Cybersecurity top priority for automotive manufacturers

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%) 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 recognise 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 digitalisation, 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 OmniCore 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.” 

ABB’s approach to cybersecurity has been refined over decades, beginning with an early cultural shift that embedded security into product development, organisational 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 at:

www.abb.com/global/en/areas/robotics/industries/automotive/manufacturing-outlook-survey