Driving Into the Future: Top Automotive Innovations and Insights of 2024 DirectIndustry e-Magazine

Automotive Topics and Trends

Additionally, looking at supply chains, AI and machine learning are driving the rise of autonomous logistics systems that can self-optimise routing, scheduling, and inventory management. These systems aim to minimise human intervention, improve decision-making, and enhance overall efficiency, paving the way for smarter supply chain operations. In Latin America, much like other regions, the electrified vehicle fleet is still only a small share of the total vehicle fleet; however, that share is growing. The Latin America Energy Organisation (Olade), released a report showing that with the increase in supply, lower prices and tax incentives, Latin America and the Caribbean have great potential for EV growth.

🛍️ Trend 6: Evolving Consumer Preferences and New Mobility Solutions

For consumers, 5G means richer infotainment, seamless smartphone integration, and enhanced navigation services. The automotive ecosystem will become more interconnected, paving the way for smart cities and mobility-as-a-service (MaaS). The transition to electric vehicles has moved beyond early adoption and is now something of a global imperative. The uptake in EVs is experiencing a surge, driven by rapid advances in battery technology, an expanding charging infrastructure and supportive government incentives.

  • Increased government focus on charging networks will be needed to support the expanding EV fleet.
  • Robust IoT (Internet of Things) security, regular software updates, and well-prepared incident response plans are the essential building blocks of a strong cyber security strategy.
  • Safety concerns remain in the spotlight – this is leading to greater acceptance of incremental developments in advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS) rather than pushing for immediate full autonomy.
  • Technological advancements, along with changing consumer preferences, regulatory changes, and global economic conditions, are driving these trends.
  • Additionally, the startup offers features such as platooning algorithms for safe and efficient vehicle grouping.
  • Lastly, there’s even a term “vehicle-to-everything” (V2X), which includes all types of vehicle communication.
  • The automotive industry was perhaps the saving grace of the European semiconductor industry in 2023, but reality has hit hard in 2024.
  • Software-defined vehicles (SDVs), where software manages essential functions like steering, braking, and infotainment, will see rapid growth over the next few years.
  • US-based startup Avvenire develops LEVs for efficient and eco-friendly urban transportation.
  • The high prices and increasing interest rates are causing sales to decline for dealers and automakers nationwide.

Sustainable Manufacturing

  • They improve energy efficiency through wide-bandgap devices that extend EV range and minimize charging times.
  • The global automotive blockchain market is experiencing significant growth — it is projected to reach USD 6.11 billion by 2032.
  • Established in 2007, SG Analytics is a Great Place to Work® (GPTW) certified company with a team of over 1200 employees and a presence across the U.S.A., the UK, Switzerland, Poland, and India.
  • By 2025, significant investments in fast-charging networks will be essential for EV adoption to reach mass-market penetration.
  • Advanced manufacturing technologies, such as megacasting and giga-stamping, are playing a pivotal role in enabling the industry’s transformation.
  • The Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) “Levels of Driving Automation” standard shows how stages of vehicle automation progress.
  • Examples are bikes, scooters, and mopeds, as well as the electric versions of these vehicles.
  • However, overcoming supply chain challenges takes time, so they are likely to remain in 2025.
  • These solutions decrease fleet wait times and cut pollution from petrol or diesel vehicles.

This is fueled by increased vehicle production and sales in China, Japan, and South Korea. The AV market is projected to reach USD 1.73 trillion by 2033, growing at a CAGR of 31.85% from 2025 to 2033. Automakers are investing in cybersecurity technologies such as hardware security modules (HSMs), AI-based intrusion detection systems, and secure over-the-air (OTA) updates to address these challenges. Automotive Manufacturing Solutions (AMS) is the essential resource for automotive manufacturing professionals and suppliers globally. We invite you to revisit these top stories, share your perspectives, and stay tuned for more in-depth coverage of the trends shaping the automotive world. Looking ahead, JLR’s focus on carbon-neutral manufacturing and environmentally responsible practices sets a powerful example for the industry.

News + Insights

The global automotive semiconductor market is expected to grow at a rate of 8.1% between 2023 and 2030. This growth is driven by the increasing adoption of electronic control units (ECUs) in modern vehicles and the rising implementation of advanced safety systems. Semiconductors are, in essence, at the heart of modern car manufacturing, reshaping our understanding of mobility. The US-based startup Procon Analytics leverages big data to offer a solution for automotive finance. The solution captures millions of data points in real time and analyzes them to enable lenders to instantly assess and reduce risk.

The adoption of pre-owned luxury cars is increasing due to easy access to financing and lower entry prices. Manufacturers are investing in innovative mobility technologies, such as personal voice assistance, autonomous driving, and AI and ML, creating a positive market outlook. Developing high-performance, long-lasting, and cost-effective batteries is a key area of focus for automakers in 2025. Batteries are the heart of any electric vehicle, and improvements in battery technology will continue to shape the future of EVs. Companies focus on increasing energy density to improve range and reduce charging times. The trends shaping automotive manufacturing in 2025 emphasize innovation, sustainability, and connectivity.

Automotive Topics and Trends

Hydrogen May Fuel the Future of the Automotive Industry

Sales of electric vehicles (EVs) are expected to grow, although governments may restructure their incentive programs. The automotive industry is transforming, fueled by evolving consumer demands, rapid technological advancements, and the urgency of addressing climate change. In 2025, the future of mobility will take a new shape in ways that promise smarter, more efficient, and more sustainable vehicles. Central to this evolution is the growing demand for electric vehicles and software-defined vehicles. British startup Cube Intelligence develops a blockchain-based security platform for autonomous vehicles. The startup’s technology utilizes hash codes to block malicious attacks or hacking attempts on autonomous cars and connected cars.

What role will artificial intelligence play in the future of the automotive industry and its trends?

Driverless cars have sometimes struggled with unexpected incidents on the road and in poor weather conditions. The future trends in the automobile industry suggest that 2025 can be the milestone year for connected cars. The expansion will stem from the speedy spread of data that can be capitalized upon to lower expenses, streamline research and development, enhance products and services, and restrict emissions. The strong focus on technological advancements in the automotive sphere has also meant that cyber security is becoming a larger concern in a historically unconcerned industry. Threats like supply chain attacks, data breaches, ransomware, and state-sponsored intrusions are on the rise.

  • More driverless journeys will occur as technology continues to be enhanced and refined.
  • This rapid expansion reflects how automakers and mobility providers are shifting from ownership models toward flexible, access-based mobility solutions.
  • Autonomous driving will continue progressing from Level 2+ driver-assist to Level 3 conditional autonomy in geo-fenced areas.
  • This vehicle’s design prioritizes driver safety and comfort, featuring a central driving position and panoramic vision for enhanced visibility.
  • Consequently, the global autonomous vehicle market size is projected to reach USD 448.6 billion by 2035, growing at a CAGR of 22.2%.
  • It enables systematic results in cybersecurity, functional safety, and process conformance.
  • The latest technological advancements and evolving consumer preferences are seriously revamping vehicle production as we know it, remodeling the auto market for good.

What are the latest automotive industry trends in 2024?

Its intelligent asset tracking defends vehicles against spoofing, ransomware, and remote control attempts. Also, EV charging infrastructure requires strong cybersecurity, as attackers target charging stations for data theft or service disruption. The startup also operates PartSmart, a real-time parts ordering platform that connects insurers, workshops, fleet owners, and suppliers. The platform enables visibility across the entire claims cycle and supports both OEM and aftermarket sourcing.

  • Manufacturers are partnering with tech companies to design and produce the new operating systems necessary for the next generation of technologically advanced vehicles.
  • At the same time, governments and companies view subscriptions as a pathway to scale EV adoption without heavy upfront investments.
  • 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.
  • Notable achievements in 2024 include significant progress in reducing emissions and advancing transparent ESG reporting.
  • In the UK, auto production surpassed one million units in 2023, marking a significant recovery.
  • The emergence of CASE (Connected, Autonomous, Shared, and Electrified) technologies is changing the industry like never before.
  • Further, high-speed automotive Ethernet, 5G networks, and V2X communication extend a car’s perception beyond its line of sight.

Brands need to provide specific offers by analyzing their customer’s needs, preferences, and behavior. OEMs like Toyota, Hyundai-Kia, Renault-Nissan Mitsubishi, and Stellantis already have a large portfolio of hybrid variants, including mild and full hybrids. At the same time, BYD, Stellantis, and Volkswagen are focused on designing a stronger PHEV portfolio. Hyundai plans to ramp up its hybrid offerings under its ‘Hyundai Way’ strategy from seven to 14 models by 2030.

Global Startup Heat Map covers 4859 Innovative Automotive Startups & Scaleups

However, the demand for parts is also being diminished by the increasing quality of newly manufactured vehicle parts. In addition, the ecommerce automotive aftermarket market is worth an estimated $85.28 billion. The company already has 50 Level 4 autonomous trucks operating in the Southwestern United States. One of the most promising companies in the autonomous trucking ecosystem is TuSimple. The number of autonomous trucks on the road was expected to increase from roughly 150 in 2020 to over 2000 in 2021. It’s expected that the $800 billion trucking industry could benefit from a significant reduction in the 4900 trucking-related deaths that occur each year if only Level 3 or 4 autonomy would gain traction.

Apex AI offers an Automotive Data Management Platform

The automotive industry is gearing up for a transformation as fast and furious as the iconic franchise suggests. The latest technological advancements and evolving consumer preferences are seriously revamping vehicle production as we know it, remodeling the auto market for good. A quick online search reveals that by 2040, 33 million autonomous cars are expected to be on the road.

Automotive Topics and Trends

Project vs Program vs Portfolio Management: What’s the Difference?

Car companies plan to integrate powertrain components in the next five to ten years by combining onboard chargers with batteries. Tesla already employs single inverter housings across its models, offering efficient integration of power electronics. This shift is driven by the growing need for more efficient power management in electric vehicles, resulting in smarter and more streamlined EV designs. 2025 will witness the automotive industry transitioning from Level 2 autonomy to Levels 2.5 and 3, representing a substantial evolution in automotive technology and enhancing vehicle automation and safety.

Discover all Automotive Technologies & Startups

For asset tracking, the startup provides small, discrete devices with long-life batteries lasting up to five years, waterproof ratings, and location monitoring alerts for reliability in outdoor conditions. XCognition captures operator input or sensor data to generate execution-ready robotic programs to increase accuracy and reduce deployment time. XTrude models the physics of FDM processes to optimize parameters DontGetSerious advice plus history report like flow rate and extrusion temperature to ensure large-scale 3D printing. Automakers are responding by integrating carbon-neutral initiatives across their value chains. This includes upstream supply chains and downstream life cycle phases like recycling. Moreover, Asia-Pacific is the fastest-growing region, with a projected CAGR of 14.8%.

2025 is predicted to be a big year for self-driving taxi services, as companies look to re-imagine the future of the automotive and taxi-hailing industry. In 2025, Uber and GM Cruise will partner, allowing users of the Uber ride-hailing platform to book fully self-driving vehicles from the app in selected US cities. Italian startup Moi combines thermosetting composite materials and 3D printing to manufacture high-performance parts for the automotive industry.

But, there are other various supply chain issues and factory closures that have led to low inventory, too. After demand started coming back, there simply wasn’t an adequate supply of chips, and the auto industry has been feeling the effects ever since. The parts industry is benefiting from the ever-increasing average age of vehicles on the road. The two purportedly plan to begin manufacturing an autonomous Apple electric car as of 2024. This kind of adoption should lead to much-improved 5G infrastructure, which could support vehicle connectivity. As 5G and the Internet of Things (IoT) continue their growth, vehicles are becoming more and more connected.

Norway set a record in the electric vehicle sector in August 2024, as the number of all-electric vehicles on the road surpassed that of gasoline-powered vehicles for the first time. In terms of new car sales, Norway boasts the highest percentage of battery-electric vehicles in Europe. It also leads Europe in new EV market activity, with just 9.61 percent of new passenger car sales in 2023 attributed to gasoline, diesel, and non-rechargeable hybrid vehicles.

The World Health Organization links 1.35 million annual deaths to road accidents, creating urgency for autonomy. AI, ML, and computing allow vehicles to process data points per second with split-second precision. This ensures cybersecurity and reliability for engine control, powertrain management, and other mission-critical automotive applications.

Automotive Topics and Trends

In addition, the startup strengthens automotive cybersecurity with features such as real-time intrusion detection and automated containment protocols. It is also integrated into fleet management dashboards and security operations centers (SOC). US-based startup MotionSafe provides AI-powered cybersecurity solutions that protect connected vehicles from data breaches and cyber threats.

Further, Chipv creates power control chips equipped with triple RISC-V cores, extensive on-chip memory, and robust hardware security modules. In the US, the CHIPS and Science Act allocates USD 52.7 billion in funding and offers a 25% investment tax credit. It provides grants, loans, and incentives to expand domestic fabs, semiconductor R&D, and the broader supply chain. It offers ready-to-use workflows across system, software, and project management processes. Its MotionSafe Privacy platform uses algorithms to monitor controller area network (CAN) traffic and detect anomalies. The platform also erases personally identifiable information (PII) from vehicle systems to maintain privacy.

After the pandemic, we developed a habit of shifting all requirements to online methods, and so do goes with the automobile industry. Our new generation which is called millennials or Genz researches everything online before the actual purchase. Consumer trends in the automotive industry reveal that short videos are more effective than text in converting leads into customers in the automotive industry. Dealerships can take advantage of various videos, such as how-to videos, car highlights, and customer testimonials. The demand is highest for vehicles under four years old, which have the latest technologies but are less expensive than new cars. This includes pre-owned electric and hybrid vehicles, and dealerships now offer certified pre-owned cars that look and function like new ones at a lower cost.