What keeps automotive manufacturing executives up at night? Regulations? Sure. Fuel prices? Yep.

Cybersecurity? A perhaps surprising yes.

The finding comes from ABB Robotics’ “Automotive Manufacturing Outlook” survey of 473 auto manufacturers and suppliers. Ninety-five percent of automotive manufacturing leaders worldwide call cybersecurity a significant concern, with 53% going so far as to call it “extremely significant.”

ABB calls that a “fundamental shift,” noting that cybersecurity now eclipses artificial intelligence (AI), flexible manufacturing and cost reduction in importance. It comes as connected technologies proliferate in the factory. However, as the survey said, they also present risks.

“Cybersecurity is no longer something manufacturers are thinking about for the future—it is something they must address at the heart of production today,” Joerg Reger, managing director of ABB Robotics Automotive Business Line, said in a statement. “As factories become more connected, software-driven and data-intensive, cybersecurity has become a core manufacturing discipline.”

In response, manufacturers aren’t turning away from connectivity, but they are demanding assurances that systems are protected. Cyber incidents don’t just impact IT; they can break supply chains and stop production. In some cases, equipment doesn’t even have to be connected to the internet to be affected, ABB officials said.

“Rather than rejecting digitalization, manufacturers are demanding stronger assurance that connected production can be deployed safely and resiliently,” Reger added. “With more than nine in 10 survey respondents expecting increased use of AI and big-data management, and a similar number planning greater adoption of digital twins and simulation, secure connectivity is no longer optional.”

Full results are available here.