The Transformations to Come in the Automotive Industry
A new era Accelerating toward 2020 — An automotive industry transformed
Contents
The transformations to come The restructuring imperative Changing customers, changing demands Technology to reflect new sets of demands Getting the right skills The next chapter in industry history Endnotes
1 2 8 15 22 26 28
The transformations to come
At least now, the picture is clear For the past few years, automotive leaders and observers have witnessed an industry in peril. A slowing global economy, coupled with declining consumer confidence, has translated into dismal new car sales in most markets. But the slump has masked many outstanding industry advancements. Standards of quality and productivity, for example, have been raised without a corresponding increase in price. Cars today are safer, more fuel efficient, and more technically advanced than ever. And, the automotive workplace has evolved from an image of “dark, dirty and dangerous” to an environment of high skills, advanced technologies, and dynamic change. Despite this, competitive and financial pressures have led to a number of high-profile bankruptcies. Production utilization in North America, Western Europe, and Japan has dropped dramatically leading to widespread job losses. Even with discounts and other purchase incentives, consumers, wary of an uncertain economic future, have yet to return to the showroom without extraordinary government incentives. So, what will be the shape of the automotive industry as the world emerges from the economic downturn? In this report, Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu’s senior automotive leaders offer a perspective on the structural changes and major customer, technology, and people trends expected to transform the industry over the next decade. A massive shift in the competitive landscape will see China and India emerge as major players in the industry. These markets will join Western Europe, Japan, Korea, and the United States as the centers of design and manufacturing for
Contents
The transformations to come The restructuring imperative Changing customers, changing demands Technology to reflect new sets of demands Getting the right skills The next chapter in industry history Endnotes
1 2 8 15 22 26 28
The transformations to come
At least now, the picture is clear For the past few years, automotive leaders and observers have witnessed an industry in peril. A slowing global economy, coupled with declining consumer confidence, has translated into dismal new car sales in most markets. But the slump has masked many outstanding industry advancements. Standards of quality and productivity, for example, have been raised without a corresponding increase in price. Cars today are safer, more fuel efficient, and more technically advanced than ever. And, the automotive workplace has evolved from an image of “dark, dirty and dangerous” to an environment of high skills, advanced technologies, and dynamic change. Despite this, competitive and financial pressures have led to a number of high-profile bankruptcies. Production utilization in North America, Western Europe, and Japan has dropped dramatically leading to widespread job losses. Even with discounts and other purchase incentives, consumers, wary of an uncertain economic future, have yet to return to the showroom without extraordinary government incentives. So, what will be the shape of the automotive industry as the world emerges from the economic downturn? In this report, Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu’s senior automotive leaders offer a perspective on the structural changes and major customer, technology, and people trends expected to transform the industry over the next decade. A massive shift in the competitive landscape will see China and India emerge as major players in the industry. These markets will join Western Europe, Japan, Korea, and the United States as the centers of design and manufacturing for