Top 3 Automotive and Mobility Trends Shaping 2025

December 30, 2025

Automotive Topics and Trends

The shortages have forced manufacturers to delay product launches and reduce outputs, among other issues. Asia, home to key production hubs, remains at the epicentre of attempts to address this crisis, with nations like Taiwan investing heavily in scaling chip production. Additionally, Europe and the U.S. have sought to bolster their chip and semiconductor production with the ‘European Chips Act’ and the ‘CHIPS and Science Act’, respectively. Whilst these acts have been active for some years now, the landscape has not changed drastically. Until these efforts bear fruit, the industry will need to focus on mitigating risks and prioritising demand effectively.

Sustainable Manufacturing: Michelin Makes Tires with 45% Sustainable Materials

The study offers data-based insights and recommendations for action for decision-makers in the automotive sector. Gain in-depth insights into the key developments that characterise the automotive industry. UK-based startup Distributed Additive Manufacturing (DAM) offers 3D printing services including design, building, and finishing of parts. It offers more sustainable 3D printing by developing its own large-scale printing hardware and using fully recycled composite materials.

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Automotive Topics and Trends

AI and machine learning (ML) support cyber defenses by enabling real-time anomaly detection and predictive monitoring. For instance, AI-driven intrusion detection systems adapt to new attack patterns and block breaches before they spread. Further, through its smart management app, it enables users to schedule charging, monitor consumption, and manage fleets from one platform. Moreover, the startup installs Tesla motors and Fellten battery systems, which provide up to 295 horsepower, enable flexible range options, and ensure authenticity through fully reversible conversions. Also, adoption rises quickly, with China reaching 50% EV penetration in 2024, and in India, over 18.8 lakh EVs are supported under FAME schemes till June 2025 by the government. Declining battery costs move EVs closer to price parity with combustion vehicles.

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  • Initiatives and support from the Chinese government, such as pilot zones and regulatory frameworks, are further accelerating the process.
  • The automotive cybersecurity market is projected to reach USD 5.11 billion in 2025, with a CAGR of 18.14% from 2024 to 2034.
  • This data alerted drivers to pedestrians and cyclists before they became visible.
  • Automakers will continue to incorporate these systems into even more affordable models, making safety technologies more accessible to a broader range of consumers.
  • Sales of passenger cars were down 25% in the first half of 2022 compared to the same period in 2021.
  • For this in-depth research on the Top Auto Trends & Startups, we analyzed a sample of 3836 global startups & scaleups.
  • After a disappointing 2019 in terms of EV sales, 2020 sales surpassed expectations, growing over 40% year-over-year.

Further, its AI-enabled depth sensor, HiFi, enhances 3D sensing with 1.6-megapixel supersampled depth, 8 TOPS of AI compute, a 136° ultra-wide field of view, and connectivity options like PoE and USB-C. This platform uses secured safety assurance and risk-mitigation principles to detect and address failures in assisted and self-driving systems. Qumasoft’s solution enables companies to develop, produce, and operate cybersecure vehicles and components efficiently. This reduces development costs and time while enhancing quality and analytical capabilities. Further, the Asia-Pacific region is anticipated to witness rapid growth, with a projected CAGR of 18.3%, driven by rising vehicle sales and evolving safety regulations. These vehicles reduce emissions and feature innovative designs for modern commuters.

It uses Tenstorrent’s Tensix NPU core to deliver up to 250 tera operations per second (TOPS) for efficient AI processing. The Global Startup Heat Map showcases the distribution of 6000+ exemplary startups and scaleups analyzed using the StartUs Insights Discovery Platform. It highlights high startup activity in Western Europe and the United States, followed by India. From these, 20 promising startups are featured below, selected based on factors like founding year, location, and funding.

The rising role of renewable energy supply in automotive production

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). In this world where we are shifting to EVs, individuals usually prefer to shift to smaller vehicles which are much more affordable and environmentally friendly. They are much more convenient to use in these congested cities and parking these vehicles is much easier. Younger generations, especially Genz or millennials prefer these vehicles as they are much more attractive.

  • Connected cars are equipped with cutting-edge technology that allows them to connect to the Internet, other vehicles, and external software.
  • OEMs seek alternative sources to improve sourcing flexibility and bring products to market faster.
  • From electrification to IoT connectivity, these shifts are changing the way cars are manufactured, sold, repaired, and driven.
  • However, sales of robotaxi vehicles will remain a minority, as safety concerns, legislative bottlenecks and the high cost of operations restrict growth.
  • Whilst the U.S. may be bucking it, there is certainly a global trend towards a more sustainability-forward manufacturing scene.
  • Telematics and IoT sensors monitor vehicle condition and enable predictive maintenance.
  • Monitoring and understanding these trends is crucial for automakers, suppliers, and other stakeholders to stay competitive.

Additionally, CARNIQ Technologies supports the automotive sector with threat analysis, cybersecurity management, and secure system development. It also provides validation services that ensure resilience against potential risks. The rapid rollout of software-defined vehicles, vehicle-to-everything (V2X) networks, and electrification pushes automakers to secure digital systems as rigorously as physical components. Moreover, the startup’s marketplace connects professionals in a secure environment. It provides exclusive access to vehicles and optimizes purchase decisions based on supply and demand trends.

Automotive Topics and Trends

The platform features customizable work product templates, detailed instructions, and comprehensive checklists for self-assessment. It also provides streamlined audit management, structured frameworks for continuous improvement, and intuitive escalation processes. Companies like BYD are collaborating with TSMC and MediaTek to develop advanced chips for vehicle controllers and smart cockpits.

The Starkenn Brake Safe, a collision mitigation system features automatic emergency braking in critical scenarios. 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. Tesla’s relentless drive to expand its global gigafactory network has been a defining feature of 2024.

EVIE Autonomous produces Autonomous Shuttles

The automotive industry is highly dynamic, and these trends are subject to change over time. Monitoring and understanding these trends are critical for automakers and other stakeholders to stay ahead of their competitors. The US-based startup Apex AI enables automotive companies to implement complex AI solutions.

Overview – Automotive Industry

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 avoid clocked cars using VIN tools in EVs is experiencing a surge, driven by rapid advances in battery technology, an expanding charging infrastructure and supportive government incentives.

  • ApexAutonomy offers modules to build 3D perception, localization, and control to enable autonomous vehicles.
  • These constraints are expected to persist into 2025, as semiconductor production has exceeded full production-rate utilization since 2019, with recent rates surpassing 95%.
  • AI and ML solutions process multimodal sensor data to power autonomy, predictive maintenance, and personalization.
  • Explore competitors’ website traffic stats, discover growth points, and expand your market share.
  • However, as with all complex bodies of rulesets, differing rules and regulatory mandates across the globe make it easier for international automakers to fall foul of compliance.
  • 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.

Discover all Automotive Trends, Technologies & Startups

  • The future trends in the automobile industry predict a roller-coaster ride for players.
  • The increasing adoption of EVs globally drives the optimization of energy usage and enhances features like regenerative braking systems through sensor fusion technologies.
  • The automotive industry is many things, but it is never idle; it thrives on the pulse of innovation, resilience in hard times, and mobility transformation.
  • Meanwhile, we are seeing the economic case for sustainable materials strengthen as manufacturers realise operational efficiency gains and reduce their long-term costs.
  • These vehicles use a re-assembly factory model, which allows upgrades and updates to extend their lifecycle.

SDVs are more efficient and safer and can be updated with the latest technologies through software, keeping them up to date in a constantly evolving industry. The big data market in automotive is growing, with a projected market size of USD 5.92 billion in 2024, expanding at a CAGR of 16.78% to reach USD 12.86 billion by 2029. Startups are developing big data solutions to help manufacturers and related industries streamline operations and maximize profits. 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.

Hydrogen-powered vehicles produce only water vapor as a byproduct, making them a strong contender for sectors that are harder to electrify, such as long-haul trucking and commercial transportation. This move highlights the industry’s broader trend of building resilient supply chains to safeguard against geopolitical and economic uncertainties. Global supply chain disruptions over recent years have prompted manufacturers to rethink strategies.

Innovation Map outlines Top 10 Automotive Trends & 20 Promising Startups

These advancements are driving the future of connected vehicles, which are increasingly becoming a standard feature in new cars. Modern vehicles are now equipped with a unique digital identity, making it easier to track and share data for applications like insurance, driver safety, predictive maintenance, and fleet management. Nigerian startup Revive Earth develops the Revive Kit, to convert petrol vehicles into efficient EVs.

Avvenire designs Light Electric Vehicles (LEVs)

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. For example, over-the-air (OTA) updates depend on secure encryption and authentication to block malicious code injection. Likewise, fleet operators strengthen defenses for telematics, routing data, and driver information against manipulation.

Automakers and technology giants like Google and Tesla are incorporating more digital technology into their cars. Without subsidies, demand for EVs on the consumer end could also drastically decrease as was recently seen in Germany after government incentives ended. This may also see American automakers finding more challenges in exporting vehicles to regions in which regulations are more stringent. The market share with EVs specifically is even greater, manufacturing 58% of the world’s electric vehicles.

The platform includes geofencing, driver behavior monitoring, route mapping, and integrated or standalone camera options, accessible via a dashboard and mobile app. 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 like flow rate and extrusion temperature to ensure large-scale 3D printing.

The control system includes safeguards like automatic overheating prevention, battery depletion protection, and real-time torque and speed calibration for optimal performance on challenging terrains. The Asia-Pacific region currently controls the majority of the market due to the strong uptake of electric cars (EVs) in countries like China, India, and Japan. The region’s substantial market share results from government incentives and the growth of the automobile industry. The increasing adoption of EVs globally drives the optimization of energy usage and enhances features like regenerative braking systems through sensor fusion technologies. To accommodate the rising demand for EVs and autonomous vehicles, major automakers such as BMW, Hyundai, and Stellantis are investing in EV battery plants and semiconductor-related facilities.

Avvenire focuses on sustainable mobility to contribute to a cleaner environment and meet the demand for green transportation. With zero emissions, low noise, and a range of up to 400 km, FALAK offers a sustainable urban mobility solution. The startup emphasizes comfort with electric doors, extended safety features, and panoramic views from all seats.

It processes these tasks in real time at over 120 frames per second on consumer-grade graphics processing units (GPUs). Indian startup General Intelligence creates self-driving intelligence software that supports software-defined vehicles in adapting to diverse driving environments. 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.

The solution recognizes the power requirements of every car and automatically controls the charging speed for each vehicle. Swedish startup Volta Trucks makes Volta Zero, an electric truck for urban deliveries. This vehicle’s design prioritizes driver safety and comfort, featuring a central driving position and panoramic vision for enhanced visibility. The Volta Zero addresses sustainability by enabling zero tailpipe emissions, contributing to cleaner city environments. It incorporates an intuitive infotainment system for efficient power management while minimizing driver distractions.

All of this puts the auto industry at the back of the line when it comes to receiving chips. Now, 94% of consumers check the manufacturer’s website for product information before purchasing a part. And Tesla had already decided to close all its stores in 2019, now selling all new cars online. This makes sense, as 83% of car customers already said they wish they could save time by shopping online. This number is expected to have risen in 2020 as dealers everywhere turned to digital channels. As of 2023, the two now equip Ford and Lincoln vehicles with a built-in Android operating system.

Charge Your Porsche Cayenne Electric Like an iPhone

The emergence of CASE (Connected, Autonomous, Shared, and Electrified) technologies is changing the industry like never before. This will drive growth opportunities for automakers in the years to come and shape the automotive industry outlook in the future. However, although the Chinese EV market may take some time to adapt to the new subsidy-free scenario, the situation is optimistic.

Moreover, the technology combines EV chargers, a DC bus, smart inverters, and an energy management platform. This coordinates power flows between vehicles, buildings, and distributed energy resources. Also, IoT sensors such as LiDAR and radar expand perception by generating environmental data. For instance, Audi and BMW vehicles exchanged sensor data, including camera feeds, during 5G-V2X Direct demonstrations in Berlin.

In 2024, EV sales reached 17 million units, accounting for over 20% of global new car sales. Also, the EV market is projected to reach USD 6.16 trillion by 2035 at a CAGR of 25.32%. Autonomous driving demonstrates scalable deployment across passenger and freight use cases, and subscription models give consumers flexible access to vehicles. Software-defined vehicles redefine business models through centralized computing and OTA upgrades.

a. Battery Technology and Range Improvements

Reports from 2022 showed vehicle inventory was stagnant, sitting between 1 million and 1.1 million vehicles, for the first six months of the year. Sales of passenger cars were down 25% in the first half of 2022 compared to the same period in 2021. Many expected the auto industry to mount a post-pandemic rebound in 2021, but that didn’t happen. Search volume for “Infineon Technologies” has seen modest growth over the past 5 years. Infineon, the largest manufacturer of auto chips, is increasing its investment in production by nearly $1 billion euros in 2022.

Self-driving vehicles are becoming increasingly common and will continue to do so in 2025. 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.

Increase in Digital Advertising Spending

The startup employs the Perceived Quality Index to eliminate engineering bias by translating customer insights into measurable quality improvements. Cost savings also play a role, as recycled aluminum or bioplastics often return their investment in just over a year. Investors support companies with strong sustainability commitments, channeling funding toward greener production.