SUPPLIER EYE

Various aspects of life and business come full circle. While I'm not waiting for bell bottoms from the 1970s to make a stylish return, the automotive industry is steadily returning to its roots. One reason is that a more regionally focused structure is emerging. It extends from a product's final design through sourcing. The impact on the industry will be significant.

This is a sea change from decades ago, when the industry was a cluster of regional OEMs - some championed by national governments driven to build a local automotive industry and consumers who took pride in buying domestic brands. Virtually every car company fit this mold and many countries' governments became active sponsors of some of them. The U.K.'s British Leyland and Rover Group, Chrysler in the U.S. and Nissan in Japan all were nurtured to some extent by their home countries. Even today, the French government owns 15% of Renault and holds a 6.2% stake in Stellantis.