A new report by Automotive from Ultima, the business intelligence arm of Automotive Manufacturing Solutions, outlines the scale of investment underway and set over the next decade by both OEMs and lithium-ion battery suppliers in the race to secure production capacity and supply for electric vehicles.

So far, with the large-scale shift from internal combustion engines (ICEs) to electric powertrains has come a distinct shift in the balance of power in the automotive supply chain. Engines are a high-value part that defines the character of the car and determines how competitive it is with regards to performance, fuel consumption and emissions. No small wonder, then, that it has tended to be the exception rather than the rule for OEMs not to build their own engines.

How different the situation has been so far for electric vehicles. While most OEMs with any sort of serious electrification programme will assemble battery packs itself, only one, the Chinese BYD, has almost complete ownership over its battery supply chain, from cell production to final vehicle assembly. Of the OEMs selling cars in Europe and North America, only Tesla comes close, although carmakers including Volkswagen Group and General Motors are making significant investments to develop joint venture and in-house cell production.