KPMG’s Global Automotive Executive Survey 2012: Managing growth while navigating uncharted routes provides valuable insights for the automotive industry as the main players develop strategies to drive future revenues - whether it’s electric components for fuel cell or battery-electrified vehicles, lightweight body materials for urban car concepts, or software for in-car added-value services for the connected generation. Readers will gain a deeper insight into how the sector is addressing these and other issues, such as the increasing power of the emerging nations and the continuing worldwide overcapacity.
The key findings of the survey indicate that:
- Hybrids will continue to be more popular than pure battery-powered cars but the hidden champion seems to be fuel cell technology.
- Innovative urban mobility concepts (e.g. car-sharing) are becoming more popular and urban planning will influence future car usage and design.
- Future customers want to be fully connected, which demands a symbiotic relationship between car and internet technologies.
- An excellent service offering is key to successful retailing and innovative financing offerings, particularly for e-components (e.g. batteries), will likely surge.
- Joint ventures and alliances are the best way to access new products and technologies and face upcoming challenges together.
- Global market share of the BRICs is expected to rise over 40 percent by 2016, with China poised to become a notable exporter.
- Overcapacity and excess production is still rife and becoming global; China should be the most overbuilt BRIC market by 2016, followed by Brazil.