Crisis in the automotive industry – no surprises

The automotive industry has established itself as a key sector for the development of economies and nations. The production and sale of vehicles worldwide has shown nearly constant growth, with temporary and insignificant declines caused by significant events (World War II, the 1974 oil crisis). The dynamics of the past decade have put the sector to a serious test in some key manufacturing countries. The aim of this publication is to examine some of the main reasons for the crisis symptoms observed in certain European manufacturers. The focus is primarily on German brands. Attention is given to the production of electric vehicles. A comparative approach and statistical data have been used. The main factors influencing the production and sale of electric vehicles have been identified.Symptoms of an emerging crisis in the largest German manufacturers have been noted.Summarized observations regarding the negative impact of some external and internal factors have been made. The conclusions point to unthought-out and inadequate policies,technologies, standards, energy sources, markets, management, and organizational models.Some perspectives for overcoming the problems have been presented. Directions for future research in specific areas crucial for the electric vehicle sector are outlined.