US-based startup NuNami designs automotive semiconductors that provide reliable connectivity and safety-critical interfaces. Its modules integrate high-voltage isolation, digital error correction, and built-in self-testing to ensure secure data transfer and fault-tolerant operation in automotive systems. They also incorporate floating-point units that improve computational accuracy and performance. The startup provides single-chip motor control solutions that integrate RISC-V processor cores with programmable MOSFET drivers, FD-CAN and LIN interfaces, and dedicated PWM modules. The systems optimize the performance of electric power steering, vehicle pumps, cooling fans, and HVAC modules. EVs typically use 2-3 times more semiconductor content than internal combustion engine models, and in powertrain-specific components, that multiplier is possibly higher.
Advanced Safety Features
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.
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. And with about two-thirds of people saying they would rather drive than ride in an autonomous car, much of the near-term focus is on trucking. A major barrier to this relentless growth, however, is consumer and regulatory concerns. Large automakers like Tesla, Alphabet, Ford, GM, and Volvo have all entered the autonomous vehicle space.
🔋 Battery Technology Breakthroughs and Range Anxiety Solutions
Automakers need to redesign their vehicles or should look for other chip options available. The AI in Automotive industry in 2026 is evolving as AI, autonomous technologies, and software-defined vehicles reshape global mobility systems. This AI in Automotive Market Report examines the trends and technologies driving vehicle intelligence, operational efficiency, safety advancement, and data-driven mobility innovation.
Auto Sales Impacted by Low Inventory and High Prices
Owing to these advancements, the global SDV market is set to reach USD 3.3 trillion by 2034, growing at 31.2% annually. Also, GPS and V2X connectivity improve fleet distribution and service reliability. Telematics and IoT sensors monitor vehicle condition and enable predictive maintenance. For instance, Planet42 extends access to underbanked consumers in South Africa and Mexico. Additionally, the startup offers features such as platooning algorithms for safe and efficient vehicle grouping.
What role does autonomous driving play in current automotive trends?
Furthermore, the need for EV charging stations is no longer a challenge to the electric vehicle market. While it’s true that at the end of 2023, there wasn’t an adequate supply of electric mobility hubs, the charging infrastructure in Europe has improved drastically. Currently, there are about 750,000 public charging stations with a combined 28.7 GW of charging capacity. Notably, China, Europe, and the US have established themselves as the leading EV markets, with other countries following suit. 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.
💻 Trend 2: The Rise of Software-Defined Vehicles (SDVs) – Cars as Computers
In October 2022, the delivery lead time for chips decreased by six days to 25.5 weeks, the most significant drop since 2016. Approximately 70 percent of industrial companies report faster chip supply, possibly due to weakened consumer spending and demand. These constraints are expected to persist into 2025, as semiconductor production has exceeded full production-rate utilization since 2019, with recent rates surpassing 95%.
Launching of fuel cell EVs
With EV makers in China engaging in a price war due to declining demand, Chinese brands with strong hybrid presently are gaining popularity. A few hybrid models are priced below their EV and ICE counterparts, attracting Chinese consumers to hybrids, especially plug-in hybrid (PHEV) and extended-range hybrid (EREV) models. Further, its Craidlr ATX-G gateways are integral to the surface temperature & vibration monitoring solution, catering to diverse automotive testing needs. These gateways, combined with advanced transducers, facilitate real-time data collection. The Global Startup Heat Map below highlights the global distribution of the 4800+ exemplary startups & scaleups that we analyzed for this research. Created through the StartUs Insights Discovery Platform, the Heat Map reveals high startup activity in the US, Europe, and India.
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- This regulatory clarity will pave the way for broader AV adoption in cities, particularly in controlled environments like urban areas or designated autonomous vehicle lanes.
- Its AI-driven control systems, xCognition and xTrude, enhance industrial robotics and additive manufacturing by automating programming and improving precision.
- These tools enable dealerships to handle inquiries efficiently, freeing time for other tasks.
- Sales for BEV and PHEV in Europe increased by 137% in 2020 compared with the previous year (despite a 20% year-over-year decrease in the total car market).
- Its products include the Leggera, an all-electric vehicle for on-road and off-road use, and the Spiritus, a three-wheel electric car with optional autonomous driving, Wi-Fi connectivity, and solar panels.
Inside Xiaomi’s EV Factory
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 Three Automotive and Mobility Trends in 2025
It builds connected EV models that operate reliably on diverse terrains and promotes sustainable mobility solutions for the region. Artificial intelligence (AI), the Internet of Things (IoT), blockchain, and advanced semiconductors allow autonomous driving, predictive maintenance, and secure connectivity. These technologies enhance safety, efficiency, and user experience across vehicles. 2025 is no exception—automotive manufacturers are expected to continue implementing more and more advanced safety features in their vehicles.
Innovation Map outlines the Top 10 Auto Trends & 20 Promising Startups
Wireless and ultra-fast charging stations are also emerging as promising solutions to ease the transition to EVs further. Wireless charging could eliminate the need for physical connectors, offering a more seamless user experience. Digital twins—virtual replicas of physical systems—are gaining traction, enabling manufacturers to simulate scenarios and predict outcomes in real-time.
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.
It highlights workforce trends, leading investors, and key technologies driving adoption across vehicles, batteries, charging, and software. However, the primary function of these cars is not just to entertain they can connect to other vehicles (V2V), pedestrians (V2P), infrastructure (V2I), and cloud (V2C). Lastly, there’s even a term “vehicle-to-everything” (V2X), which includes all types of vehicle communication. This infrastructure ensures the safety of drivers and passengers and can even send emergency SOS messages to respective services in case of an accident, sharing all the critical information. Connectivity also enables remote diagnostics, alerts the driver about necessary maintenance, and promotes both safety and cost-efficiency.
Digital platforms enable smooth access and allow users to book, swap, and unlock vehicles through mobile apps. For example, Hyundai partners with Revv in India to expand subscription offerings through a mobile-first platform. AI and ML processors support object recognition, path planning, and decision-making. For instance, Texas Instruments‘ AWR2544 radar achieves sensing beyond 200 meters. It uses AI-powered damage recognition, estimation, and work distribution to streamline repair processes.
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.
While the market for cars valued below $80k is expected to remain flat through 2031, the luxury car market is predicted to grow at up to 14% CAGR. The chip shortage is one-factor holding cars back from getting to the dealership lots. 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.
Italian startup Moi combines thermosetting composite materials and 3D printing to manufacture high-performance parts for the automotive industry. Moi uses continuous fiber manufacturing (CFM) technology, robotic intelligence, and digital fabrication to prevent auto fraud with VIN checks deposit fibers. As a result, the solution is easily scalable for producing composites for panels, frames, and interior components. The startup also serves other industries, such as aerospace, construction, and biomedical. Indian startup RevitsOne offers AI-powered fleet-management software that is suitable for fleets of varying sizes. The startup’s vehicle management system provides insights into speed, running vitals, and health information.
US-based startup Aeluma develops semiconductor technology for mobile devices, AI, AR/VR, autonomous systems, and other applications. It combines compound semiconductor nanomaterials with scalable silicon manufacturing for mass-market microelectronics. This approach ensures our reports provide reliable, actionable insights into the automotive innovation ecosystem while highlighting startups driving technological advancements in the industry. However, an SSAB survey reveals that cost and investment challenges remain significant barriers to widespread adoption. Despite these hurdles, the integration of sustainable materials is expected to accelerate as regulatory frameworks tighten and consumer demand for environmentally responsible products grows.
Connected Vehicle Technologies
Looking ahead, Tesla’s strategies are likely to influence industry standards and inspire localisation efforts across the sector. With its focus on next-generation cells and expanded production capacity, Tesla is paving the way for a more efficient and sustainable global EV landscape. The next wave of auto trends is shaped by enabling technologies that extend beyond electrification and connectivity.
- The company already has 50 Level 4 autonomous trucks operating in the Southwestern United States.
- The startup employs the Perceived Quality Index to eliminate engineering bias by translating customer insights into measurable quality improvements.
- Therefore, you should focus on environmentally conscious manufacturing processes and eco-friendly cars like electric vehicles.
- Alongside established technologies like AI and big data analytics, the industry is also embracing the Internet of Things (IoT) and blockchain for diverse applications.
- Self-driving cars are considered safer since they can sense their environment and operate safely within it, eliminating factors such as human error and driver fatigue.
- According to this regulation, starting from 2024, the following features become compulsory.
- Battery technology has taken centre stage in the EV revolution, and this article provides a deep dive into the leading chemistries and formats that defined 2024.
Jaguar Land Rover’s REALCAR project established a closed-loop recycling system that reclaims over 50K tonnes of aluminum scrap. The project avoids more than 500K tonnes of CO2 emissions by reducing the need for primary aluminum. Another instance is that of Michelin, which made a road-approved car tire with 45% sustainable materials. Today, you can hear about renewable energy from every corner of the Internet, and it’s no wonder why.
Electric Vehicle (EV) Expansion: EV Sales Reached 17M Units in 2024
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.
This data-driven research provides innovation intelligence that helps you improve strategic decision-making by giving you an overview of emerging technologies in the automotive industry. In the Automotive Innovation Map below, you get a comprehensive overview of the innovation trends & startups that impact your company. Vietnamese startup Phenikaa-X creates autonomous electric vehicles with AI and multi-sensor technology for safe transportation. Its system uses functional modules, combining LiDAR, radar, cameras, and ultrasonic sensors to perceive surroundings, analyze traffic, and navigate efficiently. A 5G connection transmits data to a remote control station, which allows operators to monitor and intervene when needed.