Automotive manufacturing leaders rank cybersecurity as their top concern across all regions of the world and supplier tiers, beating out more traditional issues such as cost reduction and newer ones such as AI and flexible manufacturing, according to a newly minted survey.
ABB Robotics’ Automotive Manufacturing Outlook Survey for 2025, the results from which were released last week, found that 95% of vehicle makers rated cybersecurity as a significant manufacturing concern, with 53% ranking it “extremely significant.”
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ABB, in partnership with media brand Automotive Manufacturing Solutions, surveyed 473 automotive industry leaders representing vehicle manufacturers and suppliers globally last year.
“Cybersecurity is no longer something manufacturers are thinking about for the future—it is something they must address at the heart of production today,” said the managing director of ABB’s automotive business line, Joerg Reger. “As factories become more connected, software-driven and data-intensive, cybersecurity has become a core manufacturing discipline.”
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According to ABB’s survey, the surge in importance of cybersecurity stems in part from the impact of cyber incidents on production, supply chains and even finished vehicles. The risk goes beyond IT systems into core manufacturing operations.
The research cites no specific cyber incidents. But data from other sources shows the cost of cyberattacks on manufacturing in stark dollar amounts, with ransomware driving damages globally to an estimated $74 billion.
Cyber incidents specifically involving operational technology, the factory-level gear that controls most production processes and is arguably the most vulnerable to attack, could cost up to $329.5 billion in losses worldwide.
Additionally, advancements in robotics, analytics, digital twins and AI—which have created significant improvements in production—depend on secure connectivity, ABB’s report emphasizes.
Across companies, OEMs and first- and second-tier suppliers ranked cybersecurity as the most significant area. The ranking also dominated across manufacturers in North America, Europe and the Asia-Pacific region. Cost reduction and automation and robotics followed closely behind.
