From mechanical engineering to ‘Electrified AI’: How the automotive industry is reinventing itself

As electrification, AI, and connected mobility reshape the industry, automakers are being pushed to rethink not just vehicles but their entire business models. The global automotive industry is entering a defining phase shaped by electrification, software-defined vehicles, AI-driven operations, and supply chain reinvention. On the sidelines of SAP Sapphire 2026, Shipra Sinha, Senior Analyst, Industry Intelligence Group (IIG), CyberMedia Research (CMR), spoke with Nadine Kanja, Global Head of Industry Business Unit Automotive, SAP SE about how automakers are navigating rapid transformation across manufacturing, mobility, sustainability, and customer experience. The automotive industry has continuously evolved with technology, from combustion engines and assembly lines to connected and electric vehicles. But the transformation underway today is far more complex and far-reaching. Automakers across the world are simultaneously navigating electrification, software-defined vehicles, AI-drive