Rockwell Automation, Inc. (NYSE: ROK) and the Center for Automotive Research (CAR) have released a white paper examining the use of artificial intelligence, machine learning and automation in automotive manufacturing.

The report, titled Smart Manufacturing in Automotive: Deployment and Impact, was authored by CAR using data from Rockwell Automation, including its 11th annual State of Smart Manufacturing report. It covers the automotive, tire and battery industries.

According to the white paper, manufacturers are reporting up to 50% reductions in unplanned downtime in select applications, approximately 5% improvements in overall equipment effectiveness, and 5% to 7% gains in throughput from real-time production analytics.

The report notes that while advanced automation is already in use for body, paint and welding operations, adoption is expanding into electronics assembly, validation, production coordination and logistics. AI and machine learning are also being applied to predictive maintenance and inspection.

"The industry has built a strong automation foundation. What is changing now is how manufacturers are using AI and data to manage growing complexity, improve decision-making, and create competitive advantage," said Edgar Faler, principal mobility analyst and strategy lead at CAR.

The white paper identifies key drivers of adoption, including more complex production environments, warranty pressures, rising costs and global competition. It also notes that automation is being used to support domestic production in tight labor markets.

The report states that differences in adoption rates are creating gaps in quality, uptime and productivity across the industry, with potential implications for supplier performance.