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
The Industrial & Manufacturing sector is poised for strong M&A activity in 2025, with more than 20% of respondents in Dykema’s latest M&A Outlook Survey identifying it as a focus. However, dealmakers are navigating challenges, including tariffs, supply chain disruptions, and economic uncertainty, factors that are reshaping how deals are evaluated and executed.
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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
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
Six months after releasing our 2024 Automotive Trends Report, we look at which of our legal trends continue driving the industry forward… and which ones might be in the rearview mirror. Today, Laura Baucus, Lisa Brown, and Kyle Asher share their outlook on the automotive supply chain.
Continue Reading 2024 Automotive Trends: Trending Up or Trending Down? Spotlight: Supply Chain
What constitutes a requirements contract in Michigan under the Uniform Commercial Code? Will your purchase orders be enforceable as a contract? On July 11, 2023, the Michigan Supreme Court issued an opinion in MSSC, Inc. v. Airboss Flexible Prods. Co., which adds another layer to these tricky questions.
Continue Reading Clarifying Requirements Contracts and Purchase Order Enforceability in Michigan: Insights From the Michigan Supreme Court
In a move that could impact tens of thousands of workers and 30% of U.S. goods, there may be a freight rail stoppage starting Friday, September 14, 2022, if rail operators and unions fail to reach a deal by 12:01 a.m. ET on Friday. Due to this potential lack of staff, as of Tuesday, September 13, some rail operators even stopped accepting certain freight (such as hazardous materials), because there may not be anyone available to manage and keep it safe. While the media skews towards doom and gloom—predicting a massive of collapse of the supply chain—experts and commentators do expect that halted freight shipments will disrupt the already strained U.S. supply chain, including automotive and other manufacturing companies that operate on a just-in-time sole source basis.
Continue Reading The Next Big Threat to the U.S. Supply Chain Is Coming Sooner Than You Think
Supply Chain Brain has published our article, “Will Automotive Supply Chains Face More Disruptions in 2022?“.
In the article, we point out that while supply chain issues likely will not shut down production lines in 2022, to the same extent as 2021, the automotive industry can expect continued challenges.
Last year, the automotive industry experienced successes—the upsurge of electric and autonomous vehicle development—and challenges—the global supply chain fiasco—both of which will impact legal trends.
In my recent Industry Today article, “Driving Into 2022,” I highlight the top five legal trends driving the automotive industry this year. I examine: