The automotive industry is undergoing a major transformation as electric cars, connected cars, and digitization become increasingly prevalent. Besides, cars made in China are increasingly popular outside the country. China has overtaken Germany in car exports and is poised to become the world leader, ahead of Japan.
Daniel Allen, Adam Turner, Mark Andrews, and Camille Rustici contributed to this feature.
Electric cars, which are powered by batteries rather than fossil fuels, are becoming more popular as concerns about climate change and air pollution grow.
Connected cars are also gaining in popularity. Equipped with internet connectivity and advanced sensors, they can communicate with other vehicles and infrastructure, such as traffic lights and weather stations, to improve safety and enhance the driving experience. They can also be used to gather and analyze data on traffic patterns and other transportation-related issues, which can help city planners and other officials make more informed decisions.
Digitization is also playing a major role in the car industry as automakers are using digital technologies (digital twins, artificial intelligence) to design more efficient and reliable cars.
In addition, China recently claimed to be the world’s second-largest exporter of vehicles, ahead of Germany and soon ahead of Japan. Chinese brands are increasingly coming to Europe.
We offer you to read 5 of our articles. They will give you insights into the major changes the sector is facing right now and how these challenges contribute to creating more sustainable and efficient transportation options.
Electric Vehicles: Focus on Retrofitting
Qinomic is a French start-up founded in 2021. Their area of expertise is in vehicle retrofitting, converting vehicles with internal combustion engines into electric models. The company has joined forces with French auto manufacturer Stellantis to develop a solution for light commercial vehicles set to be released by 2024.
We had the opportunity to speak with Frederic Strady, CEO and co-founder of Qinomic, who provided more information about their retrofitting solution. We also discussed the energy transition and the eventual phase-out of thermal vehicles in Europe by 2035.
Digitization
The car industry is experiencing significant transformations in manufacturing and has been gradually evolving for many years. However, the speed of these changes is increasing. The driving force behind the implementation of Industry 4.0 is primarily coming from electric vehicle startups. These companies are leading the way in areas such as digitalization, large-scale die-casting, cell-to-pack (CTP), and cell-to-chassis (CTC) battery technology.
IoT and Connected Vehicles
Geotab is a global leader in telematics, a technology that offers advanced systems for tracking and managing fleets of vehicles and other mobile assets. Founded in 2000, the company now boasts 3.2 million vehicles connected to its telematics units worldwide. Geotab’s technology allows for the collection and analysis of vehicle data, assisting fleet managers in making more informed decisions.
In an interview with François Denis, Geotab’s CEO for France, we learned more about how fleet tracking can help businesses save money through route optimization and improved driver safety.
EVs: Who Are the Chinese Brands?
A few years ago, China had a large number of electric car companies, but today, after some optimization, only three start-ups stand out in terms of sales. These companies, Li, Nio, and XPeng, are currently leading the market and are all listed on the New York Stock Exchange. Despite their similar success, each company has its own unique advantage that has propelled them to their current position.
Chinese Nio’s Plans for European Expansion
Nio is aiming for the European market. After entering the Norwegian market in 2021, the Chinese brand is now looking toward Germany. A key element to Nio’s European expansion is the ET5, a Tesla Model 3-sized sedan.
