We had to smile when we came across this argument again recently, because over the years or even decades, hasn’t the automobile industry always considered itself the strongest and most intelligent? Today we are witnessing how digitalization and the transformation of mobility are sweeping across the industry in an unprecedented deluge of change.
So how are the strongest and most intelligent dealing with this? And how are they managing to divest their former strengths and acquire new ones? The required innovative approach concerns not only products but also corporate leadership and culture. In many cases, it seems, the necessary underlying radical rethink has not yet happened.
Once the new mindset is in place, however, we are convinced that the automobile sector will rightly retain its place among the leading industries. The present study reveals in a fascinating way just how tough the current transformation is, even – or maybe precisely – for the “strongest”, the ones who have always considered themselves a permanent fixture at the leading edge of change.
We hope you find it makes enjoyable reading.
Dieter Becker
Global and EMA Head Automotive Practice
KPMG International
Dr. Christian Rosen
Head of Global Automotive Practice
Egon Zehnder