swiss Center for Automotive Research

German

French

The Swiss Center for Automotive Research (swiss CAR) conducts empirically grounded research in the automotive and broader mobility sector, an industry undergoing profound technological and regulatory transformation, including the transition to electric and autonomous vehicles and increasing sustainability requirements. By maintaining long-term collaborations with firms and industry partners and developing deep industry expertise, the center identifies and addresses research questions of high practical relevance and gains privileged access to unique empirical data. The center brings together a research team of doctoral researchers, visiting scholars, and project-based collaborators working on topics in technology and innovation management. Its research focuses on how firms and ecosystems in the mobility sector adapt to technological and societal change. A core activity of swiss CAR is its recurring industry study, conducted every five years. The most recent data collection was completed in 2023, with the next wave expected in 2028/29. The center maintains close collaborations with national and international companies, industry associations, and public institutions. It is part of the Program on Vehicle and Mobility Innovation (PVMI) at the Mack Institute for Innovation Management at the Wharton School (University of Pennsylvania(. and collaborates with the Center for Automotive and Mobility Innovation (CAMI) at Ca’ Foscari University (Venice) as well as with the Automotive Group of Swissmem.

Publication of study results | March 25, 2024

On March 25, 2024, we presented the results of our current study on the automotive industry in Switzerland at the University of Zurich. We would like to thank all participating companies and our partners, Business Monitor and the Swissmem Automotive Group for their support!

The study examines current developments in the industry, including the switch to electric mobility, the application of machine learning, and measures in the area of sustainability. It includes the following companies: 

• Manufacturers of passenger cars, buses, trucks, but also specialty vehicles (such as agricultural and forestry vehicles, fire trucks, race cars, etc.), and motorcycles.
• Suppliers to the above-mentioned companies, including parts manufacturers, material manufacturers (e.g., plastics or paints), capital goods manufacturers (e.g., production equipment or parts thereof, machinery), and service providers (e.g., development services).

Car dealerships, insurance companies, financial services, and automotive repair shops are not the subject of this study.

If you are interested in the results of this study, please contact us at swiss-car@business.uzh.ch.

• Automotive Industry Switzerland Industry Analysis 2018/19. Latest survey of structure, trends, challenges, and opportunities. (in German) (PDF, 3 MB)
• Automotive Industry Switzerland Industry Analysis 2013. Latest survey of structure, trends, challenges, and opportunities. (in German) (PDF, 12 MB)
• Automotive Industry Switzerland Industry Analysis 2008. Latest survey of structure, trends, challenges, and opportunities. (PDF, 4 MB)

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