Automotive AI experts are increasingly becoming more sought after as major automotive industry players race to develop crucial vehicle functionality, such as autonomous driving, predictive maintenance, battery optimisation, and a customized user experience. Therefore, we put together a comprehensive article, detailing major Western automotive AI talent hubs, looking at both cities and countries.
The US is the largest country for automotive AI talent, with the highest concentrations being located in Michigan, California, and Texas.
The average salary for an automotive AI developer in the US is ~$180,000 / year.
India comes in at second place, as one the of the quickest growing centers for automotive R&D, in 4 major hubs: Bangalore, Hyderabad, Chennai, and Pune
The average salary for an automotive AI developer in the US is ~€50,000 / year.
As home for the larger part of the European automotive industry, Germany also has the larger part of its AI talent. The main tech centers are based in Stuttgart, Munich, and Berlin.
The average salary for an automotive AI developer in the US is ~€110,000 / year.
The United Kingdom is a significant hub for automotive AI talent, particularly in cities like London, Birmingham, and Manchester.
The average salary for an automotive AI developer in the UK is ~£80,000 / year.
Thanks to an otherwise quickly growing AI industry, France also has some of the world’s best automotive AI talent, mostly centered around the paris region
The average salary for an automotive AI developer in France is ~€90,000 / year.
Home to a substantial part of the Northern American automotive industry, Canada has a large pool of AI talent.
The average salary for an automotive AI developer in Canada is ~$110,000 / year.
Mexico is an emerging player in the automotive AI sector, with tech hubs in Mexico City, Monterrey, and Guadalajara. The country’s supportive government policies continue to grow a preferable environment for AI development.
The average salary for an automotive AI developer in Mexico is ~€40,000 / year.
Brazil is the biggest AI hub in South America, with São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, and Campinas being the largest centers of innovation.
The average salary for an automotive AI developer in Brazil is ~€45,000 / year.
Italy is a traditional automotive hub, with its AI talent concentrated in Turin, Milan, Bologna, Modena, and Rome.
The average salary for an automotive AI developer in Italy is ~€65,000 / year.
Sweden is a leader in automotive innovation, with Stockholm, Gothenburg, and Lund being the main AI hubs for Sweden’s native OEMs.
The average salary for an automotive AI developer in Sweden is ~€75,000 / year.
Türkiye is emerging as a noteworthy center for automotive AI thanks to its location and timezone with Europe, with Istanbul, Ankara, and Izmir leading the charge.
The average salary for an automotive AI developer in Türkiye is ~€40,000 / year.
Many industry players are establishing AI centers in Spain, with significant activities in Barcelona, Madrid, and Valencia.
The average salary for an automotive AI developer in Spain is ~€55,000 / year.
Romania is developing into an important hub for automotive AI, particularly in Bucharest, Cluj-Napoca, and Timișoara. The country’s edge lies in its highly skilled workforce and quickly growing tech industry.
The average salary for an automotive AI developer in Romania is ~€55,000 / year.
Hungary is slowly gaining a foothold in automotive AI, with Budapest, Debrecen, and Szeged at the forefront.
The average salary for an automotive AI developer in Hungary is ~€55,000 / year.
Poland has strong academic institutions and is home to some of the world’s best developers, and has upcoming AI centers in Warsaw, Krakow, and Wroclaw.
The average salary for an automotive AI developer in Poland is ~€65,000 / year.
The Netherlands has always been a player in AI, and many automotive industry companies are hiring in Amsterdam, Eindhoven, and Rotterdam.
The average salary for an automotive AI developer in the Netherlands is ~€75,000 / year.
Several OEMs have established tech hubs near Brussels in Belgium, and the AI talent pool is growing quickly.
The average salary for an automotive AI developer in Belgium is ~€80,000 / year.
The global of automotive AI talent pool is primarily present in the countries that have had a strong automotive industry. However, this is changing, as new tech hubs offer fresh talent, less competition and better price to quality. As we discussed in our article How Chinense OEMs Build Western Tech Organisations to Compete in the West , China, Japan, and South Korea also have major talent pools, but they remain mostly unavailable to Western automotive industry companies due a large difference in culture and communication.
The war for the best automotive AI talent is only going to get tougher and more competitive as automotive companies move from software-defined mobility into AI-defined mobility. We're just getting started.
