From connectivity and Industry 4.0 to self-driving vehicles, 2018 will go down as the most exciting and disruptive year in automotive history. Alongside these tech advancements, the role of automotive communicators is also primed for a transformation, including the need for well-defined brand voices and smart strategies for standing out in a rapidly changing industry.  

To learn more, Airfoil Group, a public relations and marketing communications agency for global technology brands and HBI, an international PR and marcom agency, teamed up to conduct a survey of automotive communicators from North America, Europe and Asia to determine the influential trends currently making waves in their regions and discover what communicators see on the horizon for the industry.

The results were surprising.

In addition to conflicting views around automated technology, changes in supply chains, and discovering what startups can do to wow OEMs, there were also some regional discrepancies. For example, while self-driving was the largest trend overall, government regulations and policies were top of mind for North American communicators.

If your company markets to - or within - the automotive industry, our top five findings might change how you communicate in 2018 and beyond.