The new functional safety standard for the automotive industry, ISO 26262, emphasises the need for through-life monitoring of system safety for systems and products containing electronic and electrical systems. The information management challenge that this presents for the automotive industry and OEMs in particular, requires a step-change in the way that design and development activi-ties are structured and managed. This paper examines the strategic implications of ISO 26262 for the automotive sector and sets out guidance on the practices and business models that companies should develop to succeed in this new environ-ment. The automotive industry is facing a critical phase and how companies choose to manage their information will be integral to their survival beyond 2020.