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.

Sustainable Manufacturing

Its product, THINKey, transforms smartphones into digital keys that allow users to lock, unlock, and start their vehicles. The integration of 5G networks is accelerating advancements in vehicle-to-infrastructure (V2I) and vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) communication, supporting autonomous driving functionalities. The startup offers tools for real-time calibration health checks for deployed fleets to reduce time-to-market and operational risks.

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. 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.

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. What lies ahead is not just a continuation of trends but the potential for transformation that pushes the boundaries of how we move, connect, and thrive. 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. 2025 is shaping up to be an interesting year for automotive with regards to global shifts in the market with a mixed bag of potential harmony and disruption.

LiDAR provides high-resolution 3D mapping that allows vehicles to detect road geometry, obstacles, and pedestrians with centimeter-level accuracy. Also, radar ensures long-range detection of moving objects in all weather conditions, which is critical for adaptive cruise control and highway safety. 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.

India-based startup DriveTech-AI builds solutions centered around optimizing the vehicle testing process through smart solutions. Its suite of platforms and solutions allows automotive OEMs to accelerate testing data analysis and enhance automation and team collaboration. For example, its StellarAi data intelligence platform offers templates to quickly identify engineering variables, trends, and vulnerabilities. AI technologies like machine learning, deep learning, and computer vision are advancing robotic automation. They play pivotal roles in guiding self-driving cars, managing fleets, enhancing driver safety, and refining services such as vehicle inspections and insurance.

OEMs are juggling more regulations with fluctuating demands and ongoing chip shortages

By securing these systems, cybersecurity prevents hijacking of steering or discover hidden vehicle issues by VIN braking functions, protects sensitive driver data, and shields automakers from costly recalls and reputational harm. Motoreto strengthens supply chain resilience in the auto industry and drives nearshoring by aligning distribution, procurement, and sales with regional market needs. The startup enables dealerships, fleet managers, and manufacturers to manage inventory strategically.

Moreover, Asia-Pacific leads the automotive semiconductor market with a 45% global share. In Europe, the EU’s Chips Act aims to raise the bloc’s share of global chip production from under 10% to about 20% by 2030. Moreover, the startup offers fleet-grade protection through continuous monitoring and predictive alerts.

Automotive Industry and Market Trends

Connected vehicles are entering a software-defined era where 5G, AI, and V2X convert cars into real-time data nodes that communicate smoothly with infrastructure, other vehicles, and the cloud. Our new report spotlights 10 connected vehicle trends to watch in 2026 that promise safer, smarter mobility and fresh revenue streams for automakers. Curious how electric vehicle trends like solar integration, AI-powered systems, and modular design are innovating mobility?

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.

Q) How Will Adapting to Evolving Tech Landscape Help Automakers?

European manufacturers are leading the charge with plans for affordable EV models, such as Citroën and Renault. These budget-friendly models aim to stimulate adoption following a dip in EV sales. Consumers research their preferred car on their mobile phones, looking for the best options, offers, and dealerships. Therefore, websites need to be easily readable and accessible across mobile devices, with clear calls to action.

Reports from key manufacturing shows

• EVs drive the shift to greener mobility and it is aided by advancements in semiconductors for smarter and efficient vehicles.
• The Volta Zero addresses sustainability by enabling zero tailpipe emissions, contributing to cleaner city environments.
• However, the demand for parts is also being diminished by the increasing quality of newly manufactured vehicle parts.
• Further, sensor fusion systems incorporate AI and machine learning (ML) algorithms to enhance optimization, predictive maintenance, and decision-making.
• As net-zero targets become the norm, the reliance on renewable energy is only set to grow.
• It also works with Ethernet and LIN, enabling integration across passenger cars, buses, trucks, and autonomous vehicles.

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.

How is electric vehicle technology shaping the automotive industry?

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.

China remains dominant but new players are also making noise on the EV scene

UK-based startup Electric Car Converts changes classic Land Rovers into EVs by replacing combustion engines with modern electric motors and battery packs. Ultra-fast charging infrastructure minimizes downtime by offering hundreds of kilometers of range in just minutes. For example, BYD demonstrated a 1000 kW charging system that is capable of adding about 400 km of range in five minutes to its Han L and Tang L models under ideal conditions.

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. 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.

🔮 Preparing for Tomorrow: Strategies for Industry Players and Consumers

The SAE, originally the Society of Automotive Engineers, has identified six levels of automation on the path to completely autonomous vehicles. The scale established by these six stages is essential for comprehending and characterizing self-driving technologies, which span from complete human driving to complete vehicle autonomy. Through V2X, vehicles can share information about road conditions, accidents, and traffic patterns, allowing for real-time decision-making.

Vehicle purchases shift online

The law emphasises a cleaner and more efficient use of fossil fuels, placing a higher emphasis on sustainability and developing renewable energy infrastructures. This comes as China continues to make their presence known in the global EV scene, with ramped-up production and dominance in the international EV market. In 2023, the global connected car market was valued at $80.87 billion and projecting remarkable growth. It is expected to expand from $95.14 billion in 2024 to $386.82 billion by 2032, reflecting a robust compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 19.2% over the forecast period according to some figures.

This includes driver monitoring systems, adaptive cruise control, and collision avoidance systems. Integrating vehicle-to-everything (V2X) communication further improves connectivity and safety. German startup Qumasoft offers a software-driven cybersecurity management solution for vehicles and components. Its platform automates the cybersecurity management system (CSMS) and product cybersecurity evidence (PCSE) to ensure compliance with UNECE R 155 and ISO/SAE 21434.

By 2025, 48% of light vehicles sold across 43 major economies will be SAE level 2

For example, Mercedes-Benz is using Chat-GPT for intelligent virtual assistants within its vehicles. 94 percent of global automakers are using ARM-based technology for automotive applications, alongside the top 15 automotive semiconductor suppliers in the world adopting ARM technologies in their silicon. The automotive industry is being altered by the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI), which is powering a new wave of smarter and more personalized innovations.

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. Statevolt’s decision to build its gigafactory in the UAE rather than Europe has been a talking point this year. This article explores the strategic reasons behind the move, including the UAE’s favourable energy policies, market accessibility, and logistical advantages.

• Further, high-speed automotive Ethernet, 5G networks, and V2X communication extend a car’s perception beyond its line of sight.
• At the same time, governments and companies view subscriptions as a pathway to scale EV adoption without heavy upfront investments.
• The AV market is projected to reach USD 1.73 trillion by 2033, growing at a CAGR of 31.85% from 2025 to 2033.
• In the UK, auto production surpassed one million units in 2023, marking a significant recovery.
• 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.
• Consumers increasingly demand eco-friendly options, influencing market offerings.

The systems that come together to implement such technologies are sensor fusion, computer vision, and real-time decisions to enable the vehicle to take all complex traffic scenarios easily. Significant investments in AI and Internet of Things (IoT) devices are crucial for fine-tuning self-driving algorithms, making them safer and more reliable. This also presents an emerging opportunity to connect the vehicle ecosystem, creating a dynamic adaptation of data for road and weather conditions, assisted by IoT-enabled devices.

• While fully autonomous vehicles have the potential to revolutionise how society moves from A to B, the industry is taking a more measured approach to implementation.
• For instance, Texas Instruments‘ AWR2544 radar achieves sensing beyond 200 meters.
• In the US, the CHIPS and Science Act allocates USD 52.7 billion in funding and offers a 25% investment tax credit.
• Expect more robotaxi pilots, fleet autonomy, and advanced safety features integrated into mainstream cars.
• North America led the AV market in 2024 with over 40% revenue share, while Asia-Pacific is the fastest-growing region, with an expected CAGR of 35% from 2024 to 2033.
• Large automakers like Tesla, Alphabet, Ford, GM, and Volvo have all entered the autonomous vehicle space.
• In 2025, the future of mobility will take a new shape in ways that promise smarter, more efficient, and more sustainable vehicles.

Predictive maintenance powered by AI minimizes machine failures, while IoT networks provide detailed insights into factory operations. These practices not only meet regulatory demands but also resonate with consumers increasingly drawn to environmentally responsible brands. Toyota’s North Carolina battery plant exemplifies this commitment, with operations fully powered by renewables. Recycling initiatives, such as reusing EV batteries, further emphasize the industry’s shift toward circular manufacturing.

Automotive purchases will shift to online

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.

Cars have become even more connected

The adoption of augmented reality (AR) in head-up displays and automated parking systems is expanding, which is advancing ADAS technologies. The global ADAS market is projected to reach USD 36.6 billion by 2025, with a CAGR of 10.8% from 2025 to 2037. Companies like Nvidia innovate in AI-powered chips for AVs, partnering with automakers like Toyota, Tesla, and Aurora Innovation to enhance autonomous capabilities. North America led the AV market in 2024 with over 40% revenue share, while Asia-Pacific is the fastest-growing region, with an expected CAGR of 35% from 2024 to 2033. Level 3 (conditional automation) and Level 4 (high automation) systems are gaining traction, with broader availability expected in Europe and North America by 2025. Tangram Vision allows perception teams to focus on product-specific features by handling complex sensor tasks and accelerating development and deployment processes.

Advancements in ADAS and Autonomous Technologies

• It encourages OEMs to develop subscription models, short-term rentals, and multi-modal transport integration.
• Meanwhile, Carlos Tarves, CEO of automaker Stellantis, has said the chip shortages will continue to plague his industry next year.
• Cost efficiency strengthens the case, with Mexico offering a 35% landed-cost edge over China in 2022.
• In addition, TuSimple has partnered with Navistar and UPS to test its software under supervised driving conditions.
• Infineon, the largest manufacturer of auto chips, is increasing its investment in production by nearly $1 billion euros in 2022.

The Global Startup Heat Map showcases the distribution of 3836 exemplary startups and scaleups analyzed using the StartUs Insights Discovery Platform. It highlights high startup activity in Western Europe and the USA, followed by India. Unless otherwise noted, this page’s content was written by either an employee or a paid contractor of Semrush Inc.

When demand for cars plummeted in the early days of the pandemic, auto manufacturers stopped ordering them and chip producers focused their attention elsewhere. The global automotive parts market has been steadily growing for the past twenty years. Europe now is the largest market for new plug-in electric vehicles, overtaking China’s first spot. The high prices and increasing interest rates are causing sales to decline for dealers and automakers nationwide.

The startup develops Konnect – GS01, an automatic electronic logging device (ELD) to continuously track vehicular health. Israeli startup DAV offers a decentralized autonomous vehicles platform based on blockchain technology. The platform allows autonomous vehicles to discover AVs, service providers, or clients around them. The vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) communication is either on-blockchain, with smart contracts or off-blockchain using DAV’s protocols.

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. As per market and industry experts, these four trends represent the future of the automotive industry. It won’t take too long for the CASE to accelerate the transition of the automotive industry from the way it has been working for hundreds of years.

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. Localized production and sourcing are gaining momentum as companies aim to mitigate risks and ensure a steady supply of components. Automakers are adopting greener processes, from sourcing eco-friendly materials to utilizing renewable energy in manufacturing plants.

US-based startup Aviva Links builds in-vehicle connectivity solutions that include multi-gigabit Ethernet and ASA Motion Link (ASA-ML) semiconductor products for ADAS systems. Its technology transports ultra-high-bandwidth video and data from sensors to processors with ultra-low latency. For this, it uses advanced system-on-chips (SoCs) that integrate mixed-signal analog and digital signal processing (DSP) algorithms. The European Union’s Vehicle General Safety Regulation (GSR2), effective July 2024, mandates several ADAS features in new vehicles. The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) plans to require automatic emergency braking (AEB) systems in all new light-duty vehicles by 2026.

Sheryar Khan

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