A complimentary report for SBD Automotive subscribers, the Q1 Quarterly Wrap-up helps you quickly catch-up on the automotive AI, CASES & SDV trends from the past few months, providing insights from our analysts on the impact of major announcements.

Automotive computing is consolidating and accelerating. Over two days in Dearborn, the conversation moved from software‑defined vehicles (SDVs) to AI‑defined vehicles (AIDVs), with speakers aligning on three aspects: consolidating compute, shifting intelligence to the edge, and virtualizing development.

The shift to SDV has redefined how OEMs compete, making software strategy central to long-term value creation.

MWC Barcelona has historically been viewed as a telecom-led event, but in 2026 it became clear that connectivity is no longer the headline story. Instead, the industry is entering what the GSMA described as the “IQ Era”: a phase where networks, devices, and cloud infrastructure evolve into intelligence platforms, rather than simply pipes for data. With 105,000+ attendees and over 2,900 exhibitors from 207 countries, MWC 2026 reinforced its role as the global benchmark for wha

On April 15, 2026, SBD Automotive will host a live webinar tackling one of the most pressing questions facing the industry today: how do you turn automotive AI from a source of excitement into a driver of sustainable profit? Titled “The Profitability Path of Automotive AI – From ‘Hype’ to ‘Sustainable Profit’,”  this session is designed for decision-makers navigating the rapidly evolving landscape of software- and AI-defined vehicles. As generative AI becomes embedded across

If there’s one thing that became clear the moment I opened the day in Frankfurt, it’s this: the automotive industry is no longer just building cars, it’s building software platforms on wheels.

For years, in-car voice assistants were largely transactional. Drivers issued rigid commands (“navigate home”) and the system executed a predefined action.

The current trend for OEMs not to fit a Steering Column Lock or a locking transmission pawl (transmission lock) and instead, rely on the electronic parking brake systems to meet the Anti-Theft Regulations, has led to a spate of low tech, push away thefts, particularly in Italy.

The executive lunch co-sponsored by the Consumer Technology Association (CTA), SBD Automotive, and HERE Technologies offered a pulse check on the state of global mobility.

Statistics show that the number of passenger cars stolen continues to be at its highest level since before the pandemic. However, the theft of – and from – vans seems to be forgotten or ignored.

Today, Ford lifted the hood on how its Universal Electric Vehicle (UEV) program team has leveraged bounties, vertical integration, and a new approach to vehicle design to achieve unprecedented efficiency in the pursuit of an affordable, mass-market electric vehicle program.

By the time this insight reaches ‘tomorrow’, three more children will have died in a car crash in the United States.

If you’ve followed electric vehicles for any length of time, you’ve probably heard solid-state batteries (SSBs) described as the next big breakthrough.

During my time at a European truck OEM, cybersecurity was always a hot topic. Yet many R&D teams were still unclear about what “doing cybersecurity” actually meant in practice.

As the transition to electrification accelerates, automakers and policymakers are increasingly exploring alternatives that balance emission reduction with real-world usability.

Insights from our Global Consumer Study SBD Automotive conducted a global mobility survey at the end of 2025 to understand evolving attitudes towards travel and car ownership. The research explores key topics including vehicle purchase behaviours and motivators, mobility and transport usage and consumer viewpoints on future vehicle technologies. The survey was fielded towards the end of 2025 and covered a global audience across 13 mature and emerging automotive markets, provi

The automotive industry is on the cusp of a transformation, with Software-Defined Vehicles (SDVs) emerging as the cornerstone of next-generation mobility.

Across the globe vehicle thefts fell from the 1990s to the mid-2010s but they have started to rise again in recent years.

For our final dispatch from Las Vegas, the SBD Automotive team is covering news from Ford’s top technology leaders, including plans for L3 ADAS and an in-house AI assistant. In addition, we examine China’s automotive presence, what it signals for the industry, and a few key things we didn’t see this year.

Autonomous Momentum Continues to Surge While not formally exhibiting at CES 2026, Mercedes-Benz announced MB.DRIVE ASSIST PRO for U.S. cities. The system helps drivers navigate through city streets, from parking lots to destinations, managing traffic lights, junctions and obstacles without driver input, using advanced SAE Level 2+ assistance. Leveraging 30 sensors, including 10 cameras, 5 radar sensors, and 12 ultrasonic sensors, MB.DRIVE ASSIST PRO has been available in Chin

Our team of 11 experts will be covering the show in Las Vegas next year, come back here in the lead up to the 2026 event as we provide you with our daily insights, announcements and reveals.