The automotive industry is driving innovation and global technological advancement. As a result, today’s automobile represents the most sophisticated technology owned by most consumers. From the early stages of planning, automakers design new vehicles with a range of diverse technologies that meet customer needs for comfort, convenience, and safety while improving performance and energy efficiency. Virtually every aspect of the modern automobile is now high-tech, using state-of-the-art materials and processes that rely on highly skilled workers.
How Automakers are Driving Innovation
Investing for the Future
Investing for the Future
Research & Development
Automakers invested more than $125 billion globally on research and development in 2018, ranking the auto industry ahead of other technology-driven industries, including the software/internet industry and the entire global aerospace and defense industry.
Among the Most Innovative Companies
Innovation has always been important in the automotive sector, and that focus on new technologies and product features is growing. A recent Boston Consulting Group report documents how automakers have increasingly vied with technology companies for top ranking in their annual survey of the most innovative companies.
Leading Patent Recipients
Annually, 3-5 percent of all patents in the U.S. are awarded to auto companies, with about 5,000 patents granted each year. To find other high-tech hallmarks of the auto industry, download this report from the Center for Automotive Research.

Connected Vehicles
When the car moves from being a closed box to a “mobile device” with the ability to communicate, that is a “Connected Car.”

Cybersecurity
Automakers are working proactively to address the complexities and challenges of an increasingly connected and interconnected automotive ecosystem.