Reframe your strategy: The great automotive value shift

Redefine the vehicle architecture — the software-defined vehicle
 

The shift from hardware to software-defined vehicle (SDV) architectures will not only unlock new revenues in technology and data-based services but also drive cost efficiencies, enhance faster software delivery and improve the quality of fleets. This megapool comprises SDV enabling technologies, advanced driver-assistance system/autonomous vehicle (ADAS/AV) components, data monetization, and software-based repair and maintenance. The combined value of this group of adjacent opportunities is expected to reach about US$169 billion by 2030 at a CAGR of 18.8% between 2023 and 2030.
 

Vehicles are becoming increasingly software-defined³ — the average number of lines of code per car is anticipated to grow from 200 million in 2020 to as much as 650 million lines by 2025.⁴ Centralized architectures and standardized platforms are becoming more common, and significant opportunities are arising across the vehicle tech stack, from ADAS/autonomous driving components and chips to new operating systems (OS) and user interface controls. Levels of vehicle autonomy are already rising beyond lane departure warning and blind spot detection, requiring sophisticated radars, light detection and ranging systems (LiDARs) and cameras. Legacy infrastructure must also evolve to seamlessly integrate hardware and software (via OS), facilitate data exchange between OS and applications (via middleware) and accelerate agile development (via standard processes or toolchains).

Connected cars are also generating a wealth of data on driver behavior, vehicle use, location and customer preferences, providing various data monetization opportunities. Moreover, advances in artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML) and vehicle-to-everything (V2X) technologies are transforming the collection and analysis of connected car data, providing customer insights to enable value-added services and enhance operational efficiencies.
 

A software-defined car will also need to be updated frequently (via over-the-air updates) to ensure optimal functionality. With increased sensors, ADAS recalibration will become critical as minor malfunctions or misalignment can lead to inaccurate readings, causing safety and vehicle performance issues. Connected cars will also enable predictive maintenance using advanced analytics to reduce downtime and improve vehicle performance.

Close the loop — battery and vehicle circularity

Moving toward fully circular models aimed at reusing and recycling materials promises a greener automotive industry and solves an increasingly geopolitical war for rare minerals. The combined value of adjacencies in battery and vehicle circularity is expected to reach US$88 billion by 2030 at a CAGR of 16.2% between 2023 and 2030.

Decarbonization and waste management directives are forcing industry players to upgrade from traditional take-make-waste to closed-loop circular models. The EU remains at the forefront of this change, mandating OEMs since 2015 to ensure 95% of vehicle weight be reusable or recoverable and further proposing recycling 25% of plastics used in the sector by 2030 (of which 25% must come from end-of-life vehicles).⁵ It has also put mineral-specific recovery targets to increase recycling efficiency (e.g., lithium recovery rate of 50% by 2027 and 80% by 2031). Moreover, there are mineral specific mandates for the use of recycled materials in new batteries (e.g., 6% recycled lithium and nickel and 16% recycled cobalt by 2031, increasing to 12% recycled lithium, 15% of recycled nickel and 26% of recycled cobalt by 2036).

The increased demand for electric mobility and the resulting need for batteries has created significant opportunities in battery circularity. Spent EV batteries can be repurposed and reused — for stationary power storage applications or in vehicles with lower capacity requirements — or they can be recycled to recover scarce minerals. However, the increasing lifespan of EV batteries may result in limited recycling feedstock, creating potential headwinds to meet regulatory targets.

The focus must also go beyond decarbonization if the industry is to lead on a broader environmental, social and governance (ESG) frontier. The use of sustainable materials in cars is already on the rise, from recycled steel and battery minerals to bio-based thermoplastics and recovered carbon black. However, the cost to innovate with these materials remains quite high. The fragmented nature of the market and downcycling practices create further challenges to retain the recycling value within the automotive ecosystem. To maximize value creation across the vehicle lifecycle, design, processes and business models must all be synced.

The Berkana two-loop model explains how change is inevitable. As the industry shifts from the traditional automotive systems to advanced technologies, players must identify strategic partners with a shared vision. The partners must demonstrate competencies in new technologies (e.g., advanced battery tech), complementary capabilities (software synergies) and robust governance.
 

Alongside the right partners, skilled R&D teams and progressive scaling of R&D will be critical to successfully integrate the latest innovation into vehicle production processes. As pioneers, players will encourage the industry to follow suit.
   

New growth avenues should be explored using new models and methods — such as closed material loops — to limit environmental footprints, build supply chain security and manage high manufacturing costs. Players must begin designing vehicles for easy disassembly and maintenance, while the use of standardized parts and more renewable materials will help accelerate commitments around sustainability and reduce overall costs.

As EVs gain popularity, industry players must continue to streamline their ICE portfolio, reducing complexities and freeing up capital for new businesses such as ADAS and AV components, SDVs, and recycling technologies. They must remain agile in the face of growing regulatory uncertainties and nonlinear pathways into the EV age.
 

With the increased convergence of mobility and energy industries, auto players can collaborate with utility players for energy storage systems, vehicle-to-home and vehicle-to-grid charging to provide smart energy solutions for customers.
 

Industry players should also look to develop user- and data-centric digital services, integrated payments, and better EV charging infrastructure to boost consumer confidence. Personalizing the driving experience and enhancing convenience features will also help improve customer satisfaction.
 

As vehicles become increasingly software-defined, players must ensure seamless integration between hardware and software by investing in car OS and middleware. They should also focus on ADAS recalibration centers and integrate ADAS services into their aftersales mix to broaden their customer base.
 

Amid this change, players must urgently rethink their operating models as agile, fit-for-purpose frameworks to support their new mobility strategy.

Double down on data
 

Customer-centricity can be enhanced exponentially with data. To fully harness data’s potential, clear data management, streamlined processes, and user-centric and modular architectures are necessary.
 

Data is becoming increasingly dynamic as AI, ML and quantum computing technologies continually learn and evolve, driving next-gen analytics and reducing costs while also generating new monetization opportunities. Auto players must create modern architectures, leverage advanced analytics and generative AI (GenAI) to transform R&D operations (e.g., faster design cycles, simulations to enhance vehicle safety) and customer experience (e.g., anticipating customers’ preferred features, voice assistants for infotainment). They must provide access to anonymized vehicle data for optimized offerings (e.g., partnering with technology players or insurance companies to personalize offerings or enhance safety features, leveraging geospatial data to enable governments to deploy intelligent traffic management solutions).
 

However, as these vast collections of data are stored in the cloud, challenges around data privacy, cybersecurity and AI emerge. Despite their interest in connected car features, consumers can be reluctant to share their data. Players must respect privacy regulations during data collection and processing and implement responsible and ethical AI to establish safeguards and trust.
 

Increased vehicle connectivity has also generated higher data security risk. Cyber attacks aimed at vehicle systems are becoming more common, more sophisticated and larger in magnitude (in 2023, large-scale cyber incidents increased 2.5 times year-over-year).⁶ Companies must transition to an integrated vehicle security operations center to secure V2X operations for connected fleets. They must define cyber defenses across the supply chain, engage in simulated recovery processes and work with cyber test labs to lower vulnerabilities.

Conduct a talent transformation
 

The great value shift can only be achieved by a commensurate transformation in talent, with players becoming more human-centered than ever and fostering a high-performance culture centered on wellbeing and continuous learning.
 

The center of gravity around skills is shifting from the mechanical engineering that automakers traditionally placed at the forefront toward software and chemical engineering, thereby increasing the emphasis on hiring the right talent.
 

As innovation becomes indispensable in software/chemical/electronics engineering, battery, robotics, AI, and data or material science, existing staff will need to master disruptive technologies if incumbents are to thrive. Players should upskill their workers, from the basics of EV powertrains to managing electrical procedures to become EV-ready. They must also reskill workers in advanced robotics, mechatronics, sensor technology, ML to build automated driving technologies and AUTOSAR (automotive open system architecture) as well as eco-design engineering and sustainable chemistry for a circular future. Employees will also need to be open to change and hone their skills in collaborative problem-solving and in understanding partner technologies, etc., to navigate the complexities of emerging ecosystems and drive successful partnerships.
 

However, auto players continue to face challenges in hiring the right talent due to fierce competition with other sectors such as banking and health care for top science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) talent. While competitive pay would be table stakes, players must adequately communicate their vision to strengthen their employer brand. Partnering with universities on research, as well as offering apprenticeships, experiential learning opportunities and auto tech scholarships, will help build a future-proof workforce.