3 The automotive industry is at one of the most profound turning points in its history. What once began as evolutionary progress is now a fundamental transformation. The current transformation in the automotive industry represents nothing less than the complete deconstruction of the car and its comprehensive redesign across the entire value chain. This redesign of all functional elements aims to introduce new types of drive systems—in particular electric drives—and to fully network different design elements with external data carriers. Equipping vehicles with a multitude of new assistance systems as the final precursor to autonomous driving would be unthinkable without the comprehensive use of electronic data processing systems. Connectivity thus becomes a central functional component. The possibilities offered by AI in particular are essential prerequisites for the continuous development of autonomous systems—from self-controlled maintenance to individualized entertainment electronics. The establishment and continuous development of IT and AI expertise are essential for the international competitiveness of our automotive industry. This is accompanied by a new form of competition. Traditional car manufacturers are no longer just competing with each other but also with tech companies and new market entrants from China and the USA. At the same time, people‘s relationship with cars has also changed. In urban areas, ownership is becoming less important, while usage, sharing, and multimodal mobility concepts are gaining in significance. The car remains an important means of transport, but it is no longer necessarily the emotional center of individual mobility. Like all our titles, the supplement of the umbrella brand OEM&Lieferant, which focuses on “International Automotive Regions,” in the automotive and supplier industry, is published exclusively in digital form, with the option of obtaining additional information via links, interactions, and networking to web content and social media. We would like to thank all participating companies for their excellent and trusting cooperation. The next special edition of “Autoregionen International” is expected to be published in August 2026 as an integrated supplement in OEM & Lieferant. You are cordially invited to contribute with your articles, interviews, company presentations, and advertisements. Your editorial team Visit our trade press portal www.oemundlieferant.de And become a member of the LinkedIn specialist group LinkedIn-Gruppe OEM&Lieferant Dear readers, Editorial The automotive industry in transition
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