Prospects for Development of the Global Automotive Industry in Context of Digitalization and Achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals

Abstract

Since 2007, the global economy has been in a state of instability. National governments are searching for methods to stimulate the development of their economies and individual industries that can become drivers pulling their countries forward. An increasing number of researchers agree that the automotive industry can become such a locomotive. The purpose of this article is to provide theoretical justification and identify prospects for the development of the global automotive industry in the context of digitalization, taking into account the priorities of achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Transformational processes in the global automotive industry are examined through the prism of achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Based on the analysis of statistical data for 2014–2024, it has been established that the share of the automotive industry in global GDP averages 3-5%, and taking into account related industries – up to 7-8%. The study shows that China maintains its leadership, accounting for over 33% of global car production, while South Korea has one of the highest shares of the industry in GDP – 10-12%, and the United States and Germany demonstrate stable growth due to investments in electric vehicles. The use of the exponential smoothing method for forecasting the profitability of leading companies revealed that by 2028, Tesla’s profit may increase from 14 to 29.5 billion USD, Apple’s – from 93.7 to 125.8 billion USD, and Xiaomi’s – from 9.1 to 8.9 billion USD with a tendency toward gradual recovery. The results confirm that digitalization, electrification of transport, the implementation of artificial intelligence, and environmentally friendly technologies form a new paradigm of automotive industry development focused on energy efficiency, safety, and climate neutrality. It is shown that digitalization acts as a catalyst for sustainable trans formation in the global automotive industry, enhancing competitiveness, environmental safety, and the socio-economic resilience of society. The integration of the automotive and technology sectors contributes to the achievement of SDGs 7, 9, 11, 12, and 13, ensuring the transition to a green economy and a sustainable urban environment. The automotive industry is identified as a strategic factor of global economic stability and innovative growth, capable of ensuring a balanced combination of economic, environmental, and social priorities of sustainable development.