What will drive dealmaking in 2027, and what could stand in its way? Dykema is gathering input for its annual M&A Outlook, and early responses point to growing optimism, but some persistent challenges.

So far:

  • 57% expect U.S. M&A activity to strengthen over the next 12 months.
  • 50% believe private equity buyers will have the greatest influence on deal valuations.
  • 57% identify valuation gaps as a major obstacle to dealmaking, while 48% point to economic uncertainty.
  • 69% believe due diligence is one of the areas where AI will create the greatest value in the deal process.

But do those early findings reflect what the automotive and manufacturing sectors are seeing? From shifting supply chains and technology investment to portfolio realignment and capital pressures, the automotive industry brings a distinct perspective to the deal market. We want that perspective represented in the 2027 M&A Outlook.

The survey takes just a few minutes, and your input will help inform the automotive and manufacturing insights featured in Dykema’s 2027 M&A Outlook.

Share your perspective: M&A Outlook Survey.

Legal departments today are navigating an increasingly varied set of challenges, often at the intersection of law, technology, business, and risk. This year’s Summit will take on four timely areas: crisis management, connected vehicles, artificial intelligence and cybersecurity, and high-exposure litigation.

Serious Insight. Genuine Fun. Each has long been part of what defines the Summit. The day is designed to bring in-house counsel together with legal and corporate professionals to explore the issues they are confronting now, hear different perspectives, ask questions, and connect with others navigating many of the same challenges.

And then there’s M1 Concourse. Conversations can continue outside the formal program as attendees network, get out on the track, and enjoy an experience that is distinctly automotive.

Learn more about Dykema Drives Automotive Legal Summit and join us on August 20. Register today.

Sustained growth often comes from making the right acquisition at the right time.

Our latest Mergers & Acquisitions Outlook Survey found that 62% of respondents expect M&A activity across the automotive, transportation and mobility sectors to increase over the next year. While economic uncertainty continues to influence dealmaking, companies remain focused on acquisitions that expand capabilities, strengthen product portfolios and support long-term growth. Dykema regularly advises clients across the transportation sector on these business transactions, helping them execute strategies that align with their long-term objectives.

Recently, we advised a specialty vehicle equipment manufacturer on its acquisition of a market-leading manufacturer of truck-mounted equipment. The acquisition expanded the buyer’s product portfolio, further supporting its long-term growth strategy. The Dykema team included Nick Monaghan, Asel Lindsey, Cody Rockey, Teresa Giltner, Cameron O’Connor, Falak Momin, and Nick Ustaski.

Transactions like this illustrate how companies continue to pursue targeted acquisitions that complement existing capabilities and strengthen their competitive position.

Learn more about Dykema’s Transportation M&A capabilities and explore our Annual Mergers & Acquisitions Outlook Survey by visiting our website.

Government policy remains a defining force for the automotive industry as companies navigate tariffs, USMCA renegotiations, and an evolving regulatory landscape. These issues, along with other key findings from Dykema’s 2026 Automotive Trends Report, will help shape discussions at Dykema Drives: Automotive Legal Summit on August 20. Register now.

Continue Reading 2026 Automotive Trends Report: Government Policy

Intellectual property risks continue to evolve alongside rapid advances in automotive technology, particularly as software-defined vehicles and AI reshape how innovation is developed, protected, and commercialized. These developments, along with other key themes from Dykema’s 2026 Automotive Trends Report, will help frame discussions at Dykema Drives: Automotive Legal Summit on August 20. Register now.

Continue Reading 2026 Automotive Trends Report: Intellectual Property

Cybersecurity and data privacy continue to rank among the most significant challenges facing the automotive industry in 2026 and will be among the topics explored at the Dykema Drives: Automotive Legal Summit on August 20. Drawing on insights from Dykema’s 2026 Automotive Trends Report, the Summit will examine the evolving legal, regulatory, and operational risks shaping today’s automotive landscape. Register now.

Continue Reading 2026 Automotive Trends Report: Cybersecurity and Data Privacy

Dykema’s 4th Annual Automotive Legal Summit is moving to Thursday, August 20, 2026, at M1 Concourse.

This year’s Summit brings together in-house legal counsel and corporate professionals across the automotive, transportation, and mobility industries for a program centered on crisis management, AV regulation, supply chain disruption, high-exposure litigation risks, and more.  

What Attendees Can Expect

Continue Reading New Date. Same Momentum. Dykema’s Automotive Legal Summit Moves to August 20

Geopolitical tensions emerged as one of the fastest-growing supply-chain concerns in this year’s report, jumping 23 percentage points from last year to 52% among respondents. Combined with ongoing concerns surrounding semiconductor and critical mineral availability (30%), the findings reflect how trade policy, resource access, and supply continuity have become increasingly interconnected across the automotive industry.

Continue Reading 2026 Automotive Trends Report: Supply Chain