A new report by growth consulting and research firm Frost & Sullivan forecasts that in-vehicle artificial intelligence will reach a $238 billion market opportunity by 2030, a sharp rise from the current $43 billion in 2025. 

The report, sponsored by technology provider Sonatus, said that the findings indicate a fundamental shift in automotive AI from a cloud-centric, luxury-focused implementation to a mass-market, in-vehicle edge execution, meaning AI run locally on interior hardware. The shift results from the “convergence of centralized compute platforms, an abundance of vehicle data and consumer demand for personalization,” according to the report. 

“AI at the edge is reshaping the fundamentals of the automotive industry, moving from isolated use cases to a central role in how vehicles are designed, operated, and monetized,” said Ajit Chander Swaminathan, associate partner head of mobility Americas at Frost & Sullivan.

The firm found that certain AI-driven innovations play big roles in how automakers are moving forward: prognostics, in-vehicle AI companions, battery-management systems, and sensor virtualization. It said that advancements in centralized compute platforms, over-the-air updates and adaptive, as well as personalized, intelligence are becoming essential due to rising energy costs, stricter regulation, increasing security requirements, and escalating warranty and recall expenses. 

“Intelligence is the new horsepower. It’s no longer enough for vehicles to collect data; they need to act on it in real time,” said Sanjay Khatri, head of product marketing at Sonatus. 

Frost predicts that the transformation will bring energy-efficiency gains, warranty cost reductions and battery depletion reduction for the automotive industry.