This chapter introduces the dynamic transformations currently taking place in the global automotive industry. It highlights key technological innovations such as the transition from the internal combustion engine (ICE) to electric vehicles (EV), advances in autonomous driving, and increased vehicle connectivity. It raises important questions about the impact of these innovations on traditional automakers, market structures, and global supply chains. The chapter places these technology changes in the context of the industrial policies shaping the future of the industry, with a particular focus on the evolving competition between established automotive giants and new market entrants from emerging economies, above all China. The broader implications of these changes are explored through the lenses of global value chains, productive models, and international core-periphery dynamics.