The consultancy group’s International 14th Global Automotive Executive Survey notes that, investment in plug-in hybrid technology will be one of the areas of investment for 24% of auto industry OEM and supplier respondents, while only an average of 8% say they will invest in pure battery technologies.
“The changing views on pure hybrids, plug-ins, fuel cell and battery-powered vehicles reflect the uncertainty as to which will be the dominant technology,” according to Mathieu Meyer, KPMG’s Global Head of Automotive and a partner of the German firm.
“In the short term, the individual driver is likely to prefer a hybrid, whereas fleets may opt for electric cars. However, it seems that pure electric vehicles power will not prevail, at least in the next decade.”
The continued uncertainty over electro-mobility technologies, as well as new trends in globalisation, rapid urbanisation and changing consumer behaviour are the key forces predicted to cause a big shift in the automotive landscape over the next five years, according to the report, Managing a Multidimensional Business Model, based on a survey of 200 auto executives from 31 countries.
The collective impact is expected to be felt across the entire automotive value chain, and calls for sweeping changes to automakers’ – and their suppliers’ – business models.
“Together, these forces add considerable complexity to an OEM’s business model,” said Meyer.
“Whereas in the past, automakers concentrated on just producing ICE cars, now they must cope with a range of propulsion technologies, new trends such as car sharing, internet connectivity as well as the growing significance of emerging markets. It is indeed a hugely transformative time for the global auto industry.”
