Shifting Market Dominance

Our first quarter 2015 study into the electromobility sector offers insight into the shifting dominance of international market players. Conducted in collaboration with the Forschungsgesellschaft Kraftfahrwesen mbH Aachen (fka), the e-mobility index compares the relative competitive standings of the top seven automotive nations (Germany, France, Italy, the USA, Japan, China and South Korea) with analysis based on three indicators: technology, industry, and market.

In terms of technology, German OEMs have relinquished their leading position to Japan, with France coming in second place. Germany now comes in fourth place, slipping down the rankings largely due to the expiration of R&D subsidization programs in late 2014 and the wider range of expensive electric models now on offer in the premium segment. "German automakers have invested a great deal in the development of e-mobility in recent years and have now reached a very high level on the technological side," said Roland Berger Partner Wolfgang Bernhart. "This has enabled them to mass produce e-models even in the premium segment. But OEMs are still struggling with high battery costs and weight.”

• The affect of decreasing state subsidies is yet to be fully felt by the industry. Many funding programs for e-mobility in the US, Germany, Italy, and Korea terminated at the end of 2014. Japan stands out as an exception, introducing a number of new funding programs, albeit on a smaller scale than in the past. In China and France, the total level of subsidies available remained constant. For now, the US continues to close the gap to Japan, as does China. From a sales standpoint, Germany enjoyed 13% growth and is drawing ever closer to the leading nations of France, Japan, and the US, but sales currently remain at moderate levels.