FRM 2025: Sector Report Automotive Industry KPMG in Germany

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. The automotive industry report of the Future Readiness Monitor 2025 provides differentiated insights into strategies, challenges and fields of action in the industry. The trends in automobile industry and startups outlined in this report only scratch the surface of automotive innovations that we identified during our in-depth research. Identifying new opportunities and emerging technologies to implement into your business early on goes a long way in gaining a competitive advantage.

• In the US, the CHIPS and Science Act allocates USD 52.7 billion in funding and offers a 25% investment tax credit.
• Advances in solid-state batteries promise higher energy density and faster charging times, while the expansion of ultra-fast chargers addresses key barriers to EV adoption.
• Also, digital twin technology builds virtual replicas of supply chains to simulate disruptions and optimize performance.
• Autonomous driving will continue progressing from Level 2+ driver-assist to Level 3 conditional autonomy in geo-fenced areas.

What are the predicted future trends in the automotive industry regarding autonomous driving?

Digital twins validate updates virtually, with Stellantis using virtual engineering workbenches to test thousands of scenarios before rollout. In addition, Move-X supports over-the-air updates, ensures continuous improvement of system performance, and allows customization across diverse use cases. Moreover, its NuPort solution extends reliability by enabling connections between automotive components that support both diagnostics and long-term endurance. Its solution, carSECURITY, provides organizations with a complete cybersecurity process landscape. It integrates templates, examples, and practices aligned with ISO/SAE 21434, Automotive SPICE for Cybersecurity, and VDA guidelines.

Ascent Labs builds Risk Management Platform

German OEMs already have a full roadmap from L2 to L3, with Mercedes Benz commercializing their DrivePilot system, and BMW is likely to follow soon. Emerging companies are developing advanced sensing technologies to collect extensive vehicle data and enable vehicles to better understand their surroundings. Blockchain technology is increasingly being utilized in the automotive industry for various applications. It enables secure data sharing for connected and shared mobility solutions, including ride-hailing, urban transportation, and delivery services.

It also uses regenerative braking to capture and store energy in the car’s battery. The APH-01 incorporates flax fiber in its body shell, which reduces weight, increases impact resistance, and improves vibration damping. In addition to enhancing energy efficiency, regenerative braking systems reduce greenhouse gas emissions by recovering energy during braking to support global efforts to meet stricter emission norms. Keyvault raised USD 1 million in January 2025 to introduce smartphone-enabled car keys in the US, following the trend of incorporating smart device features into automobiles. Mercedes-Benz is also using generative AI to include conversational assistants for improving user experiences and redefining in-car interactions. The number of connected cars worldwide will likely reach 400 million by 2025 up from 237 million in 2021.

Best of 2025 How Generative AI Is Transforming 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. As we look forward to 2025, RSM’s automotive professionals predict a slowdown overall in the growth of the industry as well as a reduction in overall margins and profitability. Many OEM’s are already revisiting original forecasts and realigning through-put and production schedules accordingly. Automotive suppliers are renegotiating their vendor/supplier contracts to align with these new predictions.

Electric vehicle trends in 2025

The global automotive sensor fusion market is projected to reach USD 3.3 billion by 2030 at a 42.4% CAGR. The market reflects its role in meeting strict safety rules and consumer demand for smarter vehicles. AI, additive manufacturing, the Internet of Things, and 5G have become sources of product innovation and manufacturing efficiency, which in turn has led to revolutionary changes in customer experience.

Autonomous vehicles are changing the face of the auto industry

ABB is investing in advanced software that simulates automotive painting processes, cutting costs by up to 30%. The simulations enhance precision and minimise waste in this energy-intensive stage of manufacturing. The integration of renewable energy into automotive production took centre stage in 2024. This article sheds light on how OEMs are embracing solar, wind, and hydrogen power to achieve sustainability goals. From energy-efficient factories to green hydrogen applications, the examples showcased highlight the industry’s shift toward greener production methods.

Research has indicated that autonomous cars are safer, reduce downtime, expand the last-mile delivery scope, and improve fuel efficiency by 10%. Additionally, several trucking companies have tested self-driving technology, and it will soon become commonplace, with fleets of autonomous trucks sharing the road with traditional vehicles. Automakers and technology giants like Google and Tesla are incorporating more digital technology into their cars.

Software-Defined Vehicles (SDVs) will Witness High Demand

• Searches for “autonomous driving” have increased by over 1,029% over the past 10 years.
• After the pandemic, we developed a habit of shifting all requirements to online methods, and so do goes with the automobile industry.
• Some countries (and California) have even committed to phasing out all new sales of combustion engine vehicles over the next few decades.
• At the same time, governments and companies view subscriptions as a pathway to scale EV adoption without heavy upfront investments.
• Moreover, automakers reduce tailpipe emissions, cities improve air quality, and governments reduce fossil fuel dependence.

Automotive semiconductors and sensor fusion enhance safety, efficiency, and intelligence. This approach ensures our reports provide reliable, actionable insights into the automobile innovation ecosystem while highlighting startups driving technological advancements in the industry. This process enables us to identify the most impactful and innovative trends in the automobile industry. The latest technology in automobile industry have revolutionized the way vehicles are designed, manufactured, and sold, and the vehicles themselves have become much more than a means of transport. A recent survey reveals automotive companies have product development and launch cycles shorter than 18 months.

What impact will 5G connectivity have on the automotive industry and its trends?

This process enables us to identify the most impactful and innovative trends in the automotive industry. Volvo Cars has announced plans to adopt large aluminium castings for its next-generation electric vehicles, aiming to simplify production and enhance sustainability. Meanwhile, Toyota top 5 long distance vehicles VIN checked is reported to be cautiously evaluating the technology, balancing its benefits against potential risks.

Motoreto simplifies Automobile Distribution for Used Vehicles

In 2025, new registrations of electric vehicles – BEVs (battery electric vehicles) and PHEVs (plug-in hybrid electric vehicles) – are anticipated to reach a record 18.1 million – up from 16.3 million in 2024. However, growth EV adoption is predicted to slow, with year-on-year growth falling from 15% in 2024 to 11% in 2025. This continues a trend in the EV industry, which has been challenged by the high cost of vehicles and a lack of charging stations.

ThinkSeed transforms In-car Experience

• Toyota intends to power its battery plant in North Carolina with renewable energy by 2025.
• Autonomous vehicles (AVs) are advancing transportation by minimizing the need for human drivers and enhancing last-mile delivery efficiency.
• Honda will be showing its Series 0 platform that will be used for its SAE Level 4 driverless car in 2026.
• IoT creates more opportunities for manufacturers to market to consumers even after they’ve made a purchase.
• Belgian startup Apache Automotive develops the APH-01, a T3 prototype for extreme terrain.
• Finally, its V2AP (V2X Integration Platform) is a server-side software to amplify V2X services to elevate road safety and efficiency.
• This platform uses secured safety assurance and risk-mitigation principles to detect and address failures in assisted and self-driving systems.

More than 12% of consumers who financed a new car in June of 2022 had a monthly payment of $1,000 or more. It’s clear that a select subset of today’s consumers are willing to pay for high-end automobiles. Power say that sales of cars worth more than $100k were outselling lower-priced cars 3 to 1 in the first quarter of 2022. The market for FCEVs is expected to grow at a remarkable CAGR of nearly 70%, through 2026. According to a study completed by INRIX Transportation, Honolulu, New Orleans, and Nashville are the three US cities that stand to gain the most from micromobility vehicles. Tesla reportedly rewrote the software it uses in its vehicles so they could run on a different type of chip.

The startup uses automotive sensors and compute platforms to offer a scalable solution for cars to enable large-scale fleet learning. German startup SafeAD develops a vision-first perception and scene-understanding pipeline for autonomous driving. The charging infrastructure is more vulnerable as a result of the quick uptake of EVs, which hackers may attack to obtain customer information or interfere with services. The need for high-performance processors is also growing as a result of software-defined vehicles (SDVs), which rely on semiconductors for ongoing updates and subscription-based services.

❓ FAQ: Your Burning Questions About Automotive Trends Answered

• Meanwhile, we are seeing the economic case for sustainable materials strengthen as manufacturers realise operational efficiency gains and reduce their long-term costs.
• Due to the pandemic, the automotive sector is undoubtedly facing one of the most challenging periods and a massive slowdown for the last couple of years.
• In line with this, automakers focus on sustainability in their manufacturing processes, energy sourcing, and material selection.
• Moreover, the solution is customizable to any car model or specific OEM requirements.
• Conversely, in Europe, regulations are scaling up in preparation for the EU ban on new ICE vehicles by 2035.

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. This simplifies the transition to electric vehicles for fleets, reducing environmental impact and promoting safer urban transport. For this in-depth research on the Top Automotive Trends & Startups, we analyzed a sample of 6000+ global startups & scaleups. However, automotive executives need help as they focus on new technology that meets consumer and regulatory demands.

🚗 Top 7 Automotive Industry Trends Shaping 2026

It includes journey replays, geofencing, and driver behavior monitoring to enhance fleet efficiency and safety. The startup also offers Leap EasyTrack, a vehicle tracking solution that allows for quick and easy self-installation, making it simple to transfer between vehicles without downtime. Car connectivity and telematics improve the driving experience with real-time data integration. Cybersecurity protects these connected systems, while regenerative braking and sustainable manufacturing practices reduce the environmental impact.

• The Global Startup Heat Map below highlights the global distribution of the 4800+ exemplary startups & scaleups that we analyzed for this research.
• South African startup Motomatix applies AI and custom software solutions to strengthen supply chain resilience in the automotive repair sector.
• These examples point to AI enabling real-time decision-making and predictive maintenance, while improving quality control and minimising downtime, marking the technology ‘a no-brainer’ for production in 2025.
• It manages functions such as steer-by-wire, brake-by-wire, engine control, and ADAS.
• Blockchain secures supply chains and in-car data, and extended reality (XR) advances design, testing, and training.

Modernized and upgraded vehicles with much more technology allow a thunder growth for the markets providing parts of the vehicles. Conversely, in Europe, regulations are scaling up in preparation for the EU ban on new ICE vehicles by 2035. Chinese EV automakers’ expansion into new markets, including Europe, other Asian countries, and Latin America as previously mentioned, could see a completely new global EV landscape. Perhaps the biggest shift here is in a new manufacturing landscape, with new decentralised hubs across the globe producing EVs for local markets.

The automobile seminar is utilized by a lot of experts working in the automotive industry, researchers, and people with an affinity for the carmaker as a forum for sharing knowledge and collaboration. They are discussing the prospect of AI for driving systems, the implications of some regulatory changes for automotive innovation, and the potentials of renewable sources for energy for the automobiles. Blockchain secures supply chains and in-car data, and extended reality (XR) advances design, testing, and training. Additive manufacturing shortens prototyping cycles, and IoT-driven analytics improve predictive maintenance. Changing consumer preferences, cost efficiency, technological progress, and sustainability targets drive this innovation. A Deloitte UK study found that 52% of all consumers show no interest in car subscription models; interest is higher among younger people (age 18-34).

This trend is reshaping how manufacturers think about scalability and flexibility, particularly as the demand for electric vehicles continues to grow, and will continue to make itself felt throughout 2025. EV technology is the catalyst for transformation—it’s forcing OEMs to rethink vehicle architecture, supply chains, and customer engagement. Battery improvements reduce costs and increase range, making EVs more accessible. EVs also enable new business models like vehicle-to-grid services and battery leasing.

Still not the EV revolution once thought but still plenty of growth

Last year, the European Union updated the General Safety Regulation (GSR) and establishes mandatory safety requirements for cars sold in the EU. According to this regulation, starting from 2024, the following features become compulsory. However, there are yet to be more autonomous vehicles on the road due to the technological and safety challenges that must be overcome.

Top 10 Automobile Industry Trends & Innovations (

For businesses, the vehicle subscriptions lower capital requirements and simplify fleet management. The startup’s sensors provide consistent performance by transmitting and interpreting signals effectively. They also prevent crowding in frequency bands, which is essential for ADAS and autonomous driving. Swedish startup Radar Reticence designs radar sensors that advance sensor fusion capabilities in the automotive industry. Its technology applies signal processing algorithms to eliminate interference and ensure radar units operate reliably within the same environment.

NVIDIA’s DRIVE Thor, for instance, offers up to 2000 TOPS of AI inference performance. It enables sensor fusion and control for advanced driver assistance and autonomous driving. Luxury car brands are experiencing growth due to increased tangible luxury offerings and rising disposable incomes. The demand for sustainable and eco-friendly transportation, like electric luxury vehicles, also drives market growth. 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.