As the automotive industry heads into the final stretch of 2025, At the Wheel: An Automotive Roundup brings you the latest from Dykema’s Automotive, Mobility & Transportation group. In this Fall Edition, we catch up on trending topics, industry insights, and key takeaways from recent events, while giving a glimpse of what’s ahead.
Continue Reading At the Wheel: Fall Edition
The connected car has hit some speed bumps. In the wake of FTC enforcement actions that began in late 2024, the agency has continued targeting automakers for alleged misuse of telematics and geolocation data. This spring, at least one high-profile case involved claims that manufacturers had shared driver data with insurers without proper consent, sparking follow-on investigations by multiple state attorneys general.
These developments have also fueled a wave of class actions. Plaintiffs are challenging how companies collect, store, and monetize driving behavior data, citing state privacy laws and longstanding statutes like the Driver’s Privacy Protection Act.
The first half of 2025 saw many automotive companies narrowing their scope to adopt a more efficient approach to dealmaking. Instead of chasing every growth opportunity, companies are shedding non-core assets and leaning into technologies they see as essential to their long-term strategy.
The result: more carve-outs of non-core assets and more targeted acquisitions. For example, suppliers are doing deals in ADAS, interiors, and powertrain designed to align with shifting OEM needs. Going forward, expect more moves that favor depth over breadth.
With the release of NHTSA’s new Automated Vehicle Framework (AVF) in April, manufacturers of autonomous systems can see a more straightforward—if more arduous—path forward. The Framework aims to harmonize federal standards, streamline crash reporting, and formally extend the Automated Vehicle Exemption Program to U.S.-produced vehicles.
As more vehicles move into SAE Levels 3–5, liability and consumer attitudes in product liability continue to evolve. When something goes wrong, both plaintiffs and regulators are more likely to scrutinize the underlying technology and the entities responsible for designing, testing, and maintaining it. That means more litigation grounded in product liability and software defect claims, and more pressure on OEMs and suppliers to comply from the outset.
Lawmakers and courts are shifting from theory to rulemaking as AI takes the wheel, bringing new questions about fault along for the ride. Recent legislation in the EU and UK places a presumptive share of liability on manufacturers and software providers, treating autonomous decision-making as an extension of product performance rather than driver behavior.
In the U.S., emerging state-level laws and agency guidance are starting to follow this pattern, especially where human oversight is limited. This trend marks a subtle but significant shift in the legal guardrails around AI: companies are no longer just expected to disclose risks—they’re being required to absorb them.
Welcome to the June/July edition of At the Wheel: An Automotive Roundup. We begin with highlights from our recent Automotive Legal Summit, a one-day event packed with valuable insights and dynamic discussions. Then, explore key trends shaping the automotive industry and the latest thought leadership from Dykema’s Automotive and Transportation Industry Group.
Continue Reading At the Wheel: Summer Edition
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Preview the Agenda at a Glance and watch the video to see what’s ahead.
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*This event is limited to in-house legal professionals and business leaders across automotive, manufacturing, and affiliated industries.
Welcome to the May edition of At the Wheel: An Automotive Roundup, where we showcase the latest insights and thought leadership from Dykema’s Automotive and Transportation Industry Group. Get a closer look at the issues and trends driving change across the automotive industry, along with a preview of upcoming webinars and events you won’t want to miss.
Continue Reading At the Wheel: An Automotive Roundup – May 2025
Welcome to At the Wheel: An Automotive Roundup, where we showcase the latest insights and thought leadership from Dykema’s Automotive and Transportation Industry Group. Get a closer look at the issues and trends driving change across the automotive industry along with a preview of upcoming webinars and events you won’t want to miss.
Dykema’s Automotive Industry Group, a four-time recipient of Law360’s Practice Group of the Year for Transportation, is pleased to announce the release of its 3rd Annual Automotive Trends Report. This comprehensive analysis offers critical legal insights into the dynamic challenges and opportunities shaping the automotive industry in 2025.
Based on a survey of Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs), suppliers, and industry decision-makers, this year’s report delves into:
Continue Reading Dykema Releases 2025 Automotive Trends Report: Navigating Industry Transformation Amidst Regulatory Shifts, Tech Advances, and Supply Chain Strain