Aggressive emission and carbon neutrality targets set by regulators worldwide will see a faster transition to next-gen electric vehicle (EV) manufacturers, prompting global automakers to commit to operational investments of nearly US$600bn to secure their position in the future automotive market, according to GlobalData, a data and analytics company.
Broadly, the investments announced focus on the development of production facilities, technology, EV batteries, new product and securing future raw material supply (primarily semiconductors and battery materials). Autonomous vehicle development also remains a closely linked area to investments.
Go deeper with GlobalData
"The investments affirm that the future must be electric and there is no turning back for traditional automakers. However, the flurry of announcements from the OEMs could also be interpreted as a high-stakes game of one-upmanship or a corporate PR exercise to boost investor confidence.
"With all OEMs taking the same path, it is unlikely that any long-term sustainable competitive advantage will be conferred and that visibility over the billions of dollars of planned xEV investment is a price of market participation," said Bakar Sadik Agwan, senior automotive consulting analyst at GlobalData.
[Editor: xEV covers hybrid electric vehicles, plug-in hybrid electric vehicles and fuel-cell electric vehicles.]VW Group stays on the top of the list with a US$100.5-billion investment through 2030. Its ambition to surpass Tesla is no secret, says GlobalData, and the company wants four out of every 10 cars it sells to be a BEV by 2030.
"A further analysis, looking at the contribution to xEV growth of each OEM derived from the latest LMC light vehicle powertrain forecast, sheds further light on the returns expected. VW is estimated to have the highest cumulative contribution to EV growth over the next decade when mapped against the investment announced, amongst the players analyzed.
How well do you really know your competitors?
Access the most comprehensive Company Profiles on the market, powered by GlobalData. Save hours of research. Gain competitive edge.
Thank you!
Your download email will arrive shortly
Not ready to buy yet? Download a free sample
We are confident about the unique quality of our Company Profiles. However, we want you to make the most beneficial decision for your business, so we offer a free sample that you can download by submitting the below form
By GlobalData"However, there is no apparent correlation identified between the level of investment announced and expected contribution to growth as can be seen in the case of Ford, Stellantis and GM," said Bakar Sadik Agwan.
Despite being a pioneer in hybrid vehicles, Toyota was slow to implement BEV strategies; President Akio Toyoda announced the bZ EV brand only last year. Toyota plans to launch 30 models by 2030. Prior to this, Toyota had only a few BEV models manufactured with its Chinese partner GAC Group. Toyota announced US$70.4 billion investment in EVs to 2030, early this year.
"Toyota has the highest growth contribution given the level of investment announced but remains largely attributed to hybrid vehicles, followed by battery and hydrogen-powered vehicles. It is near the top of the game for companies active in the EV space. GlobalData’s alternative datasets signal Toyota’s leadership down the line. The company leads in deals (M&A, partnerships, JV, etc.) and is an innovation leader with the highest number of patents filed amongst other global automakers.
"Nevertheless, the investment announced remains important for automakers from a perspective of sustaining the ongoing disruptions in the automotive industry. Automakers need to be tech-efficient to combat technology rivals invading the auto industry," said Bakar Sadik Agwan.
Motor finance and the two-year journey back from Covid
