Why Today’s Auto Industry Looks Like 1908: Steve Bell from Omdia Automotive Explains

We accidentally got our schedules crossed… and ended up with one of the spiciest short episodes of the season. Recorded live on the expo floor at AutoTech in Detroit, this rapid-fire convo with Steve Bell, Chief Analyst Automotive Connectivity at Omdia is basically a masterclass crammed into a coffee break.

In just 8 minutes, Steve explains why working in the auto industry in 2026 feels a lot like being there in 1908, how the hardware game is rapidly becoming a software game, and why EVs and first-principles engineering have completely blown up the old rulebook. He breaks down the ticking time bomb of software “veneers” on legacy vehicle architectures and what happens when cellular networks sunset while hundreds of millions of cars still depend on over-the-air updates.

Steve also lays out how this shift from hardware to software is set to reshape the industrial economy for the next 50 years. It’s punchy, it’s nerdy, and it’s a wake-up call. Perfect if you want big-picture clarity on where automotive is headed and you only have a few minutes to listen!