Tariffs, competition and challenging markets put European OEMs under more pressure The European vehicle manufacturing sector faces major challenges amidst ongoing geopolitical and economic turmoil. This review looks at US tariffs, the slower adoption of electric vehicles (EVs), low factory utilisation, and the rising competition from the Chinese vehicle manufacturers. Ian Henry
Hybrid vehicles return to North America’s production lines as automakers rethink strategy Automakers that once aimed to skip hybrids and go straight to electric vehicles are now reintegrating hybrids into their North American line-ups. Building “half-and-half” cars is proving technically tricky but strategically worthwhile. Ilkhan Ozsevim
Hybrid powertrains will continue to support the transition to vehicle electrification Weak EV demand, critical mineral supply challenges and tariff-driven market uncertainty keeps hybrid vehicles in the big picture for model development and production investments. Ian Henry
UK vehicle production slips behind global leaders as China and North America accelerate EV manufacturing, trade alignment and industrial policy AMS explores why the structural forces behind Britain’s vehicle production are in decline, contrasting it with the strategic clarity and industrial momentum driving EV investment across North America, and preeminently. Ilkhan Ozsevim
China’s rare earth magnet export ban threatens global EV and automotive manufacturing, as US, European and Asian carmakers scramble to secure critical materials The global automotive sector is facing renewed disruption as China tightens control over exports of heavy rare earths and magnets. With EV powertrains and chips at risk, OEMs are now racing to diversify supply. Ilkhan Ozsevim
India targets $500bn in EV investment as government boosts manufacturing incentives and new players like Tesla, VinFast prepare entry Significant investments are now under way at domestic and international vehicle companies in India, in component production, electric and hybrid vehicle production for the domestic market, and to facilitate rising exports across the world. This is being encouraged under the government’s strapline of “Make in India for the world.” Ian Henry
BYD considers establishing a third European assembly plant in Germany, aiming to bolster its presence in the region amid challenges of high operational costs and EU import tariffs. Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer BYD is exploring the establishment of a third assembly plant in Europe, with Germany as a potential location. This move aims to bolster its European market presence, circumvent EU import tariffs, and address challenges such as high operational costs. Ilkhan Ozsevim
Global battery industry enters new phase as demand surges and prices drop below key cost threshold for Electric Vehicles The global battery industry has entered a transformative phase. EV demand is pushing annual battery needs past 1TWh, while prices fall below a key cost threshold. China remains dominant, but market shifts and consolidation are poised to reshape supply chains worldwide. Ilkhan Ozsevim
How China’s BYD surpassed Tesla with production and battery tech - reshaping the global EV market BYD has surged onto the global stage, challenging industry giants like Tesla with its aggressive expansion and pioneering battery technology. BYD’s production soared from half a million to over 4 million vehicles. As the company celebrates its 30th anniversary, its blend of vertical integration, cutting-edge automation, and global supply chain mastery has redefined the EV landscape. Anushka Dixit
Will Volkswagen’s surplus German plants become Chinese production operations? As European vehicle makers continue to face challenging global markets and increased costs, many are having to make difficult decisions around underutilised production operations. Ian Henry looks at how Chinese OEMs could potentially buy or utilise some of Volkswagen’s production sites. Ian Henry
US tariffs on Mexico and Canada threaten North American auto production and supply chains, raising costs for manufacturers The US is threatening to impose tariffs on automotive imports from Canada and Mexico, testing the resilience of North American manufacturing. The move could drive up costs, disrupt supply chains, and challenge the stability of the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), just as the industry navigates nearshoring, investment shifts, and electrification. Ilkhan Ozsevim
Dürr to equip BYD’s first European passenger car factory in Hungary with advanced sustainable painting and cleaning technologies, marking a milestone for both companies, and the EU tariff question BYD, one of China’s largest EV makers, has chosen Dürr to equip its first European car plant in Hungary with advanced painting and cleaning technology. This collaboration combines precision engineering with sustainability, showcasing the future of European EV production. Ilkhan Ozsevim
The automotive industry weighs the challenges of geopolitics and market factors in 2025 Trade wars, geopolitical tensions, mergers, increasing competition are all considerations that need to be addressed and navigated by vehicle makers and suppliers. Ian Henry highlights some of the key factors to look out for in 2025. Ian Henry
Chinese vehicle makers look to international markets for growth, but domestic government pressure and trade barriers may slow expansion. The number of domestic vehicle manufacturers in China has increased rapidly in recent years. Some are spin-offs from previous joint ventures with foreign companies, others entirely new. A few, notably BYD, Geely and Chery, have become significant global players, as well as gradually overhauling the foreign players in their domestic market. Ian Henry
China: Fierce domestic competition sees international brands suffer lower sales and a contraction of output As China’s domestic brands consolidate and grow both at home and internationally, the international brands, which have benefited from growth in the Chinese market over the years, now face serious headwinds. Ian Henry
What next for Chinese investment in Europe? China’s economy is slowing, and the US is threatening high tariffs on Chinese imports. Against this backdrop Chinese OEMs are looking to expand operations in Europe. Ian Henry examines the opportunities and challenges. Ian Henry
How Trump’s presidency could reshape automotive production, trade relations, and the green transition for manufacturers across the US, Europe, and Mexico With Trump as President, automotive manufacturers are bracing for major policy shifts affecting production, tariffs, and the electric vehicle landscape. With opposing stances on trade and green policies, candidates Kamala Harris and Donald Trump could alter the course of the automotive sector across the US, Europe, and Mexico. Ilkhan Ozsevim
How BYD’s partnership with Apple shaped the future of EV battery technology Apple’s secret partnership with Chinese automaker BYD focused on developing long-range EV batteries. While Apple’s car project was shelved, BYD’s Blade battery benefited from the collaboration, becoming a key driver of its success in the competitive EV market. Ilkhan Ozsevim
Volkswagen faces manufacturing challenges amid financial troubles Volkswagen is grappling with mounting financial troubles, signalling a worsening situation in its global manufacturing operations. With two profit warnings in three months, the automotive giant faces falling EV sales, factory underutilisation, and tariff threats from China. Ian Henry
Mexico’s automotive industry is a balancing act between foreign investment and domestic concerns While the US government encourages domestic production, Mexico continues to attract foreign automotive investment. The trend is particularly evident in the arrival of Chinese manufacturers, poised to have a significant impact on regional production. Ian Henry
Chinese EV giant BYD presses pause on Mexico production plant plans as it awaits US election outcome BYD’s decision to delay its Mexico plant expansion comes amid rising trade tensions with the US. The company is eyeing potential trade benefits under the USMCA but remains cautious about the uncertain political landscape. Ilkhan Ozsevim
ASEAN: Chinese OEMs increase investment through EV production The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is now seeing increasing investment in electric vehicle production with Chinese OEMs leading the way. Ian Henry
The future may be all electric, but not just yet With demand for battery electric vehicles lower than expected, OEMs are boosting hybrid output and extending ICE production. Ian Henry
Europe’s tariffs on Chinese EV imports stresses importance of local production The European Commission (EC) has decided to impose additional tariffs of up to 38% on Chinese EVs following preliminary results of its anti-subsidy investigation, which found that prices are being distorted by Chinese state support. Megan Kelly
Weak demand dims electric future Consumer resistance and trade disputes mean the future may not be so electric after all as vehicle makers express caution on zero emission vehicle targets. Ian Henry
The changing shape of Europe’s automotive production operations European vehicle manufacturing is having to adapt to weakening EV demand and increasing competition. This means revising production volumes and rethinking the ICE-EV balance in the short term. Ian Henry
Europe: OEMs face multiple challenges ahead With global geopolitics in increasing turmoil and ongoing economic uncertainty, Ian Henry shares his thoughts on the notable challenges facing the European vehicle manufacturing sector. Ian Henry
Challenges looming for US vehicle production EV production in the US is facing headwinds from both weakening demand and foreign competition. Ian Henry
BYD – Aiming for the top In this new monthly column, Ian Henry of AutoAnalysis looks at a major automotive development and places this within its broader context, asking what this means for the industry. To kick this series off, Ian looks at BYD (Build Your Dreams), the Chinese company which – if it succeeds – will be a major player in Europe within the next few years; it is already the largest EV manufacturer in the world Ian Henry
Is cost-cutting the newest trend among OEMs in Europe 2024? Watch this space… As Renault and VW move towards major and comprehensive cost-cutting projects, with the squeeze of uncertainties and inefficiencies, is this liable to spread? Ilkhan Ozsevim
BYD to establish passenger car production in Europe BYD has chosen Szeged, Hungary as the location for its first passenger car production facility in Europe Nick Holt
AMS Spring 2023 – Next level digital production engineering In this latest AMS digital edition we have features on Audi’s digital production engineering strategy, Dacia’s vehicle plant Mioveni, production cloud systems, toolmaking, China, sustainability and more. AMS
China: European, US and Japanese Vehicle Manufacturers rebalance production and supply chains AMS looks at the changing role of the Chinese operations of European and other long established brands’ operations in China and their changing roles in the global auto sector Ian Henry
Hertz turns to GM and Sixt to China’s BYD for nearly 300,000 electrified rental cars Hertz will place orders for up to 175,000 electric cars from General Motors over the next five years and Sixt will order around 100,000 BEVs and PHEVs from BYD. Peter Murphy
EV battery supply chains on the move As electric vehicles become serious business for OEMs, they are reassessing their battery supply and manufacturing bases, putting their eggs in multiple baskets and taking more control of the process. Illya Verpraet Daniel Harrison
Electric vehicle and hybrid vehicle plant database Track factory locations for electric vehicles, plug-in hybrid and hybrid vehicles by manufacturer, model and location, in a comprehensive listing of the changing geography of electric vehicle manufacturing. Automotive from Ultima Media
OEM and lithium-ion battery cell supplier database Keep up with changing supplier relationships between electric vehicle manufacturers and battery cell suppliers in this database by powertrain type (battery electric vehicles, plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, mild and full hybrid electric vehicles, and commercial electric vehicles). Automotive from Ultima Media
Electric vehicle battery supply chain analysis 2021: How lithium-ion battery demand and production are reshaping the automotive industry Download this report for forecasts of electric vehicle lithium-ion battery demand, analysis of battery cell gigafactory locations and insight on global EV battery manufacturing and supply chain management. Daniel Harrison Christopher Ludwig
