CHANGE MANAGEMENT IN THE AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRY: A SYSTEMATIC LITERATURE REVIEW AND FUTURE RESEARCH DIRECTIONS

Change management in the automotive industry has become complex due to rapid technological advancements, digital transformation and sustainability pressure. This study presents a systematic literature review to identify current trends, challenges and most relevant research in this field to support the development of future research directions and bibliographic foundations. Using the Web of Science database, 20 studies published between 2021-2024 were selected following a PRISMA-based methodology, encompassing experimental research, case studies, empirical quantitative analyses, AI applications and systematic review. The review highlights key themes, including Industry 4.0, circular economy, AI-enabled quality and risk management, human factors such as cognitive load and decision-making biases. By mapping and analyzing these studies, the review identifies critical research gaps related to cultural variations, integration of technology, organizational and human dimensions in change management frameworks. The findings provide a reference of foundational studies and insights for researchers, offering guidance to navigate on organizational change in the automotive sector.