Rockwell Automation has released its 10th annual State of Smart Manufacturing Report: Automotive Edition. The global study encompasses responses from 130 leaders across automotive and electric vehicle (EV) manufacturers, original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) companies, and systems integrators in 15 countries, revealing a sector that’s rapidly embracing change to stay competitive.
For EV and battery engineers and OEMs, several trends stand out. The report highlights that automotive companies are leading all industries in planned investments in generative AI, robotic process automation, and digital simulation tools. Quality improvement, energy management, and flexible production are cited as core motivators behind these initiatives.
Only five percent of automotive respondents report using more than 75% of their collected data effectively, suggesting a wide gap between digital infrastructure and decision-making optimization. This opens opportunities for tools and platforms that connect real-time data with grid systems, charging platforms, and predictive maintenance, particularly in EV development and energy integration.
The study also reveals that 34% of automotive manufacturers plan to invest in causal or generative AI in the next 12 months, with additional investments planned in digital twins, wearables, and simulation platforms. These technologies are increasingly being used to support design engineering and operational efficiency.
Among the key findings:
- Technology investment remains strong. More than 62% of respondents cite long-term business impact as the primary driver of technology adoption. AI, production monitoring, and cybersecurity are top areas of investment, even as cost remains a significant barrier to implementation.
- AI adoption is accelerating. Compared to 2023, automotive companies report significantly lower concern over the risks of AI, with top use cases including quality control (56%), robotics (45%), and process optimization (45%).
- Skills needs are shifting. In addition to AI experience, manufacturers are increasingly seeking workers with analytical thinking, communication, and adaptability, which are critical for successful digital transformation.
- Workforce pressures are intensifying. The top workforce-related challenges for the year ahead are change management (37%), the rising cost of skilled workers (36%), employee retention (33%), and difficulty finding new hires (31%).
As the automotive industry adapts to new vehicle architectures, evolving energy systems, and workforce challenges, the report underscores a clear shift toward technologies that improve system integration, safety, and long-term efficiency.
For EV engineers and manufacturing leaders, the path forward lies in aligning advanced automation and AI tools with a rapidly electrifying, digitally connected mobility ecosystem.
Download the full report here.
Filed Under: Technology News