is reshaping the automotive manufacturing landscape.
The Ford Mustang GTD Is the Best Muscle Car Ever
These tools equip dealerships to handle inquiries efficiently, thus freeing time for other important tasks. They further assist with management, maintenance, and repair appointments, as well as streamlining operations. Voice search assistants help optimize interfaces for advertisements and voice search queries. For the eighth time, we asked managers and decision-makers in the automotive industry which trends and developments they are currently focusing on.
- For instance, Audi and BMW vehicles exchanged sensor data, including camera feeds, during 5G-V2X Direct demonstrations in Berlin.
- Now, 94% of consumers check the manufacturer’s website for product information before purchasing a part.
- By leveraging tech and sustainable practices, the automotive sector can meet the challenges of tomorrow while delivering exceptional value to consumers.
- Emerging automotive industry trends include the increased adoption of electric vehicles (EVs), advanced semiconductors, and the growing focus on vehicle cybersecurity.
- AI-powered semiconductors drive transformation in autonomous driving systems by enabling real-time communication with road infrastructure and enhancing safety features such as emergency braking systems.
Phenikaa X provides Intelligent Transportation Solutions
As of 2023, the two now equip Ford and Lincoln vehicles with a built-in Android operating system. In addition, TuSimple has partnered with Navistar and UPS to test its software under supervised driving conditions. This could allow drivers to retain their jobs, but avoid the injuries and deaths that result from exhaustion. Additionally, Chevrolet, Hyundai, Kia, Nissan, and Jaguar have all released more affordable EVs that have a range of anywhere from 200 miles to 250 miles. Right now, there are only about 73,215 public EV charging stations across the US. Lithium-ion battery prices have fallen by 89% over the last decade, reaching a price of $137/kWh in 2020.
The Tree Map below illustrates the top 10 automotive trends that will impact companies in 2024. Emerging companies are working to build the first fully autonomous vehicle for city roads, which in turn accelerates the advancements in-vehicle connectivity and IoT. Major automakers, such as General Motors, are expanding telematics offerings by integrating subscription-based services like OnStar as standard features across models.
Launch Mobility streamlines Shared Mobility
Get in touch to easily and exhaustively scout relevant technologies & startups that matter to you. Operating from Germany and the US, EcoG is a startup offering an IoT-based operating system and platform for EV charging. The startup provides manufacturers with tools that make the development and maintenance of EV charging infrastructure simple, fast, and scalable.