The Automotive Industry Action Group (AIAG) in partnership with Thomson Reuters has launched the first regional report associated with the organizations’ Supply Chain 2025 survey initiative.

The initial “Future of the Automotive Supply Chain” report reflects the insights and expectations of Asia-Pacific (APAC) supply chain professionals and elaborates on industry trends in the region through a series of one-on-one interviews and a statistical survey.

The survey assessed the anticipated impact of key automotive industry trends through 2025 in the APAC region, which includes Japan, China, South Korea, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, India and Australia.

AIAG Director of Supply Chain Products and Services Tanya Bolden said they began their research in the APAC region with interview-based discussions that helped them to define the parameters and content of the survey.

“The survey itself allowed us to gather insights on how macro-trends like electrification and shifting attitudes toward mobility and vehicle ownership will influence the future of the automotive supply chain,” Bolden said.

In addition to exploring current and emerging trends such as the electrification of vehicles and changing viewpoints in society, survey respondents also provided insights on issues pertaining to globalization and global sourcing decisions, talent and labor concerns, capacity management, the impact of (and demand for) increased technology in vehicles, social trends, and an ever-changing regulatory environment.

Based on survey findings, the report points to two top trends expected to impact the automotive supply chain most significantly over the next few years—changes in international trade requirements and the logistics of electrification. Additional broad trends surrounding autonomous vehicles, regulatory compliance, and societal changes were also identified—signifying a diversity of challenges and opportunities in the region as improved technology and evolving cultural expectations continue to alter the supply chain landscape.

“While this data may be specific to the APAC region, we believe these trends—along with others such as cybersecurity and increased automation, to name a few—are virtually universal concerns for the industry as a whole,” Bolden said. “Consequently, subsequent survey efforts focusing on Europe and the Americas will solicit feedback on similar trends and challenges.”

As survey data continues to be gathered from automotive supply chain professionals around the globe, two additional reports will be published. The next report will detail survey findings from Europe and the Americas, while the third and final report will compare data from the various regions and offer broader analysis and key takeaways.

Click here for more information about the report.