As vehicle programs pivot toward centralized and zonal architectures, most OEM audio strategies are still built around legacy assumptions. Amplifiers, speakers and branded options get plenty of attention but the software that determines how those components behave over a vehicle’s lifespan usually does not. The result is an audio stack that looks great on the surface, but is still specified, sourced and governed as if the vehicle were not software defined at all.  This gap is

"Customer is king." It’s a principle the automotive industry knows well. Yet in the race toward automated driving, OEMs sometimes seem to be racing each other more than listening to the market.

The automotive industry is undergoing a significant transformation. Technology, trade, tariffs, and incentive uncertainties are driving changes in consumer appetite, portfolio planning, and competitive landscapes. SBD Automotive’s 2026 Report Catalog directly addresses these challenges. With nearly three decades of independent expertise, SBD offers one of the industry’s most comprehensive and insight-driven research libraries. Simon Halford “A big industry problem statement