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REVIEW ARTICLE

Transformation of the automotive industry: A systematic literature review on the technological drivers of transformation

Bernhard Koelmel1,2,3* ,  Tanja Brysch1 ,  Rebecca Bulander1
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1 Department of Industrial Engineering, School of Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Pforzheim University, Pforzheim, Germany
2 Chair Strategic Innovation and Technology Management, ISM International School of Management, Paris, France
3 Department of Information Systems and Analytics, McCoy College of Business, Texas State University, San Marcos, United States of America
DP 2025, 2(1), 4445 https://doi.org/10.36922/dp.4445
Submitted: 5 August 2024 | Revised: 18 February 2025 | Accepted: 21 February 2025 | Published: 11 March 2025
© 2025 by the Author(s). This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution -Noncommercial 4.0 International License (CC-by the license) ( https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ )
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Abstract

The automotive industry is undergoing a profound transformation driven by technological innovations, such as electrification, autonomous driving systems, digitalization, and the shift toward mobility services. This transformation is further intensified by new competition from the IT sector, industrial policy objectives, particularly from China, and the increasing automation and connectivity of manufacturing processes. In addition, environmental regulations, evolving consumer preferences, and advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) play a crucial role in shaping the industry’s future. This study aims to identify and analyze the key technological drivers contributing to the transformation of the automotive sector. Using a systematic literature review based on the approach outlined by vom Brocke et al., a structured and reproducible analysis of the relevant literature is conducted. The findings indicate that technological drivers, such as connectivity, autonomous driving, electrification, and digitalization are crucial to this transformation. Furthermore, supporting technologies such as AI, cloud computing, and big data analytics are critical enablers of this transformation. A deep understanding of these drivers is essential for industry stakeholders, policymakers, and researchers to anticipate future developments, address emerging challenges and develop effective strategies for sustainable and competitive mobility solutions. This study contributes to the ongoing discourse on transformation and its implications for the future of the automotive industry.

Keywords
Automotive industry
Transformation
Technological drivers
Funding
None.
Conflict of interest
The authors declare they have no competing interests.
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