Fuel For Thought

With average monthly car payments pushing toward $800 and nearly 20% of US consumers making $1,000 payments, buyers are weighing brand attachment against purchasing reality.   Recent automotive market analysis shows that affordability pressures are fundamentally changing car buyer behavior, creating new risks for retention but also new opportunities for conquest.  The result is a market in motion:...

For North American automakers, the familiar megatrends of electrification, regionalization, the rise of Chinese competitors, technological transformation, and supply chain resilience are evolving amid global supply risks and shifting regulatory pressures. Our latest whitepaper, The next phase of automotive megatrends, explores how regulatory uncertainty, affordability pressures, shifting consumer...

Over the past year, automotive suppliers have navigated shifting tariff regimes, geopolitical uncertainty, uneven EV demand, and rising expectations around software, sustainability, and resilience. So why are many suppliers still optimistic? To find out, S&P Global Mobility expert Matthew Beecham spoke with 59 senior executives across the global automotive supply chain to understand how they'r...

As we approach 2026, the automotive industry is bracing for yet another potential crisis: a shortage of dynamic random access memory (DRAM) chips. This anticipated shortage will not be quite as dramatic as the 2021 crisis—which prevented more than 10 million cars from being built that year—but could potentially be more disruptive and long-lasting than the 2025 Nexperia incident. DRAM is found in t...

Chinese automakers are not only reshaping their domestic market but are also becoming formidable players on the international stage. Their aggressive expansion into overseas markets, driven by a combination of competitive pricing, innovative technology, and strategic partnerships, poses both challenges and opportunities for established automakers. Moreover, as trade barriers and regulatory changes...

A decade ago, the path toward full electrification seemed clear. Battery electric vehicles (BEVs) were seen as the inevitable future. But fast forward to today and that once-shared vision has fractured. Different regions are now taking distinctly different routes shaped by policy shifts, consumer sentiment, and economic realities. In this episode of Fuel for Thought, we unpack how these divergent...

Since May 3, 2025, automakers have been navigating a complex US trade policy which includes a 25% tariff on imported vehicles and parts from nearly all countries. Although trade negotiations may ultimately reduce this tariff rate, few new deals have been signed so far. Amidst this backdrop, early expectations of an immediate cost pass-through to consumers has not materialized. Instead, automakers...

In this podcast episode, experts from S&P Global Mobility delve into the critical role of rare earth elements (REEs) in the automotive industry—particularly in the production of electric vehicle components like traction motors. China currently dominates both the production and processing of these essential materials. The discussion examines how China's control over the rare earth supply chain...

As the automotive industry shifts toward software-defined vehicles (SDVs), the term has become a buzzword, frequently mentioned at industry events like CES, often with varying interpretations and meanings. Amidst this excitement, many OEMs are making claims about their new SDV launches; They feel the pressure to incorporate SDVs into their product developments to appear competitive in a rapidly ev...

Carbon reporting in the automotive industry is becoming increasingly important, as original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) face various regulatory pressures around the world. However, tracking and measuring carbon emissions is not an easy feat. One of the biggest challenges OEMs face lies in the complexity of reporting Scope 3 emissions -- specifically, Scope 3 Category 11, which pertains to the e...

In this podcast episode, S&P Global Mobility experts discuss the landscape of autonomous vehicles coming out of the 2025 Consumer Electronics Show, or CES, that was held in Las Vegas at the beginning of the year. After years of ambitious announcements and hype around fully self-driving cars, it appears that companies are shifting to a more pragmatic approach. Their conversation explores how te...

In this month's Fuel for Thought, host Guido Vildozo speaks with our experts about how the automotive industry is navigating anticipated shifts under a second Trump administration. Their discussion focuses on the potential global implications of new US tax policies, tariffs, and deregulation.  Their conversation also dives into the uncertain future of electric vehicles, with policy changes leading...

In this episode of Fuel for Thought, we explore the European Union's decision to impose tariffs on Chinese battery electric vehicles (BEVs) following concerns about unfair subsidies. The tariffs, ranging from 17% to 35%, affect major manufacturers like BYD, Geely, and SAIC, while Tesla faces a lower rate of 7.8%.  This move, aimed at protecting European automakers, may reshape the market but has s...

In this special episode of Fuel for Thought, we're diving into the 2024 US presidential election – one of the most consequential elections in US history – which could reshape the future of the automotive ecosystem. Our panelists cover the wide range of issues on the table – including environmental regulations, trade policies, and labor dynamics – as well as the impacts these issues could have on a...

It's been a turbulent four years for the US auto industry, from the COVID-19 pandemic to inventory fluctuations and supply chain disruptions.   But unfortunately for some of the industry's most important stakeholders, the turbulence isn't over yet. Automakers and their captive financing groups are facing intensified competition and difficulty attracting customers, due to several converging trends....

In this episode of Fuel for Thought, we're thrilled to welcome Abby Tu, Principal Research Analyst at S&P Global Mobility and author of "Electrification in China: On Track but Challenging."   In a conversation with moderator Guido Vildozo, Senior Manager, Consulting, S&P Global Mobility, Abby dives into mainland China's remarkable journey towards electrification, revealing how new-energy v...

In this episode of Fuel for Thought, research experts Ali Adim and Gabrielle Aversa discuss the current challenges facing the EV battery industry amidst a slowdown in demand for battery electric vehicles. The conversation was moderated by Mike Wall, Executive Director, Automotive Analysis, S&P Global Mobility.   To read the Fuel for Thought article, click here . www.spglobal.com/mobility

In this episode of Fuel for Thought, Senior Research Analysts Vivek Beriwal and Mariana Gongora highlight the key findings from our annual consumer survey on autonomous vehicles. The conversation was moderated by Calum Macrae, director of Research and Analysis in the Supply Chain and Technology division at S&P Global Mobility.  To read the Fuel for Thought article,  click here . www.spglobal.c...

In this episode of Fuel for Thought we discuss the aging of the US vehicle fleet.  Vehicles on the road are getting even older, according to new S&P Global Mobility data released last week. The average age of cars and light trucks in the US has risen again to a new record of 12.6 years in 2024, up by two months over 2023. The increase in average age is showing signs of slowing as new registrat...

In this episode of Fuel for Thought we discuss the transition to electric vehicles in the U.S. market. As EV sales slow, OEMs must consider multiple factors to align their EV production with government regulations and consumer demand. From the here-and-now reality to the long-term aspiration of decarbonization in the transportation sector. The U.S. government regulatory aspirations and their press...

In this episode of Fuel for Thought we discuss the future of trucking. Disruption is coming to the medium and heavy commercial vehicle industry and an increased focus on climate change, strict regulations, and technological innovations are expected to change the future landscape. Hear from S&P Global Mobility experts as we identify and address major questions the truck industry faces. Mike Wal...

In this episode of Fuel for Thought, we discuss what's likely to shape our industry in 2024 and beyond. Learn about the softening of the EV market, as well as increasing media coverage concerning sustainability, and the associated future pressures that this could bring to your business. With the upcoming S&P Global CERAWeek  and Innovation  Agora event in Houston (TX), we will preview some of...

The automotive industry is reaching an inflection point that will reshape its near-term future, precipitated by the connected car era – also known as software defined vehicles or "SDVs." This will affect every aspect of future mobility, from Generative AI implications in Level 2+ autonomy to the HMI of the cockpit domain software. Tune in to this episode of Fuel for Thought and hear from our indus...

Average transaction prices for new vehicles are through the roof. But affordability has also been crimped by many automakers shifting away from traditional entry-level segments, both in the US and Europe. But as legacy OEMs depart the 'cheap-and-cheerful' arena, white space opportunity emerges for new manufacturers to enter the fray.  In the past decade, it was possible to find an entry-level new...

Five years ago, hype surrounding "autopilot" cars peaked. But S&P Global Mobility's updated forecast offers a reality check of careful, limited adoption of self-driving technology through 2035. Learn more about the future of autonomous vehicles in this episode of Fuel for Thought. Join Mark Rechtin - Executive Editor, Jeremy Carlson - Associate Director of the Autonomy Practice, and Own Chen -...