Automotive digitization now hinges on 5G's ability to deliver reliable, low-latency, and scalable connectivity that 4G/LTE cannot sustain for safety-critical use cases. Advanced driver assistance, cooperative perception, and remote operations require millisecond-class response and deterministic reliability across dense traffic conditions. 5G Standalone (SA) with Ultra-Reliable Low-Latency Communications (URLLC), improved positioning, and enhanced uplink meets these thresholds, enabling vehicles and infrastructure to exchange time-sensitive data continuously. This is the foundation for C-V2X, high-fidelity telematics, and closed-loop control that 4G/LTE struggles to support consistently. 5G enables dynamic traffic orchestration, energy-aware routing for EVs, and advanced safety services that can reduce incidents and congestion.