What SBD Automotive does

SBD Automotive is an independent, employee-owned automotive research and consulting firm headquartered in Milton Keynes, UK, founded in 1996. The firm provides specialist advisory services across CASES technologies (Connected, Autonomous, Shared mobility, Electric vehicles, and Security) to automotive OEMs, Tier-1 and Tier-2 suppliers, investors, and governments worldwide. With 101-250 employees operating across six wholly-owned regional offices (UK, Japan, North America, India, China, and Germany), SBD has built a track record of more than 2,000 completed projects and over 1,000 published reports. Its core product portfolio includes bespoke consulting engagements, an off-the-shelf research report catalog (covering OTA, EV infrastructure, software-defined vehicles, and AI in automotive), a Digital Hub client portal, the VehiclePlannerPlus data tools platform, and the co-developed HERE-SBD EV Index now in its third annual edition.

The firm's technology and data assets include proprietary benchmarking methodologies, the HERE-SBD EV Index jointly developed with HERE Technologies, and a claimed data repository of over 10 billion data points. SBD generates revenue through two primary streams: custom consulting services billed on a time-and-materials basis at daily fee rates, and subscription-based access to its research reports and Digital Hub portal. GTM is executed through direct enterprise sales via regional offices, supported by content marketing, industry events, and webinars with technology partners such as AWS and SoundHound AI.

In March 2021, the executive team completed a Management Buyout from the founding team, transitioning the firm to 100% employee ownership while preserving its independence. Notable enterprise clients include Toyota, Ford, Honda, Stellantis, Nissan, Rivian, General Motors, Denso, Harman, Lamborghini, Microsoft, and HERE Technologies. The firm holds ISO 27001 and Cyber Essentials certifications across its UK and German offices, supporting its positioning as a trusted advisor for confidential automotive technology research.

Name

SBD Automotive

Legal name

SBD Automotive Ltd.

Website

https://sbdautomotive.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1996

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

SBD Automotive is an independent, employee-owned UK-based research and consulting firm founded in 1996, providing specialist advisory, benchmarking, and data products across CASES automotive technologies (Connected, Autonomous, Shared, Electric, Security) to OEMs, suppliers, investors, and governments globally.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Milton Keynes

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices7 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Custom Consulting Services: Bespoke consulting engagements tailored to specific client needs, including strategic advisory, technical consulting, and testing services for automotive OEMs, suppliers, and governments. Billed on time and materials basis with daily fee rates.
2. Off-the-Shelf Research Reports: Subscription-based access to a library of automotive technology forecasts, databases, guides, surveys and analytical reports including the OTA & Software-Delivered Features Report, EV Charging & Infrastructure Guide, Tech Giants in Automotive, and Software-Defined Vehicle Guide.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

SBD Automotive provides independent automotive research and consulting focused exclusively on CASES technologies (Connected, Autonomous, Shared mobility, Electric vehicles, Security). It sells off-the-shelf research reports and subscriptions, delivers bespoke consulting and testing engagements to OEMs, suppliers, investors and governments, and offers proprietary data tools such as the HERE-SBD EV Index and VehiclePlannerPlus.

Product overview

SBD Automotive is a global automotive research and consulting firm providing a portfolio of services including off-the-shelf research reports, custom consulting, insights content, and data tools. The company focuses exclusively on CASE technologies (Connected, Autonomous, Shared mobility, Electric vehicles, and Security). Key products include Research Reports covering topics like OTA updates, EV infrastructure, AI for automotive, and Software-Defined Vehicles; Consulting Services for bespoke OEM and supplier engagements; Insights content including articles and webinars; a Digital Hub client portal; and VehiclePlannerPlus data tools. The HERE-SBD EV Index represents a co-branded research partnership on EV market benchmarking.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Digital Hub: Online client portal for accessing SBD Automotive's research reports and content.
• HERE-SBD EV Index

Products and services

• Research Reports Off-the-shelf subscription and individually purchased automotive research reports covering CASE (Connected, Autonomous, Shared, Electric, Security) technologies. Used by automotive OEMs, suppliers, investors, and governments for strategic planning, market intelligence, and technology forecasting.
• Consulting Services Custom consulting services delivered to automotive OEMs, suppliers, investors, and governments covering strategic advisory, technical consulting, and testing services for connected, autonomous, shared, electric, and secure mobility technologies.
• VehiclePlannerPlus Data tools that help automotive industry clients make decisions with market intelligence and benchmarking capabilities, delivered through a dedicated web platform.
• HERE-SBD EV Index Annual benchmarking index co-developed with HERE Technologies that ranks U.S. states, European countries, and Indian states on EV charging infrastructure readiness, EV fleet share, charger availability, charging power, and charger-to-EV ratios.
• Digital Hub Online client portal platform that provides access to SBD Automotive's research reports, databases, guides, and premium content for clients and subscribers.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 2,000 projects completed for automotive OEMs, suppliers, investors and governments worldwide
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers12 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• NissancoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 June 2026SBD Automotive is a partner in the evolvAD project, a UK government-funded consortium led by Nissan developing autonomous driving technology capable of operating in residential, urban, and rural environments. The 21-month project conducted 16,000 autonomous miles of testing with zero accidents, contributing to Nissan's global autonomous mobility development under Nissan Ambition 2030.
• HERE TechnologiescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 4 September 2025Joint development and publication of the annual HERE-SBD EV Index, now in its third edition (2025). The index ranks U.S. states, European countries, and Indian states on EV charging infrastructure metrics including charger availability, charging speed, EV fleet share, and charger-to-EV ratios. This partnership positions both companies as authoritative sources for EV infrastructure benchmarking data.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• TechInsights (formerly Strategy Analytics automotive practice): Technology research provider with a strong automotive connectivity, autonomy, and semiconductor research portfolio. Competes with SBD on syndicated reports and custom consulting in CASE technology domains.
• LMC Automotive: Automotive forecasting and market intelligence specialist serving OEMs, suppliers, and financial institutions. Direct competitor on vehicle demand, powertrain, and EV forecasting work that intersects with SBD's EV Index and consulting.
• P3 Group (P3 Automotive): Automotive engineering and consulting firm providing connected, autonomous, and electric vehicle advisory and testing services. Comparable specialist consulting model serving OEMs and tier-1 suppliers globally.
• Counterpoint Research: Global technology market research firm with a dedicated automotive practice covering connected, electric, and software-defined vehicle topics. Direct competitor for technology-focused automotive research subscriptions and advisory engagements.
• S&P Global Mobility (formerly IHS Markit Automotive): Largest direct competitor in automotive market intelligence, forecasting, and supply-chain research. Operates a globally scaled subscription research and advisory platform serving the same OEM, supplier, and investor base as SBD Automotive across CASE topics.
• Guidehouse Insights: Specialist research and consulting arm of Guidehouse focused on mobility, automotive, and smart infrastructure. Overlaps with SBD on EV, autonomous, and smart mobility research for OEM, supplier, and government clients.
• J.D. Power: Long-established automotive research, benchmarking, and consumer insights firm with similar OEM/supplier customers. Comparable in providing syndicated research, custom consulting, and benchmarking products to automotive industry decision-makers.

Broad incumbents

• McKinsey & Company: Global strategy consulting firm with a sizable automotive and mobility practice. Competes with SBD on large OEM strategy and transformation engagements, offering full implementation support beyond research-only mandates.
• Roland Berger: Global strategy consultancy with a deeply established automotive and mobility practice. Competes for high-end OEM strategy mandates while offering broader management consulting scope than SBD's specialized research model.
• Boston Consulting Group (BCG): Global strategy consultancy with a major automotive and EV practice. Competes with SBD on OEM strategic advisory, EV infrastructure, and mobility transformation work at the largest enterprise scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/sbdautomotive
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/sbdautomotive

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Subsidiaries4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about SBD Automotive