Zebra Technologies Corporation released the findings of its Automotive Ecosystem Vision Study. The study aimed to gauge industry views, priorities and expectations the industry faces, and the challenges and opportunities resulting from rapid digital transformation. All data was collected and tabulated by third-party research firm, Azure Knowledge Corporation.

The study confirmed automotive manufacturers are under pressure to accommodate growing consumers’ preference for electric vehicles (EVs) in the near future. Automotive manufacturers must plan for a smooth transition to EVs, which have a very different requirements from raw materials to final assembly. Technology-led priorities will therefore be focused on increasing automation, building in-house technologies and expanding visibility across their respective production and supply chains. 

The survey was conducted from August to September 2022, with participation from 1,336 respondents globally, including industry decision-makers, fleet managers and consumers. In APAC, the 350 respondents were surveyed across India, Greater China, Japan and South Korea.

APAC consumers, including India respondents, will prefer purchasing EVs in the future
The survey reflects that in the near future there will be a shift in preference, with more than half of consumers (53 percent globally, 60 percent in APAC, including India) indicating going for a hybrid electric vehicle (HEV). However, navigating this increasing demand for EVs comes with challenges as 68 percent of global automotive industry decision-makers (60 percent in APAC, including India) say they are under high pressure to produce next generation (electric) vehicles, while 75 percent of them (71 percent in APAC, including India) are under high pressure to deliver products that are more eco-friendly, sustainable and safer for the environment.

The study also highlights consumers across generations pushing automotive manufacturers’ acceleration to technology innovation as eight in ten say that sustainability and eco-friendliness are key priorities in their vehicle purchase and lease decisions. 87 percent of millennials prioritise sustainability in their vehicles followed closely by 78 percent of Gen Xers and 76 percent of baby boomers. Within APAC, 85 percent of consumers were aligned with these key priorities, consisting of 92 percent of millennials, 83 percent of Gen Xers and 72 percent of baby boomers prioritising sustainability the highest.

Consumers are driving the growing emphasis on personalisation – the ability to customise a vehicle to their liking. Nearly four in five consumers say personalisation options factor into their decision to purchase a vehicle, and eight in ten fleet managers share these same requirements for sustainability and personalisation. APAC consumers resonate with this most strongly when compared with their global counterparts, with 86 percent prioritising personalisation options in their purchasing decisions, and 92 percent of fleet managers sharing the same requirements.

While nearly 80 percent of automotive industry decision-makers globally (77 percent in APAC, including India) recognise consumers expect more sustainable and personalised vehicle options today, around seven in ten concede it’s difficult to keep up with increasing customisation demands. As a result, three in four automotive manufacturers globally say a top priority is to build strategic partnerships with tech companies for their next generation of production. This number is lower across APAC, at 72 percent and 64 percent respectively.

Tan Aik Jin, Vertical Solutions Marketing Lead APAC, Zebra Technologies, said, “The challenges that automotive manufacturers face today include finding and retaining qualified workforce, navigating supply chain disruptions, delivering on heightened expectations around speed and accuracy. While it’s heartening that consumers are leaning towards a greener automotive future with greater preference towards electric vehicles, this is a signal to automotive decision-makers to actively invest more in safer technologies and robust infrastructure, to better serve their customers.”

Trust and transparency in automotive manufacturing
Data and information transparency is highly important to consumers and fleet managers alike, and they are seeking more visibility into the automotive ecosystem. When considering a vehicle for purchase or lease, 81 percent of consumers globally (85 percent in APAC, including India) and 86 percent of fleet managers (92 percent in APAC, including India) indicate they want to understand the origin of materials and parts on their vehicle. Millennials lead the way in demanding more transparency in automotive manufacturing, as more than eight in ten (both globally and in APAC, including India) say it is important to have access to manufacturer information along with knowing if source materials and parts are sustainable and understanding how the vehicle is manufactured from end-to-end.

Beyond gaining greater visibility into the automotive manufacturing process, once they have their vehicles, 88 percent of consumers (82 percent in APAC, including India) and 86 percent of fleet managers (88 percent in APAC, including India) want to understand how the data from their vehicles will be used by the automotive ecosystem.

After a vehicle purchase, 83 percent of consumers and 84 percent of fleet managers expect ownership and control of the data their vehicle generates. This sentiment is similarly shared within APAC, by 86 percent of consumers and 88 percent of fleet managers.

Automotive supply chain visibility
A majority of consumers (79 percent globally, 83 percent in APAC, including India) and fleet managers (81 percent globally, 84 percent in APAC, including India) want end-to-end visibility during the manufacturing process. However, only around three in ten automotive industry decision-makers say they will prioritise connecting real-time data systems (30 percent in APAC, including India) to enable a holistic view of operations and increase visibility across production and throughout the supply chain over the next five years (32 percent in APAC, including India). 

Jin added, “To provide real-time visibility throughout the supply chain, digitising operations via RFID and rugged handheld mobile computers can ensure that both regulations and sustainability expectations are met effectively and efficiently.”

Slightly more than one-third of OEMs globally and in APAC said autonomous mobile robots (AMRs), RFID, rugged handheld mobile computers and scanners as well as industrial machine vision will improve supply chain management. Similarly for suppliers, one-third of those surveyed cite mobile barcode label/thermal printers, wearable computers and location technology as the technologies to do so. 

Rajnish Gupta, Vice President and Head – India and Sub-Continent Business, Zebra Technologies, said, “Manufacturers are innovating to meet changing customer demands, and they are increasing their investment in technologies to deliver more personalised and sustainable vehicles. Along with this, they also need to ramp up their end-to-end supply chain visibility to build the next level of trust with their customers. We are ready to help automotive manufacturers enhance their operational capabilities through digitalisation through varying solutions like the L10ax rugged tablet, RFD90 ultra-rugged UHF RFID sleds, MC9300 DPM mobile computer and Workforce Connect, just to name a few.”

Overall, around seven in ten automotive industry decision-makers (76 percent globally, 67 percent in APAC, including India) agree that digital transformation is a strategic priority for their organisation. In the next five years, they anticipate expanding their use of technology, with 47 percent (both globally and in APAC, including India) focused on additive manufacturing/3D printing and 45 percent globally (46 percent in APAC, including India) on supply chain planning solutions.

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Bengaluru-headquartered electric vehicle major Ather Energy has announced that its fast-charging network ‘Ather Grid’ has surpassed 400 charging points across Tamil Nadu. This expansion aims to alleviate range anxiety for EV owners and support the growing adoption of electric vehicles in the state.

With charging stations now in 38 cities, including tourist destinations like Coonoor and Rameswaram, the network connects key travel routes such as Coimbatore to Bengaluru and Chennai to Pondicherry. The company also noted that a total of 480 fast charging points are available in the state, which includes over 50 LECCS (Light Electric Combined Charging System) chargers. Developed by Ather, the LECCS standard allows different brands of light EVs to use the same charging network.

Ravneet Singh Phokela, Chief Business Officer, Ather Energy, said, “Tamil Nadu has been one of our earliest markets and ever since we entered the state in 2019, we have been investing in building a reliable charging network there. Charging has often been seen as one of the key barriers, and it’s something we’ve focused on solving from day one. Crossing 400 fast chargers in Tamil Nadu is a reflection of that commitment. It’s about giving riders the confidence that a charger is never too far away. As our retail footprint grows, the charging network will continue to scale alongside it, making EV ownership truly seamless.”

The company has partnered with local businesses like Coffee Day Global and Ganga Sweets to deploy these charging points. This expansion is part of Ather's broader national effort, which has seen the establishment of over 3,300 fast-charging points across India. The chargers can provide up to 15 kilometres of range in just 10 minutes, making it more convenient for riders on the go.

In addition to its charging infrastructure, Ather maintains a strong presence in the state with 44 experience centres and 42 service centres in 35 cities, offering comprehensive sales and after-sales support.

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Bengaluru-headquartered premium electric two-wheeler company Ultraviolette Automotive has announced a strategic investment from TDK Ventures, the venture capital arm of Japan’s TDK Corporation, along with participation from backing from existing investors Zoho Corporation and Lingotto (previously Exor Capital), among others.

With this TDK Ventures joins the likes of Qualcomm Ventures, Zoho Corporation, Speciale Invest, Lingotto (Formerly Exor Capital), and TVS Motor Company as a strategic investor in the EV company. It also counts the likes of Sriharsha Majety (Co-founder & CEO, Swiggy), Ankit Nagori (Co-founder, Cure Foods; former Chief Business Officer, Flipkart), Aprameya Radhakrishna (Co-founder, TaxiForSure), and Dulquer Salmaan (renowned actor and automotive enthusiast) among its early backers.

At present, Ultraviolette sells the F77 electric motorcycle and is gearing up to expand its product offerings along with manufacturing, research and distribution network globally.

Narayan Subramaniam, CEO & Co-Founder, Ultraviolette, said, “Mobility is undergoing a radical transformation, and at Ultraviolette, we are leading that change through cutting-edge innovation. Our partnership with TDK Ventures fast forwards our efforts, from advanced battery platforms to intelligent vehicle systems. This collaboration not only accelerates our vision of future ready mobility but also reinforces our commitment to delivering electric vehicles that are aspirational and globally relevant.”

Niraj Rajmohan, CTO and Co-founder of Ultraviolette, said, “Through this partnership with TDK Ventures, Ultraviolette will continue to innovate in deep-tech to shape the future of mobility. Together, we will continue to push the boundaries in building safer, smarter, and a more efficient electric mobility eco-system.”

Ravi Jain, Investment Director, TDK Ventures, said, “We look forward to bringing our TDK Goodness to Ultraviolette and their ambitious plan to design the next generation of energy efficient and performance EV 2W platforms. TDK Ventures is excited to support Ultraviolette in their relentless pursuit of growing their global reach."

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In a significant step toward creating a global ‘Internet of Things’ (IoT) ecosystem, Geely Holding Group’s aerospace subsidiary, Geespace, successfully launched 11 new satellites into orbit on 9 August 2025. The launch took place in Shandong Province, China, and marks the fourth successful orbital deployment for the company's Geely Future Mobility Constellation (GEESATCOM).

With this latest launch, Geespace now operates 41 satellites in low Earth orbit (LEO), bringing it closer to its goal of having 72 satellites in operation by end-2025. The company plans to accelerate deployments over the next two months to reach 64 operational satellites, which will establish comprehensive global satellite IoT coverage.

The GEESATCOM project is a key part of Geely's vision to build an integrated space and earth mobility ecosystem. The LEO satellite network is designed to provide highly reliable, wide-coverage communication services for various strategic industries, including:

• Connected vehicles and urban air mobility
• Emergency response and maritime operations
• Energy infrastructure

This network will support advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) and connected vehicle platforms by providing crucial data for precision positioning and connectivity. Geespace has already established partnerships with telecom operators in over 20 countries and its proprietary satellite communication chips and high-precision positioning modules are now in mass production across Geely's vehicle portfolio.

To further demonstrate the technology, Geely is providing high-precision positioning and emergency satellite communications for official vehicles at the World Games 2025 Chengdu, showcasing the practical applications of its satellite infrastructure in real-world scenarios.

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Kia India, a leading passenger vehicle manufacturer in the country, has signed an MoU (Memorandum of Understanding) with ASDC (Automotive Skill Development Council) to promote automotive skill training in the country.

The partnership will promote a 30-day training model module combining classroom-based theoretical learning and practical on-the-job experience. The course includes 15 days of foundational training at ASDC-certified training centers covering core automotive concepts and dealership functions. In addition, it will also feature Kia-specific process to familiarise candidates with brand standards, systems and product knowledge. The curriculum will provide students with 15 days of experiential learning at authorised Kia dealerships under expert supervision.

Joonsu Cho, Chief Sales Officer, Kia India, said, “This collaboration with ASDC represents a pivotal step in Kia India’s commitment to shaping a future-ready ecosystem, one that is anchored in skilled human capital and elevated customer experience. By creating a robust talent pool through structured training and certification, we are not only empowering India’s youth with meaningful employment but also reinforcing our dealer network with professionals who embody Kia’s values of quality, care, and innovation. Ultimately, this initiative will translate into a more seamless, informed, and rewarding journey for every Kia customer across the country.”

The co-developed learning model aims to provide candidates with the technical know-how and workplace readiness to be effective from day one. Upon successful completion of the program, candidates will undergo an evaluation at the ASDC centre, get certificate jointly awarded by Kia India and ASDC, and eligible for the direct recruitment by Kia dealerships into Sales and Service roles.

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