- 95% of automotive manufacturing leaders now rate cybersecurity as a significant concern, with 53% branding it ‘extremely significant’
- Cybersecurity ranks higher than cost reduction, AI and flexible manufacturing across all regions and supplier tiers
- The results mark a clear inflection point, with cybersecurity now viewed as a core manufacturing issue
- ABB’s long-term, security-by-design approach to connected automation reflects the direction the industry is now taking
Cybersecurity has become the most significant focus for automotive manufacturers worldwide, according to ABB Robotics’ latest Automotive Manufacturing Outlook Survey, highlighting a fundamental shift in how manufacturers view digital risk, operational continuity and the future of vehicle production.
The results reflect the rapid expansion of connected technologies on the factory floor. Advanced robotics, vision systems, analytics, digital twins and AI are delivering major gains in productivity, quality and flexibility. But they also require secure, controlled connectivity to deliver their full value.
“Cybersecurity is no longer something manufacturers are thinking about for the future – it is something they must address at the heart of production today,” said Joerg Reger, Managing Director of ABB Robotics Automotive Business Line. “As factories become more connected, software-driven and data-intensive, cybersecurity has become a core manufacturing discipline. At ABB, we have been building security into our culture and the design of our intelligent, connected automation platforms for decades, so customers can move forward with digital manufacturing confidently.”
The global survey, conducted in partnership with Automotive Manufacturing Solutions, shows an unprecedented level of consensus across the industry, with 95 percent of respondents rating cybersecurity as significant, and more than half (53 percent) identifying it as ‘extremely significant.’ Respondents in every major automotive region, and across OEMs, Tier 1 and Tier 2 suppliers, all ranked cybersecurity as the industry’s number-one priority over the next five years.
This marks a decisive change from previous years, when cybersecurity sat among a broader set of concerns. Today, manufacturers increasingly recognize that cyber incidents do not simply affect IT systems – they can halt production, disrupt supply chains and impact finished products, even in environments where equipment is not directly connected to the internet.
“Rather than rejecting digitalization, manufacturers are demanding stronger assurance that connected production can be deployed safely and resiliently,” said Reger. “With more than nine in ten survey respondents expecting increased use of AI and big-data management, and a similar number planning greater adoption of digital twins and simulation, secure connectivity is no longer optional. With the EU’s Cyber Resilience Act on the horizon, manufacturers need partners who are already prepared. That’s why platforms like ABB’s OmniCoreTM controller family have been designed from the ground up for secure, connected manufacturing – enabling advanced digital capabilities while giving customers control over how and where connectivity is deployed. Our focus is on helping customers adopt connected technologies in a way that is secure, robust and future-ready,” explained Reger
ABB’s approach to cybersecurity has been refined over decades, beginning with an early cultural shift that embedded security into product development, organizational governance and lifecycle management across its entire portfolio. Security requirements are now built into every stage of development and are supported at the highest levels of the business, ensuring that cybersecurity is treated as a fundamental requirement rather than an add-on feature.
This year’s survey gathered insights from 473 automotive industry decision-makers representing vehicle manufacturers and suppliers across the value chain worldwide. The full results are available here:
ABB Robotics as one of the world’s leading robotics companies, is the only company with a comprehensive and integrated AI-powered portfolio covering robots, cobots and Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMRs), designed and orchestrated by our value-creating software. We help companies of all sizes and sectors - from automotive to electronics and logistics – to outperform by becoming more resilient, flexible and efficient. ABB Robotics is at the forefront of developing and commercializing a new generation of Autonomous Versatile Robotics (AVR), leading a global innovation ecosystem of partners in advancing efficient hardware and intelligent software with industrial performance. The business employs approximately 7,000 people. go.abb/robotics
