The future of the automotive industry depends on technological competitiveness

Electric mobility is an irreversible option. Even if the US slows down and the EU slows down, the march is on. Leading the way is, perhaps somewhat unexpectedly, China, the country that most of all is demonstrating its belief in this opportunity, as demonstrated by the commitment and investments of the Rising Sun industry. This was discussed at the opening conference of the 30th edition of Autopromotec, the biennial exhibition dedicated to the automotive aftermarket (Bologna, 21-24 May 2025).
China now dominates the lithium-ion battery value chain thanks to its extraordinary production capacity, exceptional speed in development, and cost efficiency that puts manufacturers in all other markets in crisis, as Steve Greenfield, general manager of Automotive Ventures, confirmed in his speech. The expansion of the electric market is not in question, despite the slowdown in recent years in formerly leading markets such as the USA. According to estimates, worldwide EV sales will increase by 30% in 2025 compared to 2024, reaching 22 million units. A good chunk of which will be in China.

EVs: fewer components does not reduce complexity

In this scenario, it is crucial to understand how the electric vehicles that will increasingly crowd our roads will have to be repaired. The impact on the aftermarket will not be insignificant. The first big difference lies in the amount of parts on board: 2,000 in an endothermic engine vehicle, just 20 in an electric one. With fewer parts, it can be assumed that maintenance requirements will be lower. But fewer components does not mean less complexity, quite the contrary. More expertise will therefore be needed, and hence high-level training. Before that, however, people will be needed, which are currently lacking in many sectors, starting with car repair. 

The advantages of a more inclusive sector

The automotive sector must become more attractive and also more inclusive. In the automotive sector, women still make up less than 25 per cent of the workforce, a percentage that drops to 15 per cent if we focus on the repair sector and below 10 per cent if we look at the leadership roles held within garages, warned Almudena Benedito Garcia, CEO of GiPA Group. Companies can change this scenario with actions and initiatives that, inside and outside the organisation, promote female participation and foster professional advancement.

Economic development creates new resources

Last but not least, Roger Abravanel, director emeritus of McKinsey & Company, pointed out that there is an opportunity in sustainability, but we risk missing it if we allow ourselves to be distracted by what Abravanel called in his essay “The Great Hypocrisies on Climate”: on the one hand, the positions of the neo-deniers who, while acknowledging that the climate problem exists, espouse a wait-and-see attitude with the risk that the damage will become an irreparable disaster; on the other hand, the unconvincing or even deleterious initiatives of those who short-sightedly pursue the goals. In order to overcome the “zero sum” stalemate, a concept according to which economic development is set against the preservation of the planet, it is necessary to look carefully at market developments and focus on innovation without being distracted by controversial currents.