SUPPLIER EYE

Recently, I was asked by an OEM to sum up the looming ICE-to-BEV industry transformation. My reply came in a single word: lumpy! And while that description may not be the most finely tailored way to explain the industry's most critical transition since its inception, I think it fits. The changes certainly will not be smooth.

Significant impact already is affecting all facets of the mobility ecosystem - development, system sourcing, production, retail, and aftermarket. The short-to-mid-term future is uncharted territory at virtually every level. There are profound questions and ramifications: transition speed; commitment by all stakeholders (consumers, government, energy utilities, dealers etc.); confidence in upstream inputs and logistic streams; consumer acceptance/education; an all-new service dynamic; and geopolitical conflict swirling around it all. The current ICE infrastructure took more than a century to build and refine, so it's not unrealistic to expect drama and disruption in the next decade. Lumpy, indeed.