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09 - 08 - 2024
Punitive import tariffs on Chinese-built cars: a good idea turning bad?
The European Union wants to impose wider tariffs on electric vehicles made in China. This is a punitive move because the Chinese government is unfairly subsidizing its domestic brands. But while politics pitch it as a lifesaver for the European car industry, many of its auto makers oppose it. Here’s why.
IMPORT
REGULATIONS
SALES
EV'S
5 min read
24 - 01 - 2024
Driving into the digital age: your car as your pc
The automotive industry stands on the brink of a revolution, with the advent of Car 2.0: vehicles that are no longer just machines but software platforms on wheels. This transition is akin to the leap from wired to smartphones, promising a future of limitless personalization and self-driving capabilities. However, realizing this vision requires a fundamental shift from the mechanical to the digital—a transformation at the core of the automotive evolution.
INNOVATION
PRODUCTION
6 min read
14 - 11 - 2023
Over-the-Air Updates: Your Car’s New Best Friend?
It’s often said that the modern car is transforming into a smartphone on wheels. Cloud connectivity now monitors everything from the satnav to the servicing schedule and your demand for more power from electric motors. To facilitate this, wireless car updates have become indispensable, even though they remain a relatively unfamiliar tool for many. Allow us to give you an update.
INNOVATION
PRODUCTION
4 min read
05 - 10 - 2023
SUVs: the end of the rise?
Every second car sold in Europe is an SUV - or a cross-over, akin to its nature. No body type has been so succesful at winning over customers ever since it hit European soil, and the trend seems unending. Where does this unstoppable rise come from, and what has the future in store for a category that presumably possesses as many contenders as it has fans?
SALES
PRODUCTION
INNOVATION
6 min read
19 - 07 - 2023
Made in China: the new normal?
As European customers have widely grown accustomed to imported electronics and clothes from the region, shopping for cars made in China is much less common for them. But a different tide is underway, as Chinese car brands ramp up their quality, lead in technology while cutting costs. Europe’s electric shock wave is a window of opportunity for those manufacturers.
IMPORT
INNOVATION
PRODUCTION
6 min read
02 - 06 - 2023
Lithium: the new gold?
The switch to electric vehicles poses more than one challenge. Aside from sufficient infrastructure and overcoming range anxiety, the rare earth metals used for producing the battery packs are troubling both car makers and politicians. Therefore, both parties are deploying plans and strategies to secure the supply of lithium, the so-called white gold. A daunting task. Can electrification even succeed without it?
EV'S
INNOVATION
REGULATIONS
7 min read
27 - 03 - 2023
Euro 7: between a rock and a hard place
As Europe is gearing up for a new set of rules under Euro 7 - and then switching to tailpipe emissions as clean as a whiteboard - the proposal has left every side hanging high and dry. Euro 7 is a moderate adaption of the current standard but has been heavily criticised and faces growing resistance. It even incorporates emissions for electric vehicles. But electric? Indeed, this blog post helps you to get rid of that frown.
REGULATIONS
PRODUCTION
EV'S
6 min read
10 - 01 - 2023
Hydrogen cars: miracle or mirage?
Car makers have been experimenting with hydrogen-fueled cars since the sixties. Some brands offer pioneering models in their line-up, and slowly a modest network of fueling stations is being rolled out. Has the turning point for hydrogen finally arrived? Will it prove to be a true contender for battery-powered drivelines? Let’s have a look at how much tailwind there is for cars that only emit water.
EV'S
INNOVATION
PRODUCTION
7 min read
28 - 11 - 2022
Will soaring electricity prices sink EV adoption?
The electricity price, one of the main benefits of driving an electric car, has risen roughly 25% on a year-to-year comparison. Will this aggravating cost hamper EV adoption now that one of its most significant advantages is evaporating? Or does battery-powered driving retain an edge over fossil-fuel cars because of other conveniences? Unfortunately, there isn’t a one-size-fits-all answer to this problem.
EV'S
SALES
6 min read
19 - 10 - 2022
What’s the deal with car dealers?
For decades, the franchising model has served automotive manufacturers exceptionally well. While the dealer takes care of the customer relationship, the sales, the servicing, and the oversupply, the car builder can focus on its core task of developing new products alongside cutting-edge technology. But that’s all about to change. Car makers want to step into a direct sales relationship with their customers while simultaneously, dealer groups are sizing up. What’s going on?
SALES
6 min read
13 - 09 - 2022
Combustion Engines To Be Banned From 2035
The revolution of electric vehicles has been the talk of the town for several years now. Massive investments, government grants, and other initiatives have pushed EVs from mere gimmicks to mass-produced vehicles. The technology is still far from perfect, but it’s moving at a fast rate, and there is no denying that EVs are here to stay. As a result, the European Parliament is getting ready to officially ban sales of new internal combustion vehicles by 2035. It is a significant move not just for the car industry, but also for legislators. A wise decision or just wishful thinking? We’ll take a closer look.
EV'S
REGULATIONS
5 min read
10 - 08 - 2022
The Magnesium Shortage: A Long-Term Threat Or A Temporary Hiccup?
The 2020s will be remembered as one of the most turbulent periods for the global car industry. First, we had a significant technology shift and massive push towards electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles that shook the foundations of the industry as we know it. Furthermore, the Covid-19 pandemic threatened to shut down the market and caused numerous shortages and supply delays. Recently, the Russo-Ukrainian war and Western sanctions will significantly lower the global production output, especially in Europe. Unfortunately, this is not the end of the car industry’s problems. The latest issue which affects car manufacturing comes in the form of a magnesium shortage. But is this just a temporary problem that could disappear as fast as it came? Or are we looking at a problem of the same proportion as the semiconductor chip shortage?
SALES
6 min read
23 - 06 - 2022
Two Years Into Semiconductor Shortage: What’s The Current Status?
These past two years have changed people’s lives profoundly and also changed the way we work, travel, and shop. As a result, the pandemic ravaged various industries across the globe. The assessment is that over 190 different sectors have been hit, among which the car industry suffered one of the most considerable losses. The reduced sales and significantly lower demand were not the only problems the car industry faced: eventually, the shortage of semiconductor chips significantly reduced the ability to produce vehicles. When the pandemic hit and people around the world had to reside at home, the demand for products such as cars dropped, while the demand for consumer electronics grew enormously. Hence, the factories producing semiconductor chips quickly divided their attention to these manufacturers. Eventually, this shift and other events involving the semiconductor factories in Asia left many industries without these crucial components. As for the car industry: cars could not be completed and therefore sold, which resulted in a huge gap between the production capacity and the increasing demand when the lockdowns subsided. For now, the question lingers – What is the status of this issue? Has it been resolved?
SALES
DEALERSHIPS
5 min read
01 - 06 - 2022
The Effects Of The Russo-Ukrainian War On The International Car Trade
In this modern world, the principles of interconnection are best observed in our economy. There is no significant change in the world that is not affecting the economy and vice versa. We directly experienced this concept during the COVID-19 period, these past two years. But just as the world started to recover, another crisis erupted. This time it was Russian aggression on Ukraine, which began in late February of 2022. Although Russian officials call it a “special military operation”, it has turned into an all-out war between two major European countries. The war has already displaced millions of people and caused billions of dollars in damage. Seting aside the political debate, let us observe the profound impact of this conflict on one of the biggest industries in the world – the automotive industry and car trade.
SALES
6 min read
28 - 03 - 2022
The Concept of a Million-Mile car could be come a new standard
Ever since the automotive world established itself as the world’s premier industry and tech hub, engineers and consumers have become obsessed with the concept of a “million-mile car.” It is simply the vehicle that can cover a million (or more) miles in its lifecycle, with nothing more than regular maintenance and servicing. As utopic as it might sound, we already have “million-mile” cars, and every once in a while, you hear the news about a car owner whose odometer just moved past the 999,999 mile mark after decades of use. So, it is clear that the car industry is already capable of building long-lasting vehicles that can go to the Moon and back. The real question remains what happens once the EVs take over, and do you really want a “million-mile” car in your driveway?
INNOVATION
5 min read
07 - 03 - 2022
Chinese manufacturers set to become a dominant industry force but not in the way many anticipated
With over 25 million cars sold in 2020, the Chinese market is by far the biggest in the world. As everyone is finding ways to counter the effects of Covid-19, we can already predict that the Chinese population will buy even more cars as the economy gets back on track. While China represents an enormous market with its own car industry, numerous factories, parts suppliers and development centers, it is still not perceived by other nations as the biggest player in the industry. For those who still have doubts, we can say that China has definitely become the most dominant force, but perhaps not in a way you would expect it to be. Here is why.
INNOVATION
5 min read
17 - 02 - 2022
The relationship between government incentives and Electric Vehicle pricing over the last decade
Although the car fans are impressed by the new designs and sublime performance figures of new electric vehicles, they don’t realize that behind this enormous technical revolution lies massive combined efforts from governments, legislators and car companies. Such major shifts in production doctrines, technology and materials can only be successful if supported by politicians and policymakers. Most of the world’s governments have supported the rising EV market through various initiatives and grants over the last ten years.
EV'S
REGULATIONS
6 min read
15 - 02 - 2022
China Wants To Be Leading EV Nation
Although electric vehicles have been with us since the dawn of the automotive age, only recently have they been gaining more in popularity. The rise of EVs is not just the industry’s push towards new technologies, but also the result of significant pressure from governments and legislators towards a more sustainable and zero-emissions future. Right now, electric vehicles are equally a political matter as they are an industrial one since the world is geting ready to do away with all the technologies known to cause pollution. Of course, such market transition will not be easy, and today we will look at China’s plans to become the leading nation in EVs in the future.
EV'S
INNOVATION
6 min read
25 - 11 - 2021
European Market Faces Rise in EVs But Decline In Overall Numbers
Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, the global and European car market had started changing in a very particular way. Although the worldwide pandemic stopped the market in its tracks, fortunately, by the end of 2020, the market had recovered and even showed a rise in overall numbers. However, so far, 2021 proved to be an exciting year that demands a detailed look. As always, the figures are not telling the whole story, and the recent European car market trend requires a closer examination.
EV'S
REGULATIONS
SALES
6 min read
04 - 11 - 2021
As an importer, how to handle regulations within your company and across borders?
When the time is right and your company has grown beyond the capacity of its own country’s market, you will most likely expand your supplier operations to a larger scale in order to achieve more sales. However, you will come across numerous situations and rules that weren’t present on a previous, smaller scale. You will not only have to adhere to the compliance rules of the companies you are trading with, but also to different judicial and fiscal regulations.
SALES
IMPORT
4 min read
09 - 09 - 2021
For 10 Years Running, the Top Global Vehicle Color has not changed
Today, we will tell you more about the most popular colors and color trends in the global car industry. Axalta Coating Systems manufactures, markets and distributes a wide variety of industrial coating systems, including paint for commercial vehicles. Their Global Automotive Color Popularity Report reveals the top three automotive colors on the market.
SALES
6 min read
12 - 08 - 2021
How do I achieve my sales objectives in a rapidly evolving market?
In an ideal world, a manufacturer or importer would know exactly how many cars they were going to sell in the coming years, which motors and models. Sadly reality is very different, as we live in an increasingly fast-changing world. New trends quickly come and go, consumer behaviour is hard to predict due to increasing communication, political decisions cause sudden changes in mentality, etc.
SALES
3 min read
29 - 07 - 2021
The rising pressure on European Dealerships.
Growing online sales, the electrification of the range and the merger of the Peugeot and Fiat groups explain the drastic intervention by Stellantis, which is cancelling all contracts with its European dealers. Stellantis, the merged group of FCA (Fiat, Alfa Romeo, Chrysler and Jeep) and PSA (Peugeot, Opel, Citroën and DS), is cancelling all contracts with its dealers in Europe. For example, in Belgium alone, this concerns some 80 dealerships with a multitude of branches. As a result, a lot of garages and sales rooms in Europe will disappear in the coming years. The decision can be explained by a number of causes.
DEALERSHIPS
SALES
3 min read
01 - 07 - 2021
An in-depth look at the global shortage of semiconductor chips
Although it looks like the world has finally got the upper hand fighting against the COVID-19, it is obvious that pandemic will have profound effects on the global economy and industry. At first, the companies were concerned about their workers’ health and safety, but very soon, the materials, parts, and component supply lines were interrupted, causing delays in production plans. Amongst the major industries affected by this, the automotive sector probably took the biggest hit. At the moment, all major car companies are in the midst of a significant semiconductor chip shortage which cripples the production plans, costing billions of dollars and forces the manufacturers to consider different strategies.
PRODUCTION
5 min read
17 - 06 - 2021
Quarterly sales of electric vehicles at the same level as 2017 full year figures
JATO provides automotive business intelligence solutions that provide insights, analysis, data and specifications about global car markets. According to a recent study, there are positive signs for the automotive industry after a long period of uncertainty. During Q1 2021 alone, sales of pure electric passenger cars equated to the total sold throughout the whole of 2017. This Battery-Powered Electric Vehicle (BEV) boom is helping many brands offset declines registered in the traditional combustion engine market, where the impact of the pandemic can still be seen.
SALES
EV'S
5 min read
10 - 06 - 2021
40 million cars a year too many: the move towards electric cars and the expected decline of the automotive industry
The fate of car manufacturers is being decided by how well those in charge make the transition from combustion engines to electric batteries, says KPMG. By 2030, the excess production capacity for conventional cars will be equivalent to 200 disused assembly plants.
EV'S
INNOVATION
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